The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1881-09-10
Mourning Customs-Their Useless Cost
and WORRY

CUSTOMS impose upon usa great amount
of cost and worry, at an especially in
opportune period. And from this the
inquirer proceeds to ask what is the
reason why the unwelcome expense and
bother are incurred? why affection of
mind more than that of the body should
be proclaimed by attire? why it should
be more important to associate par
tlcular color with grief than with rheu-
matism, biliousness. influenza or any
other illness? Natures, of course, diff.
fer widely, and there are those who
(probably in consequence of having
been accustomed from their earliest
years to regard black as the emblem of
death and sadness), find some amount
OF relief and comfort in wearing mourn
ing when friend dies. and feel salts
faction il 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 reverse. The sort of self-cons ciOus-
ness and strangeness of feeling which
usually accompany brand-new clothes
are distasteful to them in a time of
trouble, and they wish only to 60 about
in whatever they are in The habit of
wearing, without any fuss or alteration.
Sorrow may be none the less true and
deep because it shrinks from ostenta-
tious parade-from wearing the heart
on the sleeve, for davis to peck at; il
may feel that the inadequacy of out
ward signs to give it expression makes
any attempt at doing so a mere mock
cry, and may prefer to conceal itself as
far as possible, under its wonted exte-
rior. How can real grief be represented
fittingly by Grape and hatbands? And
if no real grief exists then the whole
affair isnothing but miserable exhibit
ton of humbug and hypocrisy--an APP
peal to the world for sympathy and
commiseration upon false pretenses.
What sort of sorrow is felt by rela-
tives who say: 90! we must put the
children into mourning for Uncle So
and-so-he's left us something in his
will" or else, Il shan't trouble about
black for Cousin Such-an- one--he's left
me nothing" as the case may be? 1t
would be surely more honest for such
pretended mourners as these to as
sumo signs of rejoicing or woe,
according as they do or do not
uuu tucilScASCS tHc pooscSSoIS VI
fresh riches. Even when sorrow is
really felt, its intensity and duration
will not be alike in all cases where the
relationship is the same, because no two
husbands and wives, brothers and sis.
tiers, or other relations, will love one
another in the same degree, and on this
account there must necessarily be some-
thing foolish and unreal in a practice
which assumes that the depth and ex-
tent Of regret may be reckoned on ac-
cording 10 nearness of kin. Is grief to
be bound by hard-and-fast rule? to be
made to conform to so many inches of
black border on cards and writing
paper? to be sent to the mitigated"
and unmitigated" departments Of
mourning warehouses in order to ex-
press itself correctly in graduated shades
OF black, gray or violet? More or less
OF shoppiness and hollowness is almost
inseparable from the wearing of mourn
ing, according to the present custom;
yet there is that about death which is
apt to put human nature essentially out
OF tune for all that is artificial and
sham.
Again, how can any one who believes
in the resurrection reconcile it with his
conscience to make everything con-
nected with death dark, gloomy and
melancholy If he has that sure conf
dence which he Processes to have as to
the departed being safe from all future
dangers, and having passed to a state
of bliss far beyond what is attainable
upon earth, why does he not rejoice in
their happiness. Does he think them
out of reach of sympathy because out of
sight? Or is he too selfish to let the
thought Of their gain outweigh that of
his own loss?
In 1875 Mourning Reform Associa-
ton was started by three ladies, and has
certainly commended itself to the pub
tic mind to some extent. seeing that it
now numbers $50 members. 1t dis
courages the use of mourning station
cry. wearing of Grape, and putting of
children and servants into black; rec
ommends that mourning should be
shown by black band round the arm,
or by black scarf, and aims generally
at minimizing mourning. Should any
one desire further information on the
subject, we have no doubt it would be
gladly supplied by the Honorary Secre-
tary, Fairfield Malvern. This reform
is matter in which we believe that the
assistance of the upper classes would
be particularly effective, and that if
people of undeniable wealth and posi-
ton will take it up they win thereby
confer boon on many poor and less
influential ones, who fear to incur the
reproach of poverty, If they should at
tempt by themselves to shake off the
burden pressing on them, but who would
gladly follow in the wake Of persons of
rank or millionaires, who by their cir
cumstances are secured from any dan
ger of such charge. And to conclude
with practical suggestion. we would
remind every one who wishes well to
mourning reform that he can materially
and easily help it on by stating his
views on the subject in his will. and by
oouosfiny his fysoude IN IN try fhor, ont