The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1888-09-08

clOd had been added to the t.
how much dangerous illness this ! Vi
and senseless custom is responsible
there is no method of computation.
| There are certain aspects of "Chris
tan burial " which have grown so dis
cordant with our more intelligent form
OF social life that they have become
ludlcrous, and can, therefore, be mos
wholesomely treated with the caustic o
ridicIle. Among cultivated people
their natural environment no Longer
exists. They are more or les:
distinctly recognized as survi
walls. The dignity and impressive,
ness they may have once possessed has
passed away. The most conspicuous
of these is covered and described by
the comprehensive name of mourn
ing" l have heard brilliant society
belle sorrowing bitterly over the fact
that, just as her most impressive cos
tunes were prepared for a seasons
campaign, the demise of a distant rela-
tive made it necessary for her to GO
into mourning "a fact which had but
the one compenSating circumstance,
that " black was becoming to her "
indeed this final and determining fac
tor in the case often enlarges the pale
of relationship, within the limits of
which funeral fashion makes the as
SUMPTION of mourning" imperative.
In all the large cities stores may be
found where the mortuary expert can
determine to shade the style OF dress
that constitutes "full morning." and
where the length of veil is solemnly
regarded as expressive of what Mr..
Mould termed filial affection" There
is mourning jewelry," mourning Wis
iting cards." mourning stationery"
mourning etiquette and | knew of
one gentlemen who carried his loyalty
to these modes and shows of grief"
to the extent of having the blue ribbons
that adorned his nlghtgown solemnly
replaced with black But the ghastly
humor reaches its climax in the CON-
temptation of half-mourning," or
"second mourning" This symboIlzes
sorrow vanishing through the ministra-
ton of the milliner and the mantua-
maker! 1t is an interesting but GER
tainly not an edifying sight to see
blooming young widow pass through
those various stages of grief which rigid
etiquette demands, from the midnight
gloom of costly Grape, through the SUBJ
dued twilight of "second mourning"
back to the full daylight of gorgeous
color.
These customs should be frankly
characterized as barbarous. They are
no more defenslble from the standpoint
of modern civilization and a rational
religious faith than the ghastly humor
of the Irish peasants wake" They
are condemned by the spirit of Christian
ity and the canons of civilized taste, and
nothing but a familiarity which has
dulled and blunted our sensibilities
prevents US from seeing them in their
true light. But the appeal for their
abolishment can be made effective only
with the wealthy, the intelligent, and
the cultivated. Among these classes
this commendable effort of reform is
already being made. A few months ago
a gentleman died in my own city who
was the beloved minister of large
Congregational church. He was con-
spicuous for his good works and his
bright and cheerful religious faith. His
wealthy congregation stood ready to
spend lavishly for funeral display, but
the sound judgment and pure taste OF
his wife prevailed. Into the church,
where his hopeful words had often
brought consolation to the sorrowing
and hope to the bereaved, his coffin
was brought, bearing a handful of
bright flowers. No badges of mourn
ing" were displayed, no hideous Grape
added gloom to the place. Those who
were nearest in blood and affection sat
in their customary pews, attired as
they were when last they heard his
kindly voice proclaim the gospel of the
souls Immortality. Everything spoke
of living faith, which lnstinctively
shrank from the common symbols of
despair of hopeless death. It was
true Christian burial.
The strong should bear the burdens
of the weak. And only those who are
strong in intelligence and knowledge can
lift from the shoulders of the weak, the
poor, and the ignorant the heavy bur-
dens which have been laid upon them
by false reverence and a tender but
mistaken affection.