The Pittsburgh Press (October 3, 1946)
Ferguson: Good looks
By Mrs. Walter Ferguson
After having her front teeth knocked out in an auto accident, Mrs. Eleanor Roosevelt wrote, “Good looks have never been my strong point.”
There’s a fine eight-word sermon for girls. The person who wrote them is the outstanding woman of the nation and is known all over the world. Granting that part of Mrs. Roosevelt’s fame came to her through her husband, a great deal was self-acquired. No matter where destiny had set her feet, she would have found something exciting to do, and when you have exciting things to do you don’t worry much about your looks.
And, curiously, people who are not bothered over their lack of loveliness, are the best loved people. During her stay in the White House, Mrs. Roosevelt improved her appearance, her voice, her poise, her mannerisms. But without her great heart and her interest in things outside herself, such improvements would have mattered little.
Women never will be emancipated until they free themselves from the tyranny of self-glorification. Yet beauty cults are dangled before us like lollypops before crying babes. About nine-tenths of feminine energy goes into efforts to glamorize the unglamorous.
For there still are lots of homely women around. And they seem to have a pretty good time. Many possess loving husbands and devoted children. Others hold good positions in the business world. Some are club leaders and political workers. And the ones who have the most fun of all are those who long since have forgotten to bother about whether they are charming or beautiful; they are too busy living.