The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1866-04-10

/ about, and We see fresh instances ever
day. Fashion must be vigorously con
suited on such calls as in the prepare
ton for q ball, and frequently while
the deceased friend is lying unburied
all the faculties of the survivors mus
be absorbed in arranging sdornmentE
for the living and so adjusted that
while the full measure of their profound
grief shall be patent, the result shall
show how intelligent the Wearers are
IN the latest fashions
In Once 3 Week, for March, 1860. /.
8 capital article on this subject, from
which we make an extract Thil
writer is supposed to live in London
and to receive commission from Z
relative in the country, asking him tC
obtain the proper articles needed by
the widow of a friend Just died, for the
approaching funeral, designating the ar
ticles. He Immediately proceeded to the
shop where sable garments were on sale
or intended 10 be so considered, and
found it in the sad habiliments oil
mourning. mo vulgar coloTs glared
from the shop windows. No gilt an.
noyed with its festive glare the
name of the firm was scarcely readable
/ in letters of gray on q black ground
here and there heads Of white set OF
the general gloom like the Grape piping
of widows cap.
On my pushing the plate glass door
it gave way with hushed and mufiled
sound, and / was met by gentleman
of sad expression, who, in the most
sympathetic tone of voice, inquired the
nature of my want, and on my reply,
1 directed me TO the Inconsolable GrieI
Department The inside of the estab
lishment / found to answer exactly to
the appearance without. The long pas.
sage traversed was paneled in white
and black borderings, like go many
mourning cards placed on end; and ]
was becoming impressed with the deep
solemnity Of the place, when / caught
sight of neat little figure rolling up
some ribbon, and on inquiring if / had
arrived at the Ineonsolable Grief De.
partment, she replied in a gentle voice
slightly shaded with gsiety, that was
the half mourning counter, and that |
must proceed until ! had passed the
repository for widows silk. Following
her directions, / at last reached my
destination, q large room draped with
black, with hushed atmosphere about
it, as though body was inYisibly lying
there in state
An attendant in sable habiliments
picked out with the inevitable white
tie, and with an undertakerish eye and
manner, awaited my commands. ! &C
cordingly produced my list Scanning
it critically, he said:
Permit me TO inquire, sir, if Il is a
deceased partner
nodded assent
"We take the liberty of asking this
distressing question" he replied, "as
we are extremely anxious TO keep the
character of this establishment by
matching at once the exact shade of
afiliction. Our parsmattas and grapes
in this department give satisfaction 10
the deepest woe. Permit me TO show
you a new texture, which we term the
Inconsolable." With that he placed a
pssteboard box before me, full of mourn,
ing fabrics
ais this it2'' inquired, lifting q lugu-
brious pieces of drapery.
''0h nor he replied; "the one you
have in your hand Was manufactured
for last years Affections, and was term
ed the stunning blow shade it makes
up well, however, with our su3dam be-
reavement silk-a leading article-and
our distraction trimming.
q am afraid, said /, "my commits
sion says nothing about these novel
ties"
ladies in the country" he blandly
replied, "are possibly not aware of the
perfection TO which the art of mourn
ing genteelly is now brought. But |
will see that your commission is attend
cd TO, TO the letter. Giving another
glance over my list "Ohl a widows
cap is mentioned, see. must
trouble you, sir, to proceed to the
Weeds Department for that article
the first turning to the left"
Proceeding as l was directed, came
to a recess fitted up with solid pha-
lanx OF widows caps Ipereeiyed 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
now confronted me with all the severi-
ty Of Grape folds, in the midst of which
my minds eye could see the set fea-
lures of many of Mrs. Clennam, whilst
those behind gradually faded of into
the most iaunty tarlatan; and one or
two of the outsiders even breaking out
into worldly feathers, and the most
flaunty weepers
Forgetting the proprieties for the
moment, | inquired of the grave at
tendant If one of the latter would be
suitable2
"0h, no, Sit" she replied, with a
slight severity in her voice; "you may
gradually work up 10 it in a year or
two; but any of these" pointing to the
flont row of weeds, ''are Indispensable
for the first burst of grief"
Acquiescing in the propriety of this
sliding scale OF sorrow, l selected some
weeds expressive of the deepest deiec-
ton / could find; and having compiet-
cd my commission, | inquired where !
could procure for myself the lavender
gloves2
''Oh, sir, for those things, she said.
in the voice of Tragedy speaking Of
Comedy. "you must turn to your right,
and you will come to the Compliment
airy mourning counter
Turning 10 the right, accordingly, /
was surprised and little shocked to
find myself once more among world
colors; tender lavender had expected.
but violet mauye, and even absolute
red, stared me in the face; was about
retiring, thinking | had made mis-
take, when q young lady, with a charm.
ing tinge-of cheerfnlness in her voice,
inquired if l wanted anything in her
department.
II was looking for the Compliments
ry Mourning Counter" / replied, 'for
some gloves, but I fear lam wrong"
You are quite right cir, she said;
'this is il
She saw my eye glance at the cheer
.ul silks, and with the instructive tact
of woman, guessed my thoughts in a
moment
"MaEpc air, is very appropriate for
the lighter soTrows"
But absolute red, | retorted. point-
ing 10 some velvet OF that color
lis quite admissible when you mourn
the departure of 8 distant relative; but
may l show you some glover and
shifting the action 10 the word, she lift
ed the cover from the glove box, and
displayed a perfect picture of the deli.
cate half-tones, indicative Of a struggle
between the cheerful and the sad.
There is a pleasing melancholy in
the shade Of gray, she said, indenting
slightly, each outer knuckle with the
elastic Kid, as she measured my hand. |
Can you find a lavender
80 yes the sorrow tint is very slight /
in that, and it wears admiralty
Thus, by degrees, growing beautiful. |
~ less, the grief of the establishment |
died out in the tsnderest lavender, and |
| lest profoundly impressed with the
charming Improvements which Parish. 4
an taste has made on the old aboriginal /