The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1881-08-13

'lilNittIS W ~ tIS 1t
is now almost universal to carry the re-
mains to a church. where the friends can
pay the last tribute of respect without
the crowdmg into Il private house. Pail
bearers are invited by note. and assemble
at the house of the deceased. accompany
ing the corpse, after the ceremonies at
the church. to its final resting place. -
The nearest lady friends seldom 90 tt
the church or the grayc. This is. how
ever. entirely a matter of feeling. and
they can 90 if they wish. After the
funeral, only the members of the family
return to the house. and it is not expect
cd that bcreaved wife or mot her will
/ be called on to see any one ont of hen
family for several weeks.
\ funeral in the house is committed tC
the care of an undertaken. who removes
the furniture of the drawing room, fill
inc all the space possible with camp
stools. The clergyman reads the service
at the head of the coffin. the IclatiN e>
being grouped around. The body. il not
disiigured by disease, is often dressed III
the clothes worn in life. and land in an
open caSket, as if reposing on sofa, and
all friends are asked to take one long.
last look. 1t is. however, somewhat
CHASTITY to try to make the dead look like
the living. The body of a man is gener-
ally dressed III the clothes of every day
laid ont = in his habit as he lived" \
young boy is often laid out in his jacket
and daily dress. but surely the young
look more fifty clad in the white cash
mere robe.
The custom of decorating the coffin
with flowers is beautiful one. but has
become in large cities So overdone. and
So purely Il matter of money, that now
the request is generally made that no
flowers be sent.
In England a lady of the court wears
for her parent Grape and bombazine Cor
its equivalent in any lustreless cloth) for
three months. She goes nowhere during
that period. After that she wears IUstre-
less silks, trimmed with Grape and Jet.
and goes to court if commanded. She
can also go to concerts without violating
etiquette. or to family weddings. After
six months she again lightcnS her mourn
ing to black and white, and can attend
the drawing room, and go to small
dinners. For a husband the time is eX-
actly double, but in neither case would
she be seen at ball, threaten. or opera for
one year. at least.
OF course where court ceremonialS are
IA part OF a woman S duty. these rules are
rigidly respected.
In this country. no person in mourning
for parent, child. brother or husband.
party, or any other place of public
amusement for three months. After
that one may be seen at concert. Blu,
to go to the opera. or a dinner. or party
before six months have elapsed is con-
sidcred heartIess and diSrcspccti'ul In
deed, the sight of Il deep mourning dress
at such place is contradiction in
terms. If one chooses. as many do. to
not wear mourning. then they can 90
unchalcnged to any place of amusement
for they have asserted their right to be
independent. But if they put on mourn
ing. they must respect its etiquette. To
many who SORROW deeply and who regard
the Grape and solemn dress as Il mark of
respect to the dead. it is deemed almost
Il sin for i woman to 20 into the street.
out her deep Grape veil over her face. l.
is often a remark OF the ccnSnri0us that
i; person who li.htcnS her mourning be
fore that time ",lid ROY care much for
the deceased and many people speak
vi the fact thai a Wi,tow or an orphan
Wore her Grape two Years a much t" her
credit. But these ideas are generally
the prodnt of very barren minds, for
there is oStentation in mourning as in all
lllliiSS nv btSl dNltlpl 'jitN l!llll ttlt
term of the deepest mourning dress to
three months, the entire leaving off of
Grape to six months. and the mourning
dress to one year. and the term of seclu-
sion should follow these laws.
OF course no one can say say that a
woman should not wear mourning all
her life ii she chooses. but it is a great
question whether, in So doing. she does
not injure the welfare and happiness of
the living. Children are, as we have
said, often strangely affected by this
shrouding of their mothers.
Common sense and common decency
should, however. restrain the frivolous
from engaging much in the amusements
and gayeties of life before six months
have passed after the death of any near
friend; especially, if they pretend to
wear black, should they be careful of
those appearances which mourning is
supposed to respect.