The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-12-02
THE MOURNING EMBLEMS.
The Display of Symbols of Grief ON Publ
and Private Buildings.

and Private Buildings.
8 Of the mourning emblems. which have been so
profusely displayed upon public buildings and
4 private residences, it would be impossible to
4 write with detail that would fttingly convey
to the reader any adequate idea of their general
effect. This is true both as to extent and char
acter, many being so elaborate in design that the
most careful description would fail to bring be-
fore the minds eye the tout ensemble, taken in
connection with surroundings, which added so
much to the general harmonious results. Among
the most noticeable the postofice, court
I house. and various buildings occupied by
the State officers may be mentioned
as having been in the hands of those competent
Z to carry out the matter in hand in such man
ner to secure the most satisfactory and fitting
results. Probably, never in the history of
funeral draping of buildings have more effect
i've and satisfactory results been attained than
that in case of the postofice, the lower story of
which is literally enshrouded with pail of dead
4 black save for the doors and windows. while
A above, the effect can only be described by the
word massive Looking either way upon Wash
ington street the effect is peculiarly sombre, ow-
ing to the profuson with which mourning en-
blems have been displayed. 1t is like looking
down vast funeral corridor hardly building
or even window being seen which does not bear
I some sign of mourning. But not alone to the
sthoroughfares in the central portion of the city
1 are confined these expressions of outward sor
row. Upon the porches and in the windows of
private residences are displayed designs, many
of them elaborate in detail while in the most
humble cottages evidence is given that the loss
is appreciated, and that mourning too is there.
Never have all classes and conditions of citi
zens more earnestly We'd with each other
/ in doing honor to the dead in this direction of
dumb show, than under the present circumstan-
ces and the bit of black in the window of the
poorest mourner has spoken as eoquently Of
sorrow as the more elaborate and richer display
of the more fortunate possessors of this worlds
goods every phase of which he in whose hon or
they have been hung has been called upon to
relinquish 1t is over What his fellows knew
as the external exhibition of him, has passed
down the lines of the living, under the sombre
shadows of the emblems hung to do honor
/ to his passage, to that rest which is
the end of all lifes turmoil. and those who
looked as what was him went by, have gone. or
are preparing to 60 to their homes, to take up
their tasks and resume the threads of 0heir
daily lives until for them, too, is solved the
problem, the key to which is only held by that
power which we designate death. But more
lasting than the memory of the funeral hang
ings, which for a few days will flap in the win
ter winds and fade in the winter rains, will be
the recollection of the personal influence of the
man to do honor to whom they were displayed,
and of how his fellows sought to do honor to the
life which has ended to all earthly demonstra
tions.