The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1892-06-02
STATE MOURNING.
An idea OF What This Foreign Institu
tlOn Is.

Few people in the United States have
an idea of what n ''state' or uniform
mourning means beyond the fact TINT
on the occasion of some great national
sorrow, such as the tragic death of n
president, it has been customary to
adopt general means of demonstrating
the public grief, leaving individuals to
express their regret in the most natu-
raj way. by talking of the event until
the impression wore off. Here, though,
1t is by express command of the queen,
says London letter to the New York
Clothicr and Furnisher, n command not
of course enforced against civilians as
in the army, navy and civil service by
headquarters regulations, but a com
mand which every good Briton is sup
posed to heed just as he lifts his hat
whenever he hears God Save the
Queen" played, which in the life of the
average son of Albion is close on to
three or four times week. To the
court, of course, such an order is per-
functory.
So it happened the other day, while
orders were given right and left for
proper honoring of the obseeuies of the
late prince, that after the three great
branches of the public service had been
properly notified of their duties the
public itself was informed: ''And it is
furthermore expected that all persons
do put on mourning for tho space of
three weeks" BY twelve o'clock on the
following day the only bits of bright
color to be seen in all London appeared
to be in the few theater posters remain
ing about town. Two million hat bands
were undoubtedly sold within forty
eight hours of the notification, for, as
afterward learned, London hat shops
were stripped absolutely bare of them,
and extra forces of hands were every
where put to work cutting and sewing
black cloth to meet the emergency.
Every hosier's window in London was
dismantled for the moment, and then
rcfilled with a bewildcring array Of
specialtics in black and white, the only
relieving color permitted being hello
trope, which now, in connection with
the two former hueS, is a recognized
component of fashionable mourning
and will probably hold its own for
many a day, inasmuch as it renders less
grewsomc the always necessarily SOM
Der trappings OF woe.
The fact has, therefore been estab-
lished that mourning be made quite as
tasteful in male attire as it has always
been in the apparel of the gentlcr sex
1t has been also put upon record that
| pattern of as elaborate nature as desired
is admissible in mourning SO long as
| confined to the three colors have dwclt
upon. Black silk squares worked with
running vine pattern of hcliotropc in
tcrsperscd with small white figures or
stripings of black and heliotropc on
white have played n liberal role in the
various orders for court mourning given
by high pcrsonages. Byfar the favoritc
neck dress has, however, been heavy
black brocade squares, shot with the
tiniest heliotrope stitch at wide inter
walls, the sclf-pattern being eXquisitely
designed. While attendance upon amuse-
mentS is not considcrcd correct in mourn
| ing observance, still, in land where
every gentleman dimes in dress suit
and must perforce dine out, as English
men of leisure do, five evenings out OF
seven, gloves to be worn are of white or
| pearl kid, with backs finished with
eighth to quarter inch wide black braid.
| Three-quartcr inch to inch wide black
silk ties, to be tied by the wcarcr, are
proper with evening dress, as arc white
or black enameled studs, of which three
are now worn. Handkerchicfs display
both black and heliotrope borders.
usually wide stripes at right angles
with the hcmstitching, small spots or
rings. A black and heliotrope ring,
linked toge thcr is a popular and preva-
lent pattern. Hosiery is generally
black. with white or heliotrope clocks
and small spots. l have seen also many
striped shirt patterns in black and hello
tropc on white.