Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1907-10-20

Funeral Customs In European Courts
0QQNQQRQQQQQQ&QQQQQQQQ Observation-Disclosures


though representatives. OF a Republic.
are compelled to go into deep mourn.
ing whenever the latter happens 10
be Officially ordered by the monarch
10 whose cou,t they are accredited.
The sovGreigns commands In the mat.
ter eX,enI not only to the envoy him.
self, but 10 his wIte. 10 his secretaries
and attaches. and to theil wives, an |
even 10 his servants, male and t.
male. writes L. Cunliffo Owen in New
York Tiil'lne The directions given
arc of the most pcrcuptory and eV-
plicit description, prescribing the col
or of the gloves. OF the dresses of the
coats, and of the stockings. the llv,
cries OF the domestics, aud the uphol.
siery of the smaller German courts
where old Dame Etiquettc's rule re-
mains particularly strict. even black
undcrclothes are cXactcd as i token
of official woe ON the occasion of a
royal demise
This is no mere cNageeration or
flieh, of imagination, for when fool
ish old Prince Maurice OF Saxc-Alten.
hnrg died the oths day the Official
Gazette OF the Grand Duchy Of SAKE
Mciningen. in decreeing court nouns
ing Tor him. expressly insisted that
black underclothes should be included
In the trappings OF woe Ana since
Chariemagne Tower is not only Am.
bassados 10 the Kaiser. bnt also TO
all the petty yet independent sovef-
cigns comprised in the federation
known as the German Empire. he
would have been obliged to conform
To these strange sumpiuary require.
monts had lie visited Mcinngen du
ing the four weeks for which the
mourning was commanded
Ii may seem strange that tho "a
personalities in the old World of such
aRcpublic as The United states should
be obliged to follow the dictates OF for
eign monarchs in the matter OF d-ess.
and in their official capacity should
H. under the necessity of DOMINIC
mourning for prlncclets such as Mau.
rice of Altcnburg The most use.
less, hlase, indoont and insignificant
scion OF ROYALTY that It is possible to
imagine: man who spent The . ont.
or part Of his life In bed because he
declared that there was nothing for
watch il was worth while getting M
aud who was as completely ndirfer
onts TO the American nooplc rs tho
lattor were To him hut cnvoys. Nh
ticularly those Of ambassadorial RANK,
by virtue OF their office form mn IN
tegral part and parcel of the court
OF The ruler TO whom thoy are accrod.
tied. and rs such are subject to any
rules nndAegulations which he may
see iii TO lssnc for It's conduct Amc-.
ica's rep. esentativcs at his court must
cofcr to him IN such matters In tho
same way ms any other OF their rOs.
oign diplomatic colleagues. even IN
the observance Of the'dcath OF p.inooa
that may have been obnoxious to the
United States.
Court Mourning In Russia
In Russia, when court mourning IS
ordered every official above cer
tain rank is compelled IS have ono of
his apa stments Of his residence In tho
metropolis draped completely I'm black
cloth, with the furniture upholstered I
IN black. TO clothe his servants IN
deep mourning, TO have his carriages
upholstered In black and the coat
of arms. crests. aud monograms re-
moved from the panels of the equn.
ages. These rules extend to tho for.
eign Ambassadors nj st. Pctegsburs. !
Moreover, every ycStigc OF the goli /
and silver cmbroideries of uniforms
MS well as the oraulets, has TO be
shroudcd With crape-n terrible ex-
Dense since the slightest drop of rain
or snow has the effect OF taking the
dye out of the Grape, and damaging
the embroidery beyond repair. Many
OF these uniforms cost as much as s'N
hundred dollars, and the pay attached
10 the offices of those entitled to Wear
them is not so big rs to admit OF their
spelling many Of such uniforms in
the space OF year.
Deep court mourning at St Peters.
burg entails upon the women con
nected herewith the obligation ~
wearing on public occasions and state
functions dresses of black flannel. cut
high in the front. long and voluni
nous Charles VI or angel sleoves
falling to The ground. with innrr
sleeves buttoned at the wrist, Wiz
collars ana 'wcepevsn of batiste and
long court trains of black flannel,
fastened, not TO the shoulders but to