Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-11-20

escorts the eldest daughter or his wife's
mother. 1t is not unusual for him to walk
alone. Fewer carriages follow the hearse
to the grave than used to be considered
even allowable.
But each year finds our mourning greater
Everything is placid except the flowers.
They faunt upon the quiet form in all their
warm life colorings Of scarlet, purple and
! gold. 1t is to prove, perhaps, that death
may be triumphant and is not to be feared.
Roses-pink, white, yellow, and, yes, even
deep, glorious red-are used in profusion
The day of designs, ''set pieces" and in
scriptions has, let us hope, disappeared
forever. Instead dozens and dozens of mag
nifcent, long-stemmed roses are loosely
laid together and tied with ribbons of
contrasting shade. So much now is made
of the floral decorations that they practi-
cally determine the good form" of the
whole affair. For a young person pink,
yellow and white are the favorite colors
pink roses in huge loose punches, four Of
which may cover the entire coffin lid, tied
with white ribbons; yellov chrysanthemums
tied with long green ribbons; orchids Of any
variety ;eEhite flowers which may roughly
follow the form of cross or pillar, but 50
vaguely that the suggestion of design is
just limited. All these are frequent orders
at well-known florists. For middle-aged
person vlolets are largely used, They are
laid carelessly into the form of wreath
and then tied with the wide royal purple
ribbon. It is odd. Almost startling, is it
not? Yet it is the favorite of the hour.
Violets, too, are scattered one by one over
the robe and in the coffin. earn ations are
used in profusion for middle-aged and
elderly people, They are laid in punches,
each one trife lower than the next, and
then the finishing touch is added with
yard or more of ribbon, when several friends
send punches of roses and carnations caught
with ribbons Of many hues. The effect is
remarkably striking. And yet there is
nothing bizarre or of a doubtful taste in this
new fashion, for every flower is worthy of
place near death. Palm leaves are in de-
mand tor decorations. Two large ones may
be crossed, tied with dark green ribbon and
laid upon the casket of an old man or
woman. Ivy wreaths and long festoons
come next to viplets in popularity. The
English ivy is used everywhere about the
rooms for decorations and in quantities
about the cofins. 1t has replaced smilax,
and is most effective with its dark green
simmer
Mourning in dress is just now not to be
reckoned with. One authority says Grape
is as correct as 1t has ever been, and that
he would not think of suggesting anything
else for widows veil. Another assured
me that Grape is going out rapidly, and
where 25 yards used to be sold one is bar
gained for at present. Certainly there are
substitutes less somber and conspicuous
than the heavy, cumbersome Grape which
many fashionable women are wearing to-
day. One is an extra fine quality of nuns
yelling, and the other is very light Hen
rIetta cloth. With both of these a black
face veil with Grape border is worn. When
Grape is preferred, as many as six or eight
yards are fastened to the tiny bonnet. Part
falls over the face we'll to the waist, and
the rest, deeply hemmed, must reach below
it behind. No wonder women wish to do
away With fashion SO unnecessary and ex-
treme. Daughters wear for parents death
low turban-shaped hat with light quail
ity of Grape or nuns yelling. After six
months they may don lovely Scotch plaid
dresses, black and white or beautiful En-
glish cheviots of gray. The widows must
wear Grape for two years as trimming upon
their gowns of Henrietta cloth, imperial
serge or armure silk. Widows mourning
dresses may be elaborate. 1t is possible
for a wealthy woman to dress more hand
somely in black than in colors, but grief,
true grief will tolerate nothing but the very
refinement of subdued, well-bred, unnotice-
able expression.