The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-05-27

A HE fashion of showing grief for
our dead in wearing black is
doubtless our oldest fixed GUS
tom In matters of dress. and to-
Ii day It seems TO have flrmer
hold than ever. revival OF
the strict rules and customs governing
the use of fabrics, and the period for
wearing these customary suits of
black IL asserting itself. and much at
tention Ia now given To the propriety and
etiquette of our trappings of woe.
No doubt the many losses among the
English aristocracy, and the fact that so
much of London society Is clad in black.
Is finding a sympathetic echo with us
and our fashions are largely influenced
By the South African war.
In England and in France the rules for
mourning are we'll defined and Under
stood. but In America we are prone to
follow the promptings OF our tastes and
feelings, and these forms are often more
honored In the breach than In the OBJ
servance.
Whatever our feelings on this subject
may be. II r. certain that a perfunctory
following of prescribed rules In mourning
relieves va OF the harasslng and trivial
considerations OF dress and vanities in
the first agonies OF our grief, and pro-
tects US from the comments and remarks
OF our fellow beings. IL IL for this rea-
-
varying from year TO year has gradually
crystaillsed itself into n matter of form
1t ~ the object of those who don black
To show respect to the dead, and 10 shield
themselves from the living. therefore
clear understanding uf the etiquette Of
mourning will serve 10 soften slightly the
painful and sensitive period OF bercave-
ment
A. to the terms Of mourning for the
different degrees OF relationship the wife
in England Ii supposed 10 wear Il uf the
same depth and for tho same period for
her husbands as for her own relatives,
but this custom finds no following IN our
country, and the usual period of mourn
ing for "in-iaws' Is six months of black
ana three months 81 light or half-mouru-
ing
Customary Periods OF Mourning.
There are exceptions TO every rule but
the usually accepted period of mourning
may br briefly quoted Widow weeds
much Grape. the long Veil with whit, rou-
isauN. Tor bonnet. are always worn for
the orthodox yeaF and day, ana the
young widow then wears black and halt
mourning Tor a second year Many Widows
Of nliddsc age wear GRAPE IN a lesser de-
sree for six months after tse regulation
period. and do not entirely discard bia X
until the expiration OF the second year
4 daughter mourning "a parent wears
Grape FOR three months. less Grape for
another thrco months ana IheB ordinary
black and light mourning until the end
Of the year. bu; the entire term % MOURN
lux is frequently but nine months. the
latter three months consisting ot black
relieved with white, gray, or lavender \
mother wears mourning in the same man
ner for a son or daughter but Tor "a very
young child. Grape OF less depth is worn.
and for six months only; then half MOURN
ing.
for u sister or brother. but except In old
fashioned country places the mourning IS
much curiailed. and Grape for three months
IS considered SUFFICIENT. with all black
three months longer. and light mourning
for two or three months later. The same
rule also applies TO mourning worn by