Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-03-21
IMPERIAL PURPLE.
It's Significance Since the Days Of the
Roman Empire.

From the London Globe.
Recent sad events. and especially the ex-
pressed preference of the king for purple,
or violet, as the color for royal mourning.
have served to remind US of the ancient
symbolism of the imperial hue. The color
is not only symbolical and charged with
ancient associations but forms welcome
variety to the customary suits Of solemn
black" which on such an occasion of ma
tiDnal mourning and sorrow help to deepen
the general gloom.
The use of purple greatly relieved the
general sombsrness of the decorations on
Saturday last. Paddington was draped in
part IL purple and white and many of the
houses on the line of route used the royal
color. Baroness Burdett-Coutt's house.
draped in purple with white fringe, and a
neighboring hotel. with its balconies richly
shroGded In purple with golden tassels,
were specially noteworthy examples of
quietly good and beautiful effects In one
or two places where cloth ran short purple
paint was used with striking success. At
Windsor the use of mingled purple and black
hangings for lampposts and electric light
standards, as well as for houses, was very
general The same color symbolism was
shown in the very large use which was
made of the purple cattieya orchids In the
innumerable wreaths which were sent by
all sorts and conditions of people. The
great tribute sent by the government and
people of South Australia was formed of
these orchids with violets and laurel leaves.
A shield OF yiolets, nine feet high, came
from the imperial yeomanry. Parma vio-
lets formed the base of the beautiful tribute
sent by Lord and Lady Dudley. British
Columbia sent cushion OF violets with the
imperial crown and monogram picked out
In lilies of the valley. But 1t would be an
endless task to enumerate the instances in
which purple and violet flowers symbolized
the grief and affection of the senders.
The symbolical associations of purple ara
of ancient origin. Violet and not black Is
the usual color of mourning in Turkey at
the present day. but our western use of the
color in connection with royalty Is derived
from the customs of ancient Rome. In the
days when the city on the seven hills was
the capital of the world the imperial robes
were of purpie-or '-Tyrian dye" as it was
sometimes called. Much of the purple col
oring matter anciently used was made at
Tyre from kind of shellfsh-a species of
murex-whieh was there abundant. 1t is
said That heaps of the broken Shells near
the hollow places in the rocks which served
as the mortars wherein they were pounded.
may yet be seen on the Tyrian coast,
Ever since the days of the Roman en-
peror5 the color has retained its regal and
imperial significance. The phrase Ito be
born in the purple Is familiar to every
body. but there are probably not few Of
those who use IL who are not aware of the
singular importance that once attached to
the condition so described. Nowadays the
phrase has little but fgurative meaning
and is often used loosely enough but In its
original application 1t meant much To be
born In the purple" that Is, to be born
after the parents succession to the throne.
meant among the emperors of the eastern
Roman empire the right of succession for
The claim TO the throne of q younger son
II so born, was preferred to that of AN
elder born before his fathers succession
This custom. however. which is In strange
conflict with modern notions has never
prevailed in the west.
Although the OF purple or violet as
the color OF royal mourning has not been
confined to any one European king or en-
peror. the kings of France of long ago were
inclined TO look upon 1t as their own pecu-
liar prerogative. This led once to a rather
absurd scene. when our own ex-Kine
James III was living in exile at the court OF
his royal brother of France. James like
his predecessors and his SUCCESSORS till 1901
claimed the title of King of France" and
on some occasion of public mourning both
King Louis XIV and the exiled James ap-
peared attired In violet. The MARQUIS de
pangean, who mentions the incident I'm
those memoirs which have served as such
rich quarry for many historical writer's
from Noltaire downward. says: 1T surprised
Us to see two kings of France" 1t was an,
amusingiy CHARACTERISTIC example of the.
stuart obStinacy and want Of tact The
surprise of the magnificent Louis was prob
ably greater than that of hts courtfers
James brother. Charles H. wore the same
royal color a few months after his restora-
ton. when his younger brother, the Duke
of Gloucester. died of smallpox Mr.. Pepys
remarked In his Diary" September i6
l saw the king In purple mourning for his
brother" s..t -,
The use of the imperial purple was con-
fined to the reigning monarch for Mp
Pepys tells US a few years later how he
went to Whitehall and saw the Duchess Of