Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1853-03-31
SHADING HUMAN GRIEF.

SHADING HUMAN GRIEF.
II strikes US that Dickens himself never
wrote more 'searching' satire than the
following on the practice Of shading human
grief, as if one could half or quarter mourn
for dear friend "gone hence to be no more
seem" The article from which i, is con-
densed was called the "House Of Mcurning,
q Farce;'' which appeared in on English
magazine (now discon,inued) some sixteen
years since. 1t should be promised .ha.
esquire Hamper" and his wife, persons ra-
ther Of the rustic order, who have come up
to London from the family sea, in the coun-
try, in the progress Of shopping in street
at the west end Of the metropolis, stop at q
dry goods under,aker's, with "Masons de
Deuil," or "House Of Mourning" by way
of sign over the door.
"Mason de Dool," exclsims the Squire,
responding to his wife's translation; "some
foreign haberdasher's, s'pose."
| The lady, however, coaxes him to go in;
for although she has los. no friends, she
longs 10 see the improvements in mourn
ing," which she can do by cheapening q
few articles, and buying a penny " orth OF
black pins" The worthy pair enter, take
an ebony chair at the counter, while q clerk
in suit Of sable addresses the lady, and in
sepulchral tones inquiries ''if he cen have
melancholy pleasure Of serving her.''
allow deep would you choose to 90,
ma'am: Do you wish to be very poignant
We have very extensive assortmen, Of a
family and complimentary mourning. Here
is one ma'am, just imported; a widows
silk, watered, as you perceive, to match the
sentiment. i. is called The "Inconsolable,' -
aud is very much in vogue In Paris for ma
lrimonial beresvemenls."
"Looks rather fimsy, though" inlerpos-
es-'he Squire; "nol likely to last long, eh,
sir -
"a little slight, p'r'eps," replies the shop
man, "ra'her delicate texture; bu. mourn
ing ought not to last forever, sir"
"No," grumbles the Squire, sit seldom
does, Especially the violen, SORTS"
"As to mourning, ma'am,' continues the
shopmsn, addressing the lady, ",here has
been great deal, great deal indeed, this
season and several new fabrics have been
introduced, 10 meet The demand for fashion
able tfibulation, and all in the French style;
y of France excel in the Funebre Here,
I for instance, is an article for the deeply af-
f1lc.ed; black Grape, expressly adapted 10
the profound style of mourning makes up
very sombre and Interesting. Or, If you
prefer TO mourn in velvet, here's very rich
one; real Genoa, and splendid black we
call it the Luxury of Woe LIS only eigh-
reen shilIngs yard, and superb quality
fit, in short, for the handsomes. style of do
mes,ic calamity"
Here The Squire wants to know "wheth-
er sorrow gets more superfne as it goes up
wards in life''
"Ceriainly-yes, sir-by all means," re-
spends the clerk sat least finer texture.
The mourning Of the poor is very coarse,
very quite d'heren. from that Of persons
Of quality. Canvass to crepe, sir"
The lady mex, asks if he has variety OF
halfmourning to which he replies:
SO! infinite, the largest stock in town ;
full, and half, and quarter, and haIf-quar,er
mourning, shaded off from grief prononce
TO the slightest nuance Of regret"
The lady is directed to another counter,
and introduced to '',he gent who superin-
tends The Intermediate Sorrow Department. u
who inquiries:
You wish to inspect some half mourn
ing, madam, the second stage Of distress
As such, maCam, allow me 10 recommend
this sa'in-inended for grief when it has
subsidized :; allevia.ed, you see, ma'am, from
a dead black to dull lead color. It's q
| Ie1 or
Grief and is very much worn by ladies
who do no, intend to embrace Hymen Sc
cond time"
"Old woman, mayhap, about seventy
mu,,ers The Squire.
Exactly so, sir, or thereabout. Not bu
wha, some ladies, ma am, Sc, in sorrow mucf
earlier; indeed, in the prime of life; ant
for such cases i. is very durable wear
bu. p'r'sPs IFS too lugubre. Now here'
anolher-no, exactly black, bu. shot will
a warmish tint, to sui. woe moderated b,
time. The French call il a Clean of Com
FORT We've sold several pieces Of it; i,'
very attractive; we consider it the happies
pattern of the season.
"Yes," once more in,erposes the Squire
:some people are happy in i. no doub..'
mo doubt, sir. There's charm in mel
ancholy, sir; Pm fond Of the pensive my
self Perhaps, ma'am, you would prefer
something more in the transition state, q.
We call il, from grave 10 gray. Ia that case
! would recommend the lavender Ducape
with only just a souvenir Of sorrow in it
the slightest ,inge Of mourning, to dis,in-
guish !. from the garb of pleasure. But pos
sibIy you might like to see an appropriate
style of costume for the juvenile branches
when sorrow their young days has shaded
or course, milder degree than for adults
Black would be precocious. This, madam
for inslance-a dark pattern on gray; an
interesting dress ma'am for little girl, JUS
minated in the vale Of tears; only eighleeu