National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1884-10-02
MEXICAN FUNERALS.
Etiquette and spiendor OF Burial
In the Southern Republic.

Etiquette and spiendor OF Burial
In the Southern Republic.
The popularity of Mexican funerals is
that generally every cheering suggestion
is religiously excluded, and all that is
CHASTITY and horrible is ostentatiously
brought to the front, writes corre-
spondent from Mexico to the Montreal
star. Great magniflcence may be INDUCED
in, if the afflicted are wealthy, and thou
sands Of dollars may be spent, but the
dead are not laid to rest in beds Of bios
SONS, amid beautiful surroundings-no
floral tributes of harps aud anchors,
palms and crowns are seen, aud the
living indulge in tho utmost luxury
of grief" declining to BIO robbed of a
single pang, All bodies must be carried
to tho church before being laid
in consecrated ground, but memorable
custom does not permit the female mourn
ors to 90 beyond their own doors on these
sad occasions. SO tho wife, the mother,
the sister, the daughter take their last
farewell on casa and only male relatives
attend the departed to temple and tomb.
| And doubtless this ia well, considering
the emotional nature Of the race. and tho
impossibility Of Anglo-Saxon self control
among women of tropic temperament.
| The utmost minutes of funeral etiquette
| is vigorously observed by all classes in
Mexico. Black garments must be worn
by every female member of tho family,
even to remote cousins and little children,
for at least two years, while male rela
tives for an equal length Of time wear
broad bands of black upon their hats and
black silk neckties, not to mention tho
scarf of Grape with flowing ends, which
is kept tied above tho elbow of tho right
arm for month after the funeral. Upon
no account must tho ladies of tho house
hold be seen anywhere in public during the
term of mourning; jewolry and all adOrn-
ments must be laid aside, letter paper and
envelopes must testify to tho famil y
atiiiction. aud all tho minutest signs OF
Voc be faithfully employed, even by those
who could have had little interest in tho
deceased, or as 1t sometimes happens
when death was welcome relief to all
concerned instead of sorrow to any
body. There Is but ono occasion when
even Il roat-grcat-grandniece or u cousin
many times removed, can find any sort
of excuse for appearing before tho world
during tho prescribed term of seclusion,
and that is when public masses are said
from time to time for tho dead.
An old lady belonging to ono of tho
first families of the ancient Spanish re-
gime has told me with pride how, on the
death Of hor grandson, dozen years ago,
the little corpse was deoked with jewels
enough TO ransom king, more gorgeous
display of precious stones than tho treas
urc rooms Of tho great national pawnshop
can show. Tho boy was first developed
in richest point lace, and all the diamonds
of several countesses and Ave marquescs
were collected to put upon him-rings,
necklaces, bracelets, brooches, and tirras
to the value of more than 81 100000. The
whole street was hung with black drap.
cries, band Of music played all day upon
the outer balcony. and the corpse was
visited by all the titled relatives Of the
family. Poor little baby Notwith5tand.
ing It's dead splendor, the mother mournod
her blightcd hopes no doubt as other
mothers do-perhaps the moro bitterly
because in him persisted the last scion Of
noble raco.