CONSERVATION OF HUMAN ENERGY. 403 



a mobile charm, which breathed of forces long maturing and almost 

 perfect. She regarded life from a standpoint of abundant humor 

 but never to the detriment of highest ideals." 



In man old age is admittedly a crowning of honors won and 

 esteem earned. It remains for him to secure or lose this reward. 

 Fate rules, it may be, but his rulings can be potently modified by him 

 who wills and acts. To woman advancing years come as the sealing of 

 a well, if she has eyes only for the surface of things, and is blind to 

 the warmth and life of the under-currents whose power is of tener over- 

 looked than weakened. It is far more a question of what manner of 

 woman she was, or has become, than of age or appearance as judged 

 by the critical. If she feels tempted to grow slovenly in the niceties 

 of pose and expression or in her dress, let her check this as a sin: for 

 sin it is, and an offence against God and his good gifts. Women of 

 three, or even four, score years have reigned queens in society. Many 

 prefer a smaller kingdom, content with modest spheres of influence; 

 but let them exercise care as to the line and direction of ambitions 

 and be sure of their fitness to fill the niche of their choice. Once 

 chosen it is a simple equation between vigilance and tact, rather than 

 between the inherent worth of their charms and the fusing points of 

 their subjects. 



If hints are needed how to attain exalted posts of honor or orna- 

 ment, here are some modest ones. Interest in the doings of her 

 fellows, exhibited judiciously; a capacity to listen with an air of real 

 interest to the fountains of speech artfully loosed; a clarity of mind 

 on matters of the day, private and public; a gentle dignity coupled 

 with what we may call graciousness ; these will carry a woman miles 

 beyond another in the esteem of her fellows who, making light of 

 these gifts, yet possesses much intellect, endless accomplishments and 

 striking physical beauty. If a woman tends to become giddy or 

 frivolous, especially in her later years, so soon as she realizes this 

 ruinous bias let her quell it or seek a cloister without delay. If she 

 acquires, moreover, a manner of condescension or patronage, she may 

 attune her mind to move thereafter much alone. 



It may be said by any one who has read so far, that generalities may 

 incite to reflection, but specific directions are required to demonstrate 

 how each one may attain that grace and elasticity which is the very 

 basis of original, and much more so of retained, comeliness. Beauty 

 may be given to a few, and fewer are able to hold it without effort 

 beyond the ordinary period when it tends to fade. It is a plain 

 physiologic fact that comeliness may be enormously enhanced, but it 

 is necessary that intelligent effort be exerted to secure a continuance 

 of this endowment. Again, a person may possess many, or enough, 

 of the elements of beauty and yet so abuse these gifts by omitting to 



