Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-04-24

10tEe EoitOr CT y lie ESe0tng Star:
To belttle the divine Office of grief would be
futile, because inhuman. Nothing so much ap-
peals to sympathy sorrow. Scott, the great
novelist and poet, truly wrote:
TIE rose is sweetest, washed in morning dew.
Ana love IS .cveiiest VIXEN errbalmed In tears"
But it may well be urged that grief has no
need of public display. The very sacredness of
sorrow is IN the sad thoughts we do not ex-
press, the anguish We do not exhibit. That trite
saving. Light griefs speak out. great ones are
silent" is therefore specially applicable to So
cietvs fashion in mourning wear when carried
70 extremes-for this fashion. and that is the
proper word for it. makes mourning entirely
100 snowy. and thus it becomes satire on the
very lesson of sorrow.
Even advocates of mourning, but of plain
and simple fashion, now admit that the present
symbolism is not in line with the boast that
the world Is growing wiser with each genera
ton; that the custom has become emb:ematic
OF selfshness; that weeds OF woe' have as
sumed pronounced appearance of hollow
mockery.
The singing criticisms which have been made
by the press on the practice Of the government
of placing black drapiugs on department build
ings at the death Of Official are just. The
more prominent the dead the greater the decor
alton of black Grape.
Nevertheless this government example has
become infectious. for private institutions now
indulge i'll similar display. As an illustration
/ cite prominent national bank in this city,
which has followed this fashion and draped the
entire front c. the Office with black Grape. This
statement Is not made with intention of i'm
pu2ning the sincerity Of the directors OF that
institution or to diminish one iota OF the honor
and respect due to the memory of most Elf
Gent and courteous gentleman, but simply to
question the method. The nicely of this token
on the part of said directors is weighed in the
balance, for il compeis every patron OF that in
stitution, every deposito-. drawer of check or
payer of note to place himself under and
around these somber drapiDgs. Far preferable
was the ancient custom at festivities of bring
ing in mummies to best remind the feasters
that ''in the midst of life we are in death"
II it were contested on behalf of mourners
that this extreme mourning wear is used for the
purpose of warning friends from intruding
with worldly affairs il would be erratic ad
mission. II the desire to keep alive the memory
of the dead is accompanied with the fear that
without this defense from LIES brightness the
flow Of sorrowful feelings might be stihed 1t
becomes the most potent argument for the
modification. if not the adjustment of the
custom. We should not oppose, but rather
assist nature to lay its healing balm upon
wounds. TO smile upon the ravages OF grief.
For do we not realize that sorrow knows hunger
and thirst. and thank God fo- it? And such an
avowsl of life's condition is not a travesty on
life. nor can it be offered as adding an extra
burden on human frailty.
Let Us rather while in grief seek sunlight and
not court additional shadows. Tor well has it
been said that Life is hard enough and needs
no reminder Of gloom to darken 1t more" The
world already too much belongs to melancholy,
for troubled hearts are found in each house
hold. The best tribute to grief would be to
abolish this growing mourning fashion. which,
in It's showiness. only carries thousands upon
thousands Of human beings. who have become
nervous IN battling with sorrow and affection,
further back to the shadowy gates OF sorrow
and melancholy. Black Grape and veil is a sad
reminder. 1t opens bat never heals the wounds
of sorrow.
How much better, instead Of adding to
mourning through the medium OF somber gar
ments. to seek a better balm for grief in the
endeavor to soften and brighten the lives of
our fellow beings ard thus most appropriately
perpe tuate the memory OF the dead &c.