Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1889-12-01
FASHIONS OUT OF FAVOR.

We now read of receptions and funerals
with the same morbid interest in the soci-
ETY. columns of some of our best newspa-
pers. In several instances the name OF
the widow of the dead man is placed at
the head of the list of prominent" per-
sons attending the ceremony. "Among
those present were Mrs. So and So." How
grimly grotesque.
And when an old club man, worn out
by excesses and dissipation, gives up the
ghost, high-priced quartet, secured for
the occasion, warble, Nearer, Ny God, to
Thee" bursting into exulting climax at
the close as if triumphing over the victo-
rious release of some noble saint. Or,
"Abide with Me" is selected, or, "Lead,
Kindly Light" which is audaciously bias
phemous under the circumstances. Mourn
ing garb is often agrateful protection from
publicity, but to what conventional eli
max even this is carried. If really pros
trated by grief how are we to be expected
to stand up and be fitted" for gowns,
wraps and bonnets of the latest style and
the appropriate depth of woe and added
trial for aching head, weary feet and sor-
rowing heart? Often the best lessons to
be gained from affliction are lost in mass
of Grape, and what hypocrisy is sometimes
smothered beneath its folds.
Wishing to initiate the rich, see the
poor widow wasting the small sum left in
the savings bank for snowy mourning and
a score of carriages that her friends may
enjoy jolly drive at her expense, while
she is trying to honor the corpse" And
those who are refined and cultivated, and
cramped by scanty incomes or starvation
salaries-how difficult, how unwise, for
them to follow the fashion in such matters.
That the family is expected to sit up
stairs, away from their loved one, during
the hymn and prayer, seems as unnatural
as for the men to be expected to stand
upon the damp ground, with uncovered
heads, in snow or rain during the prayer
at the grave. How | dislike the current
phrase, "viewlng the remains" glibly
uttered by the CHEEKY undertakers, think
ing of his big pay and endeavoring to look
melancholy. That dear face, so lately
wreathed with smiles or flushed with SYM
pathy; that form so familiar, so impossi-
Bile to think of without life, called the
"remains" That may do for the prosy,
dust-covered sermons Of some worthy old
divine of past generations, though | be-
lieve he would object to it. AS now used,
it is simply abhorrent.
Nor do | believe in two years Of sable
gloom or enforced solitude. Look at the
dismal figures seen every day upon the
streets, in the cars, in church, swathed in
hopeless black, the faces even entirely
shrouded by long, heavy SIS or $50 veil,
shutting out sunshine and air, dangerous
to eyes, complexion and health, and Civ
ing every passerby chill. If one ventures,
after n,Snths of torture, to throw back the
veil, how it drags off the bonnet, pulls
down the hair, piercing the heads with
pins askew, and the unhappy being is
ierked about until the neck is nearly dis
located by those who are trying to get by.
Retiring from the world is often a self
denial or burden. The reporters speak
of Mrs. So and So, as Obliged to with
draw" invitations for dinner or dance be-
cause a father or husband has had the poor
taste, not to say bad manners, to actually
die in the height of the season. But the
really bereaved should not be left in
awful loneliness. The piano is closed,
music would be discordant sacrilege; yet
the departed may be enjoying heavenly
harmonies. The blinds and draperies
shut out all sunshine, because in heaven
there is no night. What is imperatively
needed-cheerful society, new occupations,
amusements, taking the mind into new
channels-all this is peremptorily denied by
fashion and Mrs. Grundy, and so there is
nothing left but to go over and over again
the narrowing details, the useless regrets,
until many are on the brink Of insanity.
When l am shocked and grieved by the
sight of familiar name in the column OF
deaths" it is painful to see ''please omit
flowers" as if the family feared an invasion
of gigantic and hideous floral designs. The
word "omit" would seem to indicate that
there had been chronic tendency among
their friends in that direction. Flowers
sent by loving and sympathetic friends,
because they are sympathetic and long to
show it, ought never to be unwelcome and
formally forbidden. What can one do ?
A card is perhaps better with few words,
certainly more agreeable than note ol
coincidence, SO difficult to compose, so un-
satisfactory when finished, with its ex-
asperatipg truisms, as words are mad
equate," "Time is the great healer,
providence is inscrutable," etc. Job with
all his trials got no letters.
If we broke fewer laws of health and
morals Providence would not seem SO in
scrutable. For many commit unconsciou:
suicide. And if we really believed what
we profess to believe, death would not be
SO terrible a guest; rather a blessed friend
to lead to something far better than we
even dreamed "If it were not so l would
have told you"
THE PROCESS OF DIsINFEcTING CLOTHING
Clothing which requires being disin-
fected should be submitted for about three
hours to temperature of $50 degrees in a
chamber charged with sulphuric fumes
from large quantity of sulphur. The
chamber should be SO constructed as to
prevent the fumes from passing out. Nc
germs can stand this. After a room has
been used by person sick with any con-
tagious disease, it becomes necessary 10 dis.
infect it before it is fit to be used again.
This is done by removing and burning the
paper on the walls, removing the bed
steads and other furniture and exposing
them to the air and wind, and giving them
fresh coat of varnish; by having the mat
tress made over again and the hair boiled
by burning in the room three pounds Of
sulphur, and by painting and paoering the
room anew.
TO MAKE FRosTISG.
Every little while someone asks me
how to make frosting. Personally have
no trouble in making frosting or icing
and / make little work making either
Be sure to have a fresh egg and have it as
cold as possible. Sprinkle tiny bit oi
salt on the white of the egg, and with an
egg-beater beat to stiff froth. If the egg
is beaten right there is no need of the
frosting not being good. Add three table
spoonsful of sugar and beat well together
l do not think | am over three minute: