Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1830-08-04
[For the Herald Of the Times.
MOURNING APPAREL,
AND FU ERAL PR C L S n S.
celia dolet we're, qua sine tcSte do!e'."

AND FUNERAL PROcEs ssIONs.
celia dolet we're, qun sine teste do!et."
Mart.
She greves indeed who grieves when all alone.
But the practice of indiscriminately
wearing the habilmcnts ofmourning ,and
blazoning forth to public gaze the sym
bols Of sorrow merely because it is dicta-
ted by fashion, and sanctioned by Gus
tom, proceeds in our opinion from an er-
roncous view of moral principles, is often
productive Of serious inconvenience in
the community, Especially to the poorer
class is wholly inconsistent with, or at
least totally unavailable to the end pro-
posed, and deserves entirely to be look
ed out of countenance by those, whose
high prerogative it is to reign in the en-
pirc of fashion, or whose more cnviable
and glorious task is to shine as the guild
ing stars of customs and morals. 1t
would require but a slight examination
indeed, of this subject, to show that it is
both useless and inconsistent; for what
greater indignity can we oficrto the men,
ory of departed relatives and friends, than
that cGectaiion Of sorrow for their loss
which has its origin in the capriciousness
of fashion, is dictated by pride, and as if
in mockery of every true and tender SYM
pathy of the soul, is brought forward
merely to be seen by others, or for fear
that we may be reproached with want of
sensibility because We do not assume the
attitude of grief, or at least seem to be
sorrowful?
How, we would ask, can a greater
outrage be done to all that is humane and
tender in our sympathics, or how can we
more effectually publish to all around US
and to the world, the disgraceful fact,
that we have no heart, no feeling, or re-
gard for the memory of those who have
nurtured and sustained our helpless in
fancy, guided our youth, soothed our af-
flictions, or shared our joys, participated
in our festivities, regarded us with affec-
ton, and treated us with kindness, than
by affecting to be grievcd for their loss;
by putting on the garb of sorrow, and
/ Clearing about, the mockery Of woe,
II To midnight dances and the public show;'
by bathing the cheek in tears like the
heartless crocodile, and giving utterance
to the mimic lamentations of woe, not be-
cause we feel and sympathi=e, but merely
that we would be seen and heard. And
by whom would we be seen and heard ?
Why, we might be seen by those who
would perhaps, have sufficient regard
for our situation to remark (and this is
taken as fine compliment y that we
seemed much affected sc and we shall
be heard by those who look with total
apathy and indifference, both on us and
our calamitics, and who destitute of COM
mon ties and kindred sympathies, can
neither feel our griefs nor share our af-
flictions. Those too (pcrhaps not un-
frequently who secretly rejoice that our
friend or supporter is no more that our
pride (as they have called it) is humbled
and our circumstances and standing re-
duced to level with their own, or whose
objects arc put more Immediately within
their reach, and whose interests are for
wardcd and prospects heightened by our
downfall and misiortuncs. Such then is
the heartcssness of the world, and such
the feelings not unlrequently prevalent
and the remarks often elected by mourn
ing apparel s. funeral professions. Who
then, we ask, that views these things in
their proper light, would be influenced
for a moment in their modes of manifest
ing their sorrow for the loss of friends, or
who would any longer suffer the memory
Of them to be sportcd with and their most