Two or three years ago a lady of Oriental parentage on her father’s side spent a season in London society.  Her complexion was brown, relieved by yellow, her features large and irregular, but redeemed by a pair of lovely and expressive eyes.  So perfect was her taste in dress that she always attracted admiration wherever she went.  Dressed in rich dark brown or dullest crimsons or russets, so that no one ever noticed much what she wore, she so managed that suggestions and hints—­no more—­of brilliant amber or [Transcriber’s Note:  The original text reads ‘promegranate’] pomegranate scarlet should appear just where they imparted brilliancy to her deep coloring, and abstract the yellow from her skin.  A knot of old gold satin under the rim of her bonnet, another at her throat, and others in among the lace at her wrists, brightened up the otherwise subdued tinting of her costume, so that it always looked as though it had been designed expressly for her by some great colorist.  Here rouge was unnecessary.  The surroundings were arranged to suit the complexion, instead of the complexion to suit the surroundings.  There can be no doubt as to which is the method which best becomes the gentlewoman.

In addition to the disagreeable sensation of making-up, it must be remembered that the use of some of the white powders eventually destroys the texture of the skin, rendering it rough and coarse.  Rimmel, the celebrated perfumer, in his “Book of Perfumes,” says that rouge, being composed of cochineal and saffron, is harmless, but that white cosmetics consist occasionally of deleterious substances which may injure the health.  He advises actors and actresses to choose cosmetics, especially the white, with the greatest care, and women of the world, who wish to preserve the freshness of their complexion, to observe the following recipe:  Open air, rest, exercise and cold water.

In another part of this pleasant book the author says that schonada, a cosmetic used among the Arabs, is quite innocuous and at the same time effectual.  “This cream, which consists of sublimated benzoin, acts upon the skin as a slight stimulant, and imparts perfectly natural colors during some hours without occasioning the inconveniences with which European cosmetics may justly be reproached.”  It is a well-known fact that bismuth, a white powder containing sugar of lead, injures the nerve-centers when constantly employed, and occasionally causes paralysis itself.

In getting up the eyes, nothing is injurious that is not dropped into them.  Tho use of kohl or kohol is quite harmless, and, it must be confessed, very effective when applied—­as the famous recipe for salad dressing enjoins with regard to the vinegar—­by the hand of a miser.  Modern Egyptian ladies make their kohol of the smoke produced by burning almonds.  A small bag holding the bottle of kohol, and a pin, with a rounded point with which to apply it, form part of