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Story
November 26, 1863
The Daily Gate City
Keokuk, Lee County, Iowa
What is this article about?
An English critic defends the beauty of English women against Nathaniel Hawthorne's preference for American women's pale, scraggy features, describing English women as having a roseate flush and elegant form, and protesting Hawthorne's depreciation of them.
Clipping
OCR Quality
98%
Excellent
Full Text
THE GATE CITY
American and English Women.
An English critic, taking ill part with Mr. Hawthorne's comments on the personal appearance of English women, ventilates his wrath in not over choice language:
As to Mr. Hawthorne's criticism of English female beauty, it can only be accounted for by supposing that he has a deliberate preference for paleness of complexion and scragginess of form. Every man to his taste. It may be observed, however, that English girls of the highest type have a roseate flush, which is quite as healthy, yet more delicate, than the milkmaid's, and an exquisite elegance of form which is as far removed from rustic plumpness as from the superb American scragginess, delightful to Mr. Hawthorne's aesthetic eye.
We should not think of quarreling with a man though he preferred skeleton to the Venus de Medici; but when Mr. Hawthorne, one of the most popular of contemporary Americans, goes out of his way to depreciate the loveliest race of women the world ever saw, a slight protest is requisite. Let him, by all means, admire the bony charmers of his native land, with complexions exquisitely pale as that of the well-boiled turnip, and ribs that tear your coat sleeve if you clasp them too roughly in the waist; but let him not expect that Englishmen will be induced to join in the admiration.
American and English Women.
An English critic, taking ill part with Mr. Hawthorne's comments on the personal appearance of English women, ventilates his wrath in not over choice language:
As to Mr. Hawthorne's criticism of English female beauty, it can only be accounted for by supposing that he has a deliberate preference for paleness of complexion and scragginess of form. Every man to his taste. It may be observed, however, that English girls of the highest type have a roseate flush, which is quite as healthy, yet more delicate, than the milkmaid's, and an exquisite elegance of form which is as far removed from rustic plumpness as from the superb American scragginess, delightful to Mr. Hawthorne's aesthetic eye.
We should not think of quarreling with a man though he preferred skeleton to the Venus de Medici; but when Mr. Hawthorne, one of the most popular of contemporary Americans, goes out of his way to depreciate the loveliest race of women the world ever saw, a slight protest is requisite. Let him, by all means, admire the bony charmers of his native land, with complexions exquisitely pale as that of the well-boiled turnip, and ribs that tear your coat sleeve if you clasp them too roughly in the waist; but let him not expect that Englishmen will be induced to join in the admiration.
What sub-type of article is it?
Curiosity
What themes does it cover?
Social Manners
What keywords are associated?
English Women
American Women
Hawthorne Criticism
Female Beauty
Cultural Debate
What entities or persons were involved?
Mr. Hawthorne
Story Details
Key Persons
Mr. Hawthorne
Story Details
An English critic responds angrily to Nathaniel Hawthorne's unfavorable comments on English women's appearance, defending their roseate flush and elegant form against his preference for pale, scraggy American women, and urging him not to expect Englishmen to share his admiration.