Martinsburgh gazette. [volume] (Martinsburgh, Va. [W. Va.]) 1810-1825, 1823-04-17
MOURNING.

"A French writer gives neat summary Of
the different observances among mankind re-
lative TO mourning and funeral ceremonie -
All the world, says he, is acquainted with the
magmiicence of the Roman OBJ .equies and fu-
neral games. The Greeks also burnt the corpses
OF distinguished individuals with funeral feasts
and the lamentatlon of hired weepers, though
they generally displayed 4 less sumptuous grief
and better res ulated pety. The Persians
buried the bodies Of the dead the Sc, thians
ate them the Indians enveioped them for pre-
servation sake, in short of lacheri the Egyp-
tians embalfned and dried them, exhibited
them on festival days placed at the table among
their guests, guarded them as their most pre-
cions posses sions, and lent and borro wed mo-
ney upon these strange pledges. In our time,
the custom of dancing at funerals is only prac-
tised in India and among some savage nations;
but funeral entertainments still prevail in ma.
ny European countries. Among others, the
ceremony Of interment is so'emn and Silent,
which nevertheless does not interfere with the
wish that all may be forgotten as speedily AZ
possible We observe more ossentatious rites
for persons of consequence their carriages
follow them to the grave, and sometimes their
horse is paraded, which having been made TO
fast, seems 10 partake of the affection of the
occasion. The Orientals, from whom we sor-
rowed this custom, went further they made
the horses in funeral procession weep, by blow
ing particular powder up their nostrils
In Italy, the mourning was formerly whi'e
for women and brown for men; in China IT IS
white, in Turkey, SYRIA, and armenia, it IS
blue in E cypt yellow in Ethiopia grey
Each ofthese colours had originally its mystl-
cal Specification. White is the emblem OF puri-
"; celestial blue indicates the space where
the soul ranges after DEATH Yellow or the
tinge of dead LEAVES, exhibits death as the
end of all human hope, andman fading Ike the
leaf of Autumn grey presents the colour OF
the EARTH our common mother; and black the
funeral costume now adopted throughout Ed
! rome is an alusion TO the eternal night
/ In England the King never wears black. lie Is
| clothed in red as mourning Jill the reign OF
= Charles VII. white was the funeral garb IN
France. The Emperor Leopold uho died il
| 1905 used to suffer his beard to grow in dFsor
1 der during the whole period of mourning. lr
| this he United the Jews.-The dowager En-
presses never lett off weeds, and their apart
| ments were hung with black tall their death
The Chancellor OF France is the only Sersor
! in the kingdom who never wears mourning -
The brothers, nephews and cousins ofPopes ne
yer wear it the happiness OF having Pope u
the family isto great to allow them 70 be attic
! ted even BY his death.
Rut the most remarkable of all these nsages i
! perhaps that Of the people ofthose ancient ma
| tons whn dressed themselves women wheI
they lost their relations, in order, it is said, tina
the rdicule attached to their vcstments NIGH
make them ashamed of her grief-L0n, Pap
Belzoni, the traveller, it is said. has been EN-
n Moved 20 penetrate into Africa, in search OF
= Niapg2 Parkc Oh at fny rate TO ascertain lis
| fafe, - A.