Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Mass.) 1828-1830, 1829-01-20
MOURNING.

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MOURNING.
" Black is the sign Of mourning, saws
Rabelais, g because it is the colour OF
darkness, which is melancholy, and the
opposite to white, which is the colour Of
light, Of Joy, and of happiness
The early poets asserted that souls, af-
ter death, went into dask and glaonls
empire. Probably it is in consonance
with this idea that they imagined black
was the most congenial colour for mourn
ing. The Chinese and the Siamese
choose white, conceiving that the dead
become benefcent genii.
In Turkey mourning is composed Of
blue or violet; in Ethiopia, of gray and
at the time of the invasion OF Peru by the
Spaniards, the inhabitants of that country
wore it Of mouse colour. Amongst the
Japanese, white is the sign of mourning,
and black of rejoicing. In CASTLE,
mourning yestments were formerly of white
serge. The Persians clothed themselves
in brown, and they, their whole family,
and all their animals were shaved. In
Lycia, the men wore female habiliments
during the time of their mourning.
At Argos, people dressed themselves in
white, and prepared large feasts and en-
tertainments.
At Delos the people cut off their hair,
which was deposited upon the sepulchre
of the dead. The Egyptians tore their
bosoms, and covered their faces with mud
wearing clothes of the colour of yellow,
or of dead leaves.
Amongst the Romans, the wives were
obliged to weep the death of their hus-
bands, and children that of their father,
during whole year. Husbands did not
for their wives, nor fathers for their chill
dren, unless they were upwards of three
years old.
The full mourning of the Jews contin-
ues for year, and takes place upon the
death of parents. The children do not
put on black, but are obliged to wear du-
ring the whole year the clothes which
they had on at the death oftheir father.
without being allowed to change them,
let them be ever SO tattered. They fast
on the anniversary of his death every year.
Second mourning lasts a month, and
takes place on the demise of children, UNI
Giles and aunts. During that period they
dare neither wash themselves, shave, nor
perfume themselves, nor even cut their
nails.
They do not eat ins common with the
family, and the husband and wife live
separately. Slight mourning continues
only for a week, and is worn ON the de-
cease Of a husband or of wife. On re-
turning from the funeral obsequies, the
husband, wearing his mourning habits,
washes his hands, uncovers his feet, and
seats himself on the ground, remains in
the same posture, and continues to groan
and weep, without paying attention to any
occupation, until the seventh day.
The Chinese when they are in mourning,
wear coarse white cloth, and weep three
years for the loss of the departed. The
magistrate no longer exercises his func-
tions, the counsellor suspends his suits,
and husbands and wives, as with the
Jews, live apart from each other. Young
people live in seclusion, and cannot mar
ry till the end of the three years.
The mourning of the Caribbees con-
sists in cutting off their hair, and in fast
ing vigorously until the body purify; after
which they indulge in debauches, to drive
all sadness away from their minds.