New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1888-06-20
STYLES in Mourning

Many widows wear mourning for
life. others for two years (unless, per-
chance, as has sometimes occurred, a
second marriage takes place within
that time). All idea of decoration or
ornament is out of place on a mourn
ing costume. There should invaria bly,
be seen plain skirts, neat, close fitting
bodices, with white crepe lisse in neck
and sleeves and a plain jacket or long
coat. The mourning bonnet is still
made in the close cottage shape, with
a full white ruche about the face and
a veil of various lengths to indicate
for whom the mourning is worn is the
proper streetattire. The ruche around
the face was once called the widows
ruche, but feminine vanity has altered
that. Yes, vanity in mourning per
mits any one to wear such ruche in
any mourning. a widows veil must
reach to the hem of her skirt; daugh-
ter's or a mothers just below the waist,
and sisters. niece's or grandchild's
not quite to the waist For a friend
black is sometimes worn, but a veil
never, not even when the friend is a
distant relative, who, may be, has left
the mourner a legacy.
A mourning house dress is always
made with a little train to the plain
skirt. A widow wears, in the house,
as an additional badge of woe, white
crepe widows cap, which is usually
omitted from the attire after two
years, even though black be worn for
life. A great many persons once OBJ
iected to black for life on account of
saddening the household and the little
ones, but such number Of women
wear nothing but black after thirty
five years nowadays this is no longer
taken into consideration. Children in
America are rarely seen in mourning.
It is the saddest sight to see a
flock of little ones burdened so young.
and as they do not understand enough
to really mourn, sensible persons have
tactitly abandoned the custom.
No one assumes the garb for a lesser
period than six months, rarely for less
than a year, and many wear it much
longer. No one to-day puts on black col
lars and cuffs, nor uses wide black Dor
dered handker chiefs, nor stationery with
deeper mark than the faintest line of
edging. The question of feeling en-
tirelY governs the etiquette of receiv-
ing ones friends, but the arbitrary
laws Of staying at home from any
public place for so many months have
been entirely expunged. A near
friend often carries off mourner to a
theatre, willy -nilly, to make her forget
for an instant It should shock no
one after six weeks. or two months
have expired.
A fancee may exercise her own feel
ing entirely in the matter of mourn
ing. Everyone will feel it matter of
desire, of respect, of good taste to alb
stain from entertaining or going out
for nine months at least when the sor-
row for the near and dear is yet a flesh
wound, not calloused by the action of
that great healer time.
Letters of cond olence should be sent
at once. There is no excuse for for
getting or emitting this. Cards, too,
should be sent at once. It is a mark
OF greater feeling to leave them in
person. There should be a sense of
decency displayed by the men of the
family in these matters. A black band
is not all that is necessary. Ionce
knew man of good family who in
sisted upon his wife assuming the
deepest Grape and his little children
black on the death of his mother, but
who went about himself with light
brown, red and white, big checked suit