Delaware State journal and statesman., 1863-08-25
The Habiliments of Grief, from Com
mercial Point Of View.

The Habiliments of Grief, from Com
mercial Point Of View.
On the occasion u d i,sl,, Nls,t u
London, whilst l was debating with my.
self over the breakfast things as to how
| should spend the day, | received by the
post a letter deeply bordered with black,
evidently messenger 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 a relative
Of the sudden death of her brother-in-law,
and request that, under the circum-
stances of the sudden bereavement of the
widow, | should undertake certain sad
commissions relative to the articles of
mourning required by the family.
| at once set out upon my errand. 1
had no difficulty in finding the maiSon de
due1 to which | had been referred. 1t
met me in the sad habilimerts of wo; no
vulgar colOrs glared from the shop win
dows, no gliding amazed with its festive
brightness. THE name of the firm scarce
presumed to make itself seen in the 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 ofa widows cap The very
metal window frames and plates had gone
into decorous mourning-zinc taking
| the place of what we feel, under the cir
cumstances, would have been quite out of
character-hrass.
On my pushing the plate glass door, it
ii m
sound, and was met by gentleman of
sad expression, who, in the most sympa-
thetic voice, inquired the nature of my
want, and, on my explaining myself, direct
ed me to the Inconsolable Grief Depart
ment This interior of the establishment
answered exactly to the appearance with
out. The long passage Ihad to traverse
was panneled in white black broiderings,
like so many mourning cards placed on
end and was rapidly becoming i'm
pressed with the deep solemnity of the
place, when caught sight of neat little
figure rolling up some ribbon, who, on
my inquiring if had arrived at the In
consolable Grief Department. replied in
almost a tone of gayety, that there was
the halt-mourning counter, and that l
must proceed farther on until had pass
ed the repository for widows silk. Fol
lowing her directions at last reached
my destination-a large room draped in
black, with hushed atmosphere about it
as though somebody was lying inyisibly
there in state.
An attendant i'll sable habiliments
picked out with the inevitable white tie
and with an undertakerish eye and man
ner, awaited my commands. produced
my written directions. Scanning it criti
cally, he said;-
"Permit me to inquire, sir, if Il is lie.
) ceased partner? Z"
| nodded assent.
"We take the liberty of asking this dis
! tressing question:" he continued, Gas We
are extremely anxious to keep Hpt he char
acter of our establishment by matching
as it were, the exact shade of affliction
I Our parametta and grapes give satisiac
! tion to the deepest wo. Permit me t.
!, show you new texture Of surprising
beauty and elegance manufactured spe
cially for this house, and which we call IN
) consolidate. Quite novelty in the trade
| do assure you, sir"
With this he placed pastoboard boz
before me full of mourning fabrics.
l. "Is this it !" | inquired, lifting lugu
i brious piece Of drapery
e "Oh, no |" lie replied ''the one yo
= have in your hand was manufactured 70
d last years afliction, and was termed
IN 1.-THE Stunning Blow Shade . 1t make
As up we'll, however, with our sudden deredrt
3 nent sik-a leading article-and our dii
- traction trimmings
I. 81 fearn said |, ''my commission say
- nothing about these novelties"
'Ladies in the country" he blandily re
piled, "don't know of the perfection t
which the art of mourning has bee
ia brought But | will see that your con
mission is attended to TO the letter.
Giving another glance over the list, i
observed "0hl perceive widows ca
), is mentioned here | must trouble yol
sir, to proceed to the Weeds DepartmeI
for that article-the first turning to IL
. left.p
Preceding as directed, came to
s recess fitted up with IL solid phalanx
D widows caps. precved at CLAN,
that they exhausted the whole gamut
grief, from the deepest shade to that toi
which is expressive Of pleasing mela
=" choly. The formest row confronted II
Of with the sad liveries of crapen folds, Will
n Ii those behind gradually faded off in
IA light, ethereal carleton, and one or two
the outsiders were even breaking out in
IS worldly features and Haunting weepel
Forgetting the proprieties Of the momer
l inquired of the grave attendant if one
the latter would be suitable,
ed "Oh no, sir, she replied, with slig
shade of severity in the tone of her voic
=, "you may gradually work up to that in
VI year or two. But any of these"-poir
ing to the first row Of widows weeds
. "are suitable for the first burst of grie
- Acquescing in the propriety Of Il
/. sliding scale of sorrow, selected sol