The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1893-05-09
MOURNING DRESS.
The Etiquette to BE Observed By Both
Sexes.

| Sexes.
Many members of the fair sex think
that it is sufficient to don sable gar.
ments in order to be in mourning,
whatever the cut or adornment of these
garments may be. Now this is a
great mistake, for mourning is in.
| compatible with ornaments of any
I kind. and has been invented, on the
contrary, precisely for the purpose OF
| dispensing with all the tyrannies OF
fashion on the part of the afflicted.
| For those who wear mourning merely
| as matter of form, without really car
| ing for those who are gone, this rule
| remains just as immutable, neverthe-
| less, and can be no more disregarded
than if their hearts were breaking for
the loss of cherished relative. Lies
convenances, as the French say, exact
that so long as one wears mourning for
| somebody one should show proper re-
spect for his or her memory, regardless
Of personal feeling in the matter.
Jet, and even black-wood jewelrv are
not Worn in deep mourning, and the
only fur permissible is black astrachan
"AtSi NiiC liSG p-Iiou VI
past. Gloves should not be of kid, but
of black suede, and shoes and slippers
of black chamois leather. For a hus-
band mourning should be worn during
period of two years at least. Through
out the first half of this time the
dresses should be of dull black
wool made absolutely without or
nament excepting a broad band OF
English Grape bordering the skirt In
France, where mourning etiquette is
strictly observed. widow wears out
doors long black shawl of heavy cash
mere draped around the shoulders after
the fashion of twenty years ago. but
here it is allowable to adopt a black
cloth jacket lavishly trimmed with
Grape. The long Grape veil is worn
over the face by widows during at least
a year, and after that hanging down
the back. In the case of the death of
other relatives than the husband it is
usually worn over the face for few
weeks. OF late it has become usual for
widows to adopt when at home the
English widows cap. At the end of
N''SA'N AACii Was LIZ -AtNt ldICl-
full material, such as grenadine, silk
Grape, fancy cloths, ETC., become per-
missible. and with these may be worn
for the evening black or white pearls If
Jewels should be desired. During the
last six months-that is, eighteen
months after the death of her husband
the widow can wear gray, lilac,
mauve and white, amethysts and dia-
monds. 1t is, however, not in good
taste thus to tighten the mourning be-
fore two full years have elapsed: and
some widows never discontinue wearing
dark colorS.
For father or mother deep mourning
Is worn at least twelve months: for
brothers, sisters, brothers or sisters-in-
law, from eight months to year. The
for uncles and aunts is worn
SIX months, and that for cousins six
weeks In olden times it was not con-
sldered necessary to observe mourning
for child-a most barbarous idea, for
no despair can be greater than that of
a bereaved mother. Grape is now worn
for child during at least two years,
when not ever afterward.
Men do not observe mourning eti-
quette' as strictly as do women; black
suits, black or white four-in-hand ties,
black gloves and a mourning band
around the hat is all that is required of
them. Children under ten years of age
are not put in black but are clothed
from head to foot in pure white.
Anybody invited to be present at
wedding while in mourning must for
that occasion only leave off Grape and
wear either black silk and lace. or spot
less white. In England court mourn
ing is worn, strangely enough, in black
and crimson, and in Austria in black
and white. A white satin dress covered
with black Chantilly lace is considered
quite the thing TO wear in the evening
after the death of a member of the Aus
trian imperial family, and absolute |
black is only worn by near relatives
1t goes without saying that when !
death mas visited family its members /
a bstain from receiving any but intimate |
friends. and from accepting invitations |
to parties. balls, or even from going to |
the theater. Servants. whether male or
female, belonging to the esta blishment |
should be put in mourning and if car
rage is kept harness and liveries should /.
be Invested OF brass or even silver orna-
y. Tribune.