The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-05-07
SOME DOMESTIC MATTERS
Brief Discussions of Subjects Which
Have 10 DoWith Social and HomeL Life.
eome Objections to the Wearing Of Mourning
"A Mans Duty TO His Wife-The Monot-
Ony Of SOciety-Prac.ica Suggestions.

The fashion of wearing mourning garb is
one which has many critics aad as earnest.
If not as numerous, defenders. It IS a pure
ly conventions matter. but to a large num-
Der OF persons there is 3 greater sense OF
satisfaction IN adhering TO accepted Gus
tom and convention where no serious prin-
cipIe of conduct is involved than In disre-
garding them and following the dictates OF
their own taste. A woman, for instance.
when left a widow may privately prefer
not 10 advertise her grief and her bereayed
condition by DOMINIC the habiliments OF
woe. but does SO because she considers u
compliance with fashion q lesser undertake
ing than a deliberate disregard of il.
Others, again. find q sense of comfort and
protection in their somber apparel. know
ing that 1t often shields them from
thoughtless comment or Ignorant intrusion
upon their sorrow. 1t is probable. how
eyer. that most people. especially those to
whom the subject has never pre-
scented itself for personal decision,
are opposed to the wearing OF
mourning. and their sentiments are fairly
well expressed by q writer In the PhIladel-
phIa Times. who says that 'of ali the in
congrulties OF daily life the woman with
the happy. smiling face and gown heavily
trimmed with Grape Is the most noticeable.
livery day one sees on the street. In the
theaters and sometime in h ball room. peo-
pie who wear the babiliments of woe and
whose actions are entirely out OF keeping
with their attire.
THE wearing of mourning is, of course.
q matter of custom. and to the sensitive
woman such attire affords q protection
from many remarks that would otherwise
wound most deeply; TO sucn It would mean
o real sacrilege TO wear the bright oolors
that were once ty picel of their own bright
FEELINGS. but many Others. simply because
they are slaves 10 q custom, Will slroud
themselves IN Grape and bombaZine and
have not the slightest change IN their feel
lnss.
''It is no fancy picture when we tell of
Guy little parties attended by those wear
Ing deep mourning. who are perfectly will
ang To enter into every form of enjoyment
if the matter is only kept quiet. Hypo-
critics abound IN this world, but there are
many more clothed In sable garments than
OF any other type. Mourning Is very ex-
pensive and often COSTS a family more than
they can well afford. yet lr Is worn by rich
and pocr alike, though they may not at
heart feel the least bit inclined to do 80.
Invitations are refused because the parties
receiving them are in mourning. but in
many cases the refusal Will be accompanied
By feelings of regret that they cannot go;
fae heart longs fog the gayetles. but their
dress prevents them from Indulging.
"Of what use then Is IL 10 merely assume
the outward appearance of grief when IN
reality 1t has no abiding place with us! l5
il G. sham, aud the sooner 1t Is done away
with the better. Fashion and CUSTOM.
mighty diotators of the feminine world,
bre responsible for many deceits. but the
grossess of all the sins committed in their
bamei is the hypocrisy of mourning"
One of Mems Duries.
Ladies' Home Journal
A certain amount of social life is abso-
lutely essential TO us ALTO the old as well
as to the young. A woman never grows SO
Did that she ceases to enjoy the company OF
others. and generally the older she grows
bhe moro she enjoys 1t.
IL Is always a pity to see a man fall into q
state which he explains by saying: "Oh.
we're getting old. and don't care for SO
much variety IN our lives" In the pure
unselhshness of his soul he always speaks
of "us" and I've" asI it naturally followed
that because ho ls getting a~ntiquated his
wife must keep pace with him In his de-
cline. Men all too often make their wives
too old. 1t 10 n greater credit 20 a husband
TO keep his wSe young than To make her
grow old. His actions and his habits nee
essarIly influence those of his vile. Let
him keep In touch with the world. and
botn he and his wife will be the better and
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proud Of bis wife because she keeps young.
Old age is beautiful and has it's advan-
tagee. but a man makes a great mistake
when he PUSHES a woman unnecessarily to-
ward 1t. And he does 1t most perfectly
when be eDrives her of those enloymenJs
which every man should give his wife. No
economy is so false. 50 hollow and so mis-
guided as that which seeks TO withhold one
pleasure from the life of a good woman, a
true wife OF a LOVING mother. The best
bone q man eau give n woman becomes
hpOky." as one woman l know ex presses il,
d she is asked to live in IL 800 DAYS out of
pyery year. The good Lord knows that
&oman's life In this world is hard enough.
She travels IA path of endurance and suffer
Ing, 60 which man. be he never 80 heavily
afflicted. Is an entire stranger.
1t was given TO man to make that path
ss pleasant. as easy and as bright as posi-
ble- Every dollar which a man spends for
the happiness of the woman OF his home
Will come back 10 him IN do~uble-yea, In
fourfoId measure.
The Monotouy of society"
\ New York Ledger.
IL sometimes wonder" said O woman
who was devoted to society and its GUS
toms. what the end of all this ~treadmill
round will be. The truth is. l am dragged
TO death. mentally. bodily might almost
say spiritually and morally, too. 1 get past
the condition where l can love ny neigh
Dor. and l haven't charity to suffer long
and DO kind all the season through. We
See the same faces, the same dresses. with
trIfiing notifications. We repeat the same
phrases. 20 through the same ronnd of en-
tertainments and amusements. partake of
the same dishes and keep up the same
society high pressure day after day, until
life Is n burden and "A weariness.
"Idon't believe that many of Us really
enjoy II. and | don't think that enjoyment
get into, and there seems TO be no such
thing as stopping. Or course. in a limited
way. 1t might be very pleasant: but. like
cream candy and other good things of life,
O little of it goes q long way. ana too much
of it Is almost uncomfortable. suppose.
however. that il is the penalty that one
pays for belonging To that tyrannical body
known as society and while l lnwardly
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