National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1874-09-26
STYLES IN MOURNING.
The following rules for dress and etiquette
while in mourning will be generally observed in
Washington society for the present:
FOR A NVTDOV

The following rules for dress and etiquette
while in mourning will be generally observed in
Washington society for the present:
FOR WIDOW.
To commence with the deepest mourning-that
of a widow. The dress is Of parlmatta, entirely
covered with Grape to within inch or two Of the
waist, the Grape being in one piece, not divided
into tucks for the first nine months, after which
IL NAV be divided into two, but must come up
equally high. The body is entirely covered with
Grape; the sleeves are made clOse-htting, and
deep lawn cuffs and lawn collar are worn. The
distinctive cap is worn for a year and a day. The
outdoor dress must have jacket or mantle of
paramatta, heavily trimmed with crape-neither
fur nor velvet is admissible; the bonnet Grape,
with widows cap, and a Grape veil with deep
hem. After a year silk, heavily trimmed with
Grape, may be worn for six months, after which
the Grape may be lightened considerably, and Jet
trimmings are admissible; after nine months,
plain black can be worn. After two years mourn
ing may be laid aside but it is better taste to
half mourning for some months. Cards returning
thanks for kind inquiries imply willingness to
see those to whom they are sent; so the proper
time for sending them must vary according to in
dividual feeling. They should not, however, be
sent before six months have elapsed. OF course,
during the first year widow can accept no invi-
tations and should frequent no public places, but
alter the year is past she may gradually return
to society.
CHILDREN FOR PARENTS.
The next degree Of mourning is that Of children
for their parents which is Of the same duration
as that Of parents for a ehild-namely, one year.
For three months paramatta, or some similar
material, heavily trimmed with Grape, should be
worn with lawn collars and cuffs; for the next
three silk with slightly less Grape, the same COL
lara and cuffs. After six months Grape is laid
aside, and plain black worn for one month; black
ornaments and gloves must be worn, after which
gold, diamonds, silver, pearls and gray gloves,
sewn with black, are admissible. After nine
months, half mourning is quite correct. No
society should be INDUCED in for two months;
after that ordinary habits may be gradually re-
sumed; but Grape is out of place at balls, so they
should be avoided while it is worn.
WIFE FOR A HUSBANDS RELATIVES.
A wife wears mourning for her husbands rela-
tives precisely as she would for her own. Six
months is the proper period of mourning for bro
Their or sister-three months in Grape two in black,
and one in half-mourning. For an uncle or aunt,
niece or nephew, three months is the period, and
no Grape is worn at all. No invitation should be
accepted until after the funeral. For first
cousin, six weeks, three OF which may be slight.
1t is not compulsory to wear mourning for Sec
ond cousin at all; II, however he or she has been
an intimate friend, three weeks is a sufficiently
long period. These exhaust the degrees Of abso-
lutte relationship, but there other cases where
mourning is compulsory such, for instance, is the
case of mother with married son or daughter;
If either Of them lose their father or motherIn-
law the mother wears black, not Grape, for six
weeks. and light mourning for six weeks mora
In the case of a man who has lost HIS first wife
and married again, 1t is customary, II either Of
the parents Of the first wife die, for tho second
wifgto wear slight mourning for three months,
more especially Il there should be any children
by the FIRST marriage this is not compulsory, but
it is usual, and in good taste. The second wife,