The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1851-06-18
MOURNING DRESS.

MOURNING DRESS.
There is vast deal more of good sense
in the following, than in the practice
against which it is written:
For what use does it serve me! To
remind me that | am in affiction! do
not need any such memento, TO point me
out to others as mourner. do not wish
to be pointed out. Shall the sable garb
be adopted then, because it is grateful to
my feelings, because it is kind OF solace
to me? [ can gain no consolation from it.
But if the custom is useless, its incon-
venience forms still greater objection.
II is inconvenient, because it throws the
care of purchasing and making clothes
upon family, at the very moment when,
on every account, it most needs secluslon
and quietness-wheD, worn out with care
and watching, and sorrow, it needs retire.
ment and relief. There is shocking un-
seemliness-l had almost said sacrilege,
in turning the house Of death into shop
for dress maker. Who that has ever
Witnessed what is passing on one OF these
occasions; who that has seen the broken
hearted victims of affliction brought forth
10 be dressed as pageants, and harrassed
with inquiries about mourning gowns and
bonnets, or heard intermingled with their
sighs and tears paltry and vain discussions
about the adjustments Of mourning caps
and ribins-who, say, has not felt that
this is inconvenient, ill-timed, and unbe-
coming, beyond wha, any force Ct Ian
guage can express?
But the greatest objection, after all, TO
the use Of mourning apparel is the expense.
Thatit is heavy upon the poor is matter
very we'll known, and believe, very gen.
orally regretted. But this is not all; it
presses heavily upon the body of the com.
munity. None but the opulent, in fact,
can easily afford it. There are very few
females in the country with whom the ex-
pense of mourning apparel does not form
burdensome addition to the bills OF the
merchant.
Besides, this is the most expensive kind
Of apparel, and there is always on these
occasions-from haste. and the natural
improvidence Of an afflicted mind about
worldly things-there is great deal OF
extravaganza and waste. And, more than
all, this expense comes at time, when Of
all times, it can be least easily borne. 1t
comes in addition to all the expenses Of
sickness, the paying Of attendants, and
the charges Of the physician. 1t comes,
perhaps, at the very time when the main
support and reliance Of family is taken
away. When the husband, the father, the
provider, is cut off; when he has departed
from the world with no feeling Of distress
so deep as that he was to leave destitute
those who were dearer TO him than life;
then it is that the desolate and deprived,
under false notion Of showing respect
10 him. are obliged, by the customs Of So
ciety, to abridge the already narrow means
on which they have to rely. How many
are the cases in which considerable por-
tion, and even the whole, Of what remains
for the widow and the fatherless is expend-
ed, not in providing for their wants, but in
merely arraying them for their desoate
condition.
If, then, there is custom in the com.
munity which is no real benefit, and is
real. burden, it would seem clear infer.
ence that it ought to be discouraged. If
there be any who fear that they shall be
too soon forgotten among men when they
are gone, let them be reminded that it de.
pends upon themselves, not upon the ha-
biliments of their friends; upon their char
acter, not upon their obsequies, whether
they shall be remembered. "The memo
rial of virtue," saith the wisdom of Solo
mon; sis immortal. When it is present,
men take example Of it, and when it is
gone, they desire it; it weareth crown
and is triumphant forever"