The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1883-11-08
The Fashion of Mourning Garb.
[Chicago Inter Ocean. I

| lChlcago Inter Ocean,
OF all the subjects discussed by the
Eleventh Congress of Women, at its
recent session in this city, none
seemed to excite more lively interest
than Mourning Garb," which was un-
der consideration nearly an hour and
a half. The first speaker, DR.. Julia
Holmes Smith, of this city, read an
elaborate paper on the subject, strong
ly and grandly protesting against the
mandate of fashion which demands the
wearing of black in attestation of sor-
row over bereavement. All the speak
ers who followed her spoke in the
same strain, and, Judging from the
applause, one would say that the As
soclatlon for the Advancement of
woman looks upon mourning garb as
an evil to be abolished, and calls upon
those who set the fashions of the day
to lnaugurate a genuine dress re-
form.
Mrs. DIR. Smiths paper was admira-
bic In the art of putting things. One
could hardly come under the influence
OF its persuasive rhetoric without
being strongly moved by it; but its
chief feature was its logic. The
objections to the mourning garb could
not be more effectively set forth. Five
reasons were given for the position
taken, viz:
| l. The reflex influence on the wearer
of somber clothing is bad, keeping
the attention undulY fixed upon the
sorrow.
2. The influence of black is depress-
ing upon those about us, especially
children, whose morning of life should
be filled with sunshine.
8. Custom makes towards of us all,
compelling many persons to incur an
expense for mourning attire that they
cannot afford, especially poor widows
deprived by death of their only means
of support.
4. Much of the mourning is worn at
the dictate of fashion, and is flaunt-
ing hypocrisy, and thus serves a de-
moralizing purpose.
5. 1t is like second burial to take
off the mourning garb.
Each point was well taken and ably
argued.
1t was more than accidental coinci-
dent that all the speakers, with one ex-
ception, were arrayed wholly in black.
The tiny collar, alone, relieved the
darkness of the scenery. The one ex-
ception wore suit of brown. There
was nothing strictly funereal perhaps
in any part of their costumes. The
truth is that black is the garb of gen.
tllity with man or woman. He or
she who avoids colors escapes critl-
cism, and gives the impression of
being well dressed, without having a
weakness for dress. 1t is not to be
supposed that any of these protest
ants against the conventional black
of mourning wore black or brown on
the platform for that special occasion.
On the contrary, they probably took
no thought on the subject of personal
attire further than to obey the in
stincts of good taste. We only speak
of it as showing that the reform in
/ question is really not matter of color
70 any considerable extent. What is
needed is simplicity. Grief, of all
things, should avoid ostentation.
Then, too, those who can afford to
dress as they please, should consider
the duty they owe to that large class,
poor widows. No doubt a great deal
of suffering could be traced to the So
cial necessity to don particular garb
in attestation of sorrow for the be-
loved dead. Gay attire would be un-
becoming, of course, but ordinary
black and neutral tints are, in them
selves, as appropriate in the presence
of death as the conventional grapes.
To make the whites of eggs beat
quickly, add to them little pinch of
D n