The daily Green Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1861-1865, 1863-11-02
The Habillments Of Grief,

On the occasion Of recent visit to London,
while | was debating with myself over the
breakfast things as to how should spend the
day, received by the post a letter deeply
bordered with black, evidently mes senger of
affection. | tore the white weeping willow
upon black background which formed the
device upon the seal, and read the contents.
1t proved to be an intimation from relative
of the sudden death of her brother-in law, aud
a request that, under the circumstances Of the
sudden bereavement OF the widow, should
undertake certain sad commissions relative to
the articles Of mourning required by the fam
lily.
at once set out upon my sad errand. L
had no difficulty in finding the md'son de dueH
to which had been referred. 1t met me Ill
the sad habiliments OF woe no vulgar colors
glared from the shop windows, no gliding
amazed with its festive brightness. The name
of the firm scarce presumed to make itself seen
in letters OF the Saddest gray upon black
ground. Here and there beads OF white set
off the general gloom of the house front, like
the Grape piping Of a widows cap. The very
me tai window frames and plates had gone in
to decorous mournipg-ziDc taking the
place of what we feel, under the circumstances,
would have been quite out Of character
brass.
On my pushing the plate glass door, it gave
way with a hushed and mufhed sound and [
was met by gentleman OF sad expression.
who, in the most sympathetic voice, inquired
hA fttr0 tl4In
ing myself, directed me to the Inconsolable-
Grief Department. The interior Of the es-
adjustment answered exactly TO the appear
ance without. The long passage | had to
traverse was panneled in white, with black
borderings, like so many mourning cards
placed Oh end aud | was rapidly becoming
impr' 7sed with the deep solemnity Of the place,
when | caught sight Of a neat little figure roll
ing up some ribbon, who Oh my inqui ing if
had arriv, at the iuconsoiabe Grief De-
partmeDt, replied, almost 10 a tone Of gayety,
that that was the hall-mourning counter, and
that | must proceed further on till had pas
sed the repository for widows silk. Follow
ing her directions, ! at last reached my des-
tlnation-a large room draped in black, with
hushed atmosphere about 1t as though some
body was lying invisbly there il state.
An attendant in sable habilimeots, picked
out WITH the inevitable white tie, and with an
undertakerish eye and manner, awaited my
commands. produced my written directions.
Scanning it critically, he said:
Permit me to inquire, sir, if ii is deceas-
ed partrer?'
nodded assent.
We take the liberty of asking this distress
sing question: he continued, as we are ex-
tremeIy auxious 70 keep up the character of
our establishment by matching, as it were, the
exact shade Of 1td rtion. Our parametta and
grapes give salts action to the deepest woe.
Permit me to show you new texture of sur
prising beauty and elegance, manufactured
specially for this house, and which We call the
inc0nSotable. Quite novelty in the trade,
do assure you, sir
With this he placed pasteboard box be-
fore me full Of mourning fabrics.
Is this it? | inquired, lifting lugu-
brious piece OF drapery.
20, no = he replied the one you have in
your hand was manufactured for last years
affliction, and was termed the Stunning "
Shade. 1t makes up well, however, with our
sudden-bereavement sllk-a leading article
and our distraction trimmings.
Il lear said my commits ion says moth
ing about these novelties
Ladies in the country he handy re-
piled, dou't know of the perfection to which
the art of mourning genteely has been
brought! But | will sec that your commits
sion is attended to to the letter. Giving
another glance over the list, he observed 20,
perceive widows cap is mentioned here. |
must trouble you, sir, to proceed to the Weeds
Department for that article--the first turning
to the left
Proceeding, as dire, ted, came to ecess
fitted up with solid phalanx of widows caps.
perceived 1t ., glance that they exhausted
the whole gamut Of grief, from the deepest
shade to that tone which is expressive Of
nlaaainp mAlanCholv Tho forarooo, ro~ 49,.