Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1881-08-23
The Follv of Mourning

Natures, of course, differ widely, and
there are some who (probably in Conse-
qucnce of having been accustomed from
their earliest years to regard as the EN- :
bem of death and sadness) find some
amount of relief and comfort in wear
ing when friend dies, and feel salts
faction in marking the especial event
with especial garments. But all are not
Of this way of thinking, and there are
many whose inclinations are Just the re-
verse. The sort Of self-consciousness
and strangeness of feeling which usually
accompany brand new clothes are dis
tasteful to them in time of trouble,
and they wish only to 90 about in what
ever they are in the habit of wearing,
without any further alteration. Sorrow
may be none the less true and real be-
cause it shrinks from ostcntatiOus parade
from wearing the heart on the sleeve,
for DAVIS to peck at; it may feel that the
inadequacy of outward signs to give it
expression makes an attempt at doing so
mere mockery, and may prefer to con-
ceal itself, as far as possible, under its
wonted exterior. How can real grief be
represented flttingly by Grape and hat
bands? And if no real grief exist, then
the whole affair is nothing but a misera-
exhibition of humbug and hypocracy--
an appeal to the world for sympathy and
commendation upon false pretences.--
What sort of sorrow Is felt by relatives
who say: "Oh! we must put the chill
drcn into mourning for Uncle so-and-so
he's left us something in his will ;" or
else: 81 shan't trouble about black for
Cousin Such-an-onc--hc'S left me moth
ing;" rs the case may be? 1t would be
surely more honest for such pretended
mourncrs as these to assume signs Of re-
joicing or woe, according as they do or
do not find themselves the possessors of
fresh riches. Even when sorrow is real
ly felt, its intensity and duration will
not be alike in all cases where the rela-
tionship is the same, because no two
husbands and wives, brothers and sis
ters, or other relations will love one an
other in exactly the same degree; aud
on this account, there must necessarily
be something foolish and unreal in
practice which assumes that the depth
and extent of regret may be reckoned
WI uNNVlNluH w ll'dl llNSN VI hlI' hlNIN
or less of sloppincss and hOllowness is al
most inscperNblc from the wearing of
mourning, according to the present GUS
tom; yet there is that about death which
is apt to put human nature essentially
ont of tune for all that is artificial and |
sham.
Again, how can anyone who believes
in the resurrection reconcile it with his
conscience to make everything connect
ed with death dark, gloomy and melan-
chollyY If he has that sure confidence
which he processes TO have as to the de-
parted being safe from all future dan
gers, and haying passed to state of
bliss far beyond what Is attanable upon |
earth, why does he not rejoice in their
happiness? Does he think them out of |
reach Of sympathy, because ont Of sight?
Or is he too selfish to let the thought of |
their gain outweigh that Of his own loss |
In 1875 Mourning Reform Assocla-
ton was started by three ladies', and has |
certainly commended itself to the pub |
lie mind to some cNtout, seeing that IL |
now numbers $50 members. II discour-
ages the use Of mourning stationery, |
of Grape, and putting Of chill |
1rcn and servants into black; recon-
mends that mourning should be shown
by black baud around the arm, or by q
black scarf; and aims generally at mini
nizing mourning.