Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1863-08-14


living invisible there in state.
An attendant in sable habiiments, picked
out with the inevitable white tie, with an un.
dertakerish eye and manner, awaited my com.
mands. produced my written directions.
Scanning it critically, he said
"Permit me to inquire, sir, if ii is a de-
ceased partner?"
L nodded assent.
owe take the liberty of asking this dis
tressing question" he continued, Gas we are
extremely anxious TO keep up the credit OF
our establishment by matching, as it were,
the exact shades of affiiction. Our paramatta
and grapes give satisfaction to the deepest
woe. Permit me to show you new texture
of surprising elegance, manufactured special
ly for this house, and which we call the in
consolidate. Quite novelty in the trade, l
do assure you, sir"
With this he placed pasteboard box be-
fore me full of mourning fabrics.
SIS this II" l inquired, lifting lugubrious
piece CT drapery.
"Oh, no., he replied; ''the one you have
in your hand was manufactured forlast years
affection, and was termed the stunning blow
shade makes up WE'LL however, with our
sudden Bereavement silk-a leading article
and our distraction trimmings"
II fear" said l, 'my commission says
nothing about these novelties"
'Ladies in the country" he blandedy re-
piled, ''don't know Of the perfection to which
the art of mourning genteelly has been
brought! But will see that your commits
sion is attended to to the letter. Give an.
other glance over my list, lie observed: ''Oh!
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 directed, came to recess
fitted up with a solid phalanx of widows caps.
| perceived at a glance that they exhausted
the whole gamut of grief, from its deepest
shade to that tone which is expressive of a
pleasing melancholy. The foremost row con-
fronted me with the sad liveries of crapen
folds; whilst those behind gradually faded off
into light, ethereal tarietan, and one or two
of the outsiders were even breaking out into
worldly features and acknowledgements. For
getting the prophecies of the moment, in
CURED if one of the latter would be suitable.
''Oh, no, sir" she replied, with slight
shade of severity in the tone of her voice ;
''but any of these"-pointing to the first row
of widows weeds-''are suitable for the first
burst of grief"
Acquescing in the propriety of this sliding
scale OF sorrow, selected some weeds express
sive of the deepest detection | could find, and
having completed my commission, inquired
where could procure for myself some laven.
der gloves.
ooh, for those, sir" she said, in the voice
of Tragedy speaking to Comedy, "you must
turn to the right and you will come to the
Complimentary Mourning counter"
Turning to the right accordingly, | was
al .ts,I H. l..
self amongst worldly colors Tender laven-
der had expected; but violet mauve, and
even absolute red, stared me in the face.
. Thinking l had made mistake, was about
to retire, when young lady, in a cheerful
tone of voice, inquired if | wanted anything
in her department
Il was looking for the complimentary
mourning counter" l replied, TOR some
gloves; but fear | am wrong"
.'4 on are quite right, sir" she observed.
''Phis 20 ;th Jire- ~ ~ si'.,,oe ,i1N
cheerful culored silks, and with the instructive
tact Of woman guessed my thoughts in a
nom mt
''Mauve, sir, is very appropriate for the
lighter SOrrOws."
But absolute red !" replied, pointing to
some velvet of that color.
SIS quite admissible when you mourn the
departure Cl INSTANT relative. Dul allow
me to show you some gloves ?" and suiting
the action to the word, she LITE d up the
cover from ii tasteful glove box, and dis played
perfect picture of delicate haf-tones, in
dicatvc of struggle between the cheerful
aud sad.
''There is a pleasing melancholy in this
gray" she remarked, indenting slightly each
outer knuckle with the elastic kid as she mea-
sured my hand.
''Can you find lavender?"
''Oh, yes!" she replied ''but the sorrow
tint is very slight in that; however, it wears
admirably"
Thus by degrees the grief of the establish
ment died out in tender lavender, and took
my departure, deeply impressed with the
charming Improvements which Partisan taste
has effected in the plain old fashioned style
of English mourning LIB.