The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1875-12-03

Earl OF Shrewsbury gave a very prac.
teal turn to the discussion hy inform
ing the Congress that hc had directed
In his will that he should bee buried nj
no great eXpense-not from economical
motives, but because there were SO
many other and better WAYS Of spend.
ing money beneiicially in behalf Of tae
Church. The discussion in the Church
Congress evidently inspired Mr.. John
Bright also 10 express his views uDOn
the subject in a letter 10 MIR. Geore,
Phillips, Of Birmingham, and, as an of
Mr.. Bright's views are peculiarly mark
ed by sound, practical common sense.
and always tend towards the use of sim
plicity and economy i'm matters of every
day life rs well a in political affairs.
they will undoubtedly exercise q wide
spread influence ia the adoption Of tho
proposed reforms. In his letter hc dis
couragcs display of every description.
and advocates the general adoption of
the funeral customs of the Quakers (of
which Society he is a %member). and
especially the Quaker practice of dis
carding black a. Ar emblem of mourn
ing.
Ii is a healthy sign that this discus
sion has taken such a wide range IN
England. The same necessity for re-
form exists in this country rs in Eng
land, although in less degree, rs our
funeral practices are not carried 10 that
extreme of display which characterize-
the English funeral. We have no hired
m%ourners, mutes, or pages, no variegat-
ed trappings or plumes carried up
on triangular tea-trays. Nevertheless,
fashion makes itself manifest in equally
frivolous ways, and involves an expense
witha. which is by no means frivolous.
1t perhaps will be impossible ever to
convince the majority OF people that the
adoption of dismal, lugubrious black il
more suggestive of despair than 81
grief, invests the life of the survivor and
the memory of the departed with the
feeling of remedilesS woe, and banishes
every suggestion Of cheerfulness. But
is il not in the nature Of ~friyolity and
mockery when fashion not alone die
tates the wearing Of complete black al
the outset, and then, as time passes on.
grades the shading If dress down to 4
black-edged handkerchief or black
lined collar, and, as the last gleam
Of sorrow fades away, expresses
the last regret on a black bordercd en-
velope or a lack-feathered fan2 And
is it not ~frivolity and mockcry when
fashion steps in and dictates the num-
Der, character, and complexion Of the
flowers that shall be used, the nature Of
the devices into which they shall be
woven, the form If letter FOR n mono
gram on the pail. and 50 on al nat-
SEAM There is probably not a sensible
person in the United States who does
not believe i; a mockery that fashion
should presume I % dictate how he shall
express his grief AT the loss If a friend.
and an outrage that he shall be sus-
pccted Of inhumanity if he does not FOL
low her dictates. 10 an such people
the recommendations 81 Mr.. Bright and
Of the English clergymcn, 20 which al
fusion has been made, will appeal with
great force. and will Influence them To
make a decided stand against the dis
play, the bad taste. and the expensive
ness incurred thereby. Ii is a reform,
however, which in this country can
hardly bc instituted by Church Con
crosses or general meetings. Il mus,
be accomplished by individual action.
Chicago Tribune.