Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1841-08-18
From the Colored American.
MOURNING APPAREL.

u y =
is the admonltion OF an inspired
writer. If tha. admonition was followed,
how much better would be our condition.
The custom which prevails. of arraying
ourselves in dark and sombre habiiments |
in token of sorrow for departed friends, is
useless and unnecessary, does not accom-
plish the end, and evlnces general Y more |
personal pride than respect for the dead. |
When we mourn for those who are taken
from us, is it consistent that we should |
decorate our person with fine apparel,
"and study fashions TO adorn the body"
How absurd, how ridiculous 1t is, TO see
those whose hearts are laden with grief, |
who mourn with a sorrow that refuses
comfort, giving directions about the cut of
a garment, or the texture of the cloth
instead OF devoting ourselves to the sol
emn duty of committing the mortal part
of the loved lost one to its parent earth,
land giving back the dust to its kindred
dust, in place Of preparing our minds to
meet the same universal destiny, we are
considering how we shall look, and how
well our . mourning" will become Us.
The custom ncurs an unnecessary ex-
pense. At a time when we require all
our united means. when perhaps the chief
support of the family has been taken away,
and we have been under all the expense
which sickness invariably brings with it,
| how little can we then afford the addition
al expenditure of clothing which we do
not really want, and which, in many in
| stances, such is the absurdity Of the laws
| of fashion, can not be worn for any other
purpose. Again, the necessary expenses
incidental to funeral are all We should
incur at such time, and those We should
reduce as low as possible. .@...
| Another unnecessary expense is created
by procuring coaches for the pleasure Of
a host of friends of the family. These
friends must attend the funeral, and of
course coaches sufficient for the accom-
mediation of all, must be hired, else we
appear mean in the sight of very particu-
lar friends; thus the survivors, often a
widow and helpless children, are burdened
| with expense they can i'll afford, or incur
debts they can never pay. -.-
! Where our circumstances are such that
we can afford these extravagancies. we
| should avoid them as much as possible, in
consequence of the example it sets to 9TH
ters. and the evil effects on society.
| An instance occurs to US which is much
to the point Some years ago, young
man, who had been fellow apprentice
with US, died, after a lingering illness OF
| several months. His mother, an aged
woman, and very in6rm, nursed him
faithfully, as only mother can nurse her
child; long before his death, the little
means they had accumulated were ex.
! pended, and they had to subsist on the
contributions of friends. After his de,
cease, purse was made up by few OF
the companions of his better days, to de.
fray the expenses of the funeral: we were
made the almoner of their bounty and
| when we gave it to the mother, she gave
US in return world of thanks and CRATE
full tears; but on counting it. she said there
was not enough. 20! madam said we,
ian estimate has been made, and we find
the sum will cover all expenses" She
requested Us to enlig hten her how so small
| a sum could be made to answer. We
showed her our estimate the. coffin 50
! much What" exclaimed she, "a COM
mon stained coffin ! should have tho't
/ the young men might have got a mahog-
any coffinl" We pacifed her as TO that,
and read over the other expenses, until We
came to one coach-the old lazy started
/ up in anger. Mr.. H.' said she, "do
| you think I'll have my poor boy buried
in that manner2 One coach, only one
coach, It's too bad. And who is to pay
for the bombazine dress and Grape hat
which have ordered2 Mr.. A. and your
| self told me you would bear the expenses
of the funeral, and now you bring me
this paltry sum- A. had by this time
escaped from the room, and left US to re-
| ceive the old lady's fire. She cooled down,
however, on our promising that she should
have another coach.
/ We attended the funeral the next day,
and behold, TO our surprize, a beautiful
= mahogany coffin, silver plate, and six
coaches; and the old lady's dress, for
4 quality and style Of making, was more
appropriate for bride oil eighteen than a
lmourniug mother of fifty,
Il We could give maLy such instances
4 but we think we have said enough 10 show
! The nature and extent of the evil, and the
wasteful extravaganza which is often
/ caused bv fashionable funeral and 30
ing in mourning II.
i From the n. 7 Mercury.
ToBAcco,--A SHORT PATENT SERMON.
By Doqc, Jr.
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