National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1885-11-07

Crave Dress.
MEXICO, Oct. 81, 1884 big, black
bOidtrtd envelope, Just now handed be-
tween my window-bais, ly the crapc-gar-
niehCd valet OF tic late Senior Don Jesus
jose Gonzalez, aunouuccs the death OF the
latter and invites the reader to his funeral.
The sheet Of pink tinted paper Is as heavily
EoidIred with black as Its cover, and bears
at the tCp q collection Of tombstoncs OF
various styles doubtless the advertising
plptc OF some dealer, which the thrifty
printer utilities In this mannerl and ut the
bottom Of the page a sc0sick-looking fc-
male bends in the usual attitude over an
urn. Between these two suggestive pic
lures Is printed IN fuultlcss Spanish the in
formation that Mr. Jesus Jose Gonzalez died
yesterday at noon, and that his afflicted wife
(who nouns under the neat little name Of
Maria Conception de las Angeles Mario de
Gouzalez), bis son, Ramon Flores Gonzalez,
together with his brother relatives, and
many friends desire to participate with you
in lamenting the melancholy event, and In
duplicating the Redcemcr to grant the dead
man's soul a speedy exit from purgdtory,
and eternal rect IN paradise; also that the
ItuhtI Is llNAlNN W hN Nflll Ntlt NNhiN VI NUN
its late residence to the Cathedral de San
Francisco, and thence to the main pantheon
at . p. IN. to-day.
ETIQUETTE OF Tnr uCUsE or DEATH.
Funeral etiquette IS vigorously observed
TO the miGutcst particular 10y all class % In
Mexico, and death IN tie family has been
the financial ruin Of many man. Black
garments must be worn for at least two
years hy every female relative, even to re-
.It La
relatives, however d!stantly connected,
must for an equal length of time wear broad
bands Of block flannel upon their straw or
felt hats, black silk neck-ties and black
gloves, not to mention the scarf of Grape
with flowing ends. which Is Kept tied
above the elbow Of the right coat sleeve
for not less than six weeks after the
funeral. Upon no account whatever must
the ladies Of the household be seen any
where in public during the two years OF
mounting Jcwelry AMI all adornmcnts
must tC laid aside, letter paper and en-
veiUrCs must ConspicuOusy advertise the
family aillCtiou, aud all the smallest signs
Of woe must lie faithfully employed-even
Gy those who could have had little interest
Ia tie deceased, or when, Us sometimes
happens, death could have brought moth
lug lut welcome relief to all concerned
The one occasion upon which even a
thifty-third cousin, or grcat-great-grand-
Ilttts may bt tNtheNN lOi uIItNillE uulllH
the prescribed term Of seClusion is when
public masses are being said for the dead.
INVITATIONS TO THE MASS,
These ''honors" for the dead are so nu-
mcrous that scarcely day passes without
bringing au invitation to attend the celebra-
ton Of one or more of them. Invitation
cards are gotten up much in the style de
scribCd above for funeras-eaCh with tomb,
cypress, and weeping woman above the let
AYppp0f tlp half Ipvpp
my table here is one lately received, which
sets forth the fact that the brothers and
uncle Of Senior Don Ysmael Perre Gomez,
who died on the Gsth of last June, request
you 70 assist at his funeral "honors,n
which, by the desire of his wife, will be
celebrated on the 23d of the present month.
\ MAGNIFICENT AFFAIR.
Not long ago, in the City of Mexico, at
tended the "honors" of q daughter of n
cabinet officer who is one of the richest men
in the republic. 1t was an indescribably
magnificent affair, no expense having been
spared to enhance the splendor of the occa-
SIGN. The walls and pillars Of the cathedral
were covered with draperles OF crimson vel
vet, loIdered with gold. All the choicest
treasures which centuries have gathered in
the rich old sanctuary were brought
forth; thousands Of waXcn tapcrs blazed
fICm dome TO pavement, and sew
eral bands of music played dur
ing pauses Of the deep rolling
organ. An nnumerabie company of priests,
each carrying lighted candle yard long,
were ranged around the gittering altar.
All the male relatives of the family, dressed
in deepest mourning, occupied high-backed
chairs placed along one side of the church.
Hundreds Of yelled and blaCk-rObed women
linelt upon the rich carpet which tempo
rarly covered the stone floor, but among
them all was not one near relative Of the
deceased, the grief Of mothers and sisters
being considered too great to permit them
TO appear, even for this solemn purpose.
Drawing our mantillHsof black lace over our
faces for to wear Il bonnet in church at any
time Is considered sacrileglous), Betsy and |
knelt among the mourning throng, wonder
ing much why 1t is that women must al
ways kneel while men may sit or stand.
Is IL because the latter are less wicked than
the weaker sex, and, therefore, not in need
of praying; or because II is the special PROV
ince OF the formerto possess piety enough FOL
the whole family? Really, II heaven Is to
be won only through personal prayers
seriously fear that the "Swcet By and By''
Will include only vast colony of lonesome
saintesses, with never n man among them
The whole service, which continued more
than two hours, was exceedingly impress
sivc--the solemn music, the burning incense,
the chanting of priests and choir boys, the
impGssioned prayers and fervent responses;
but all seemed more joyous than sad, be.
cause of the prevailing idea that each note
which rose to heaven carried with II some
lesseniDg Of the tortures of the young and
lovely dead and waited her soul nearer to
the City Beautiful. She was scarcely II
when called to leave this world-as pure
and innocent q maiden as ever lived-yet,
according to Mexican ideas, as much effort
was required to rescue her from purgatory
as II she had been hardened criminal
BEJwELED CORPSE.
An old lady, belonging to one OF the "frst
families of The, ancient Spanish 80 ieme,
has told es WITH VII. gg q Ca pride how-On the
ueaVf OF her grandson, a dozen years ago
Eme little corpse was decked with jewels
enough TO ransom king, which out-shone
all the treasures OF the great national pawn
shop. The boy was envelOpcd In richie 81
point lace, and all the diamonds of his
Titled relations Gncluding six cOuntesses
and five marquses) were collected to put
upon him--Tings, brooches, necklaces
toviGs, to the value Of more than a million
pesos. The entire street was hung Will
sable draperies, brass band played
all day upon the outer balcony Of the housC
in which the tiny cadaver lay in state, and
crowds came to see the show. Poor baby
Notwithstanding all this splendid masquer
aiding, no doubt the mother mOurned heI
blighted hopes as other mothers do-per
haps the more bitterly because In him
persisted the last scion OF noble house.
THE COUNTESS STORY.
Apropos Of thus making a show OF TIN
dead a story is told by the Countess Cal
deron de Ia Barea, which is doubtless true
a lady Of high rank being dead her family
according to the then prevailing fashion
undertook TO commit her to the toni
habited IN her most magnificent dress, tina
in which sho had been married. This rob
was a marvel Of richness, whose equal hat
never been seen even in luxurious Mexico
IL was entirely composed Of the finest poin
lncn IL fnhnlnnR Xnlnn. nrnfmsnlN nlnrnnl