Morning journal and courier., 1881-07-26
Mourning Customs.
Much Cost and Worry Imposed upon the
 People.
From the London spectator.l


 From the London Spectatorl
 It appears, therefore, that our present mourning customs impose upon us great amount of cost and worry, at an especially inopportune period. And from this the in quirer proceeds to asks what is the reason why the unwelcome expense and bother are incurred? why afdiction of mind more than that of body should be proclaimed by attire why it should be more important to associate particular color with grief, than with rheu- matism, biliousness, influenza or any other illness? Natures, of course, differ widely, and there are some who (probably in conse quencs 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 moul ming when friend dies, and feel 8 satisfaction ln marking the especial event with especial gar ments. But all are not of this way of think ing, and there are many whose lncllnatlons are just the reverse. The sort of self con- sciousness and strangeness of feeling which usually accompany brand new clothes are distasteful to them in time of trouble, and they wish only to go about in whatever they are in the habit of wearing, without any fuss alteration Sorrow may be none the less true and deep because it shrinks from ostentatious parade from wearing the heart on the sleeve, for daws to peck at; 1t may feel that the made quacy of outward signs to give it expression makes any attempt at doing so mere mock cry, and may prefer to conceal itself as far as possible, under it's wonted exterior. How can real grief be represented fittingly by crape and hatbands? And if no real grief exist, then the whole affair is nothing but miserable exhibition of hunbug and hypecri- sy-an appeal to the world for sympathy and commiseration upon false pretences. What sort of sorrow is felt by relatives who say, "Oh we must put the children into mourn ing for uncle o-and-so-he's left us some thing in his will ;'' or else q shant trouble about black for cousin such an one-he's left me nothing;" as the case may be? It would be surely more honest for such pretended mourners as these to assume signs of rejo1c- ing or woe, according as they do or do not find themselves the possessors of fresh rich es. Even when sorrow is really felt, it's ln- tensity and duration will not be alike ln all cases where the relationship is the same, because no two husbands and wives, brothers and sisters, or other rela- tions, will love one another in exactly the same degree, and on this account there must necessarily be something foolish and unreal in a practice which assumes that the depth and extent of regret may be reckoned on &C., cording to nearness of kin. Is grief to be bound by hard -and-fast rule ? to be made to conform to so many inches of black bor- der on cards and writing paper? to be sent to the '.mitigated" and ''unmltlgated" de- partments of mourning warehouses in order to express itself correctly in graduated shades of black, gray, or violet? More or less of shoppiness and hollowness is almost insepar- able from the wearing of mourning, accord ing to the present custom; yet there is that about death which is apt to put human na- ture essentially out of tune for all that is ar tifcial and sham.
 Again. how can anyone who believes in the Resurrection reconcile it with his con- science to make everything connected with death dark gloomy and melancholy If he has that sure confidence which he profess es to have as to the departed being safe from all future dangers, and having passed to 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 association was started by three ladies, and has certainly commended itself to the public mind to some extent, seeing that it now numbers 450 mem- bers It discourages the use of mourning stationery, wearing of crape, and putting of children and servants into black; recon mends that mourning should be shown by black band round the arm, or by black scarf, and aims generally at minimizing mourning. Should anyone desire further information on the subject, we have no doubt it would be gladly supplied by the honorary secretary, 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 undenialle wealth and position will take it up they will thereby confer boon on many poor and less influential ones, who fear to incur the reproach of poverty, if they should attempt by themselves to shake off the bur- den pressing on them, but who would gladly follow in the wake of persons of rank or millionaires, who by their circumstances are secured from any danger of such 8 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 friends to carry them out at his dicease.