The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1910-10-13
Fashion and Grief.

TdSluOu duu OfIC1.
To the Editor of The Bamberg
Herald:-The News and Courier OF
October 4th treats editorially sub
ject that to my mind needs agitation,
and l ask that you publish it in full
that the readers of The Herald may
consider it. 1t is as follows:
"A writer in Leslie's Weekly ques-
tions the right of those who have
suffered bereavement to infict their
personal griefs upon their friends by
trailing their crepe through our thor
oughfares, by the use of black-bor-
dred mourning cards and stationery
and in other similar ways. Color
we are reminded, has its distinct
effect upon the nervous organization
of every living creature, and the
suggestion is made that the health
of persons of high strung tempera-
ments' may be seriously affected by
these constant reminders of sorrow
full experiences.
"This thought seems to us peril
nent one, even though it relates to
but one phase of a matter which is
of much greater Importance than
most people imagine. 1t may seri-
ously be questioned whether oul
mourning customs are those which
one of a right ought to expect in an
enlightened civilization. Sorrow fol
the dead is natural. To publish to
the world that ones heart is heavy
with sadness because some dear one
has been taken is proper. Embarrass-
ment both to ones friends and tc
ones self may thus be avoided. But
in our obedience to the DEGREES OF
fashion as to how we shall mourn
the departed, it cannot be gainsaid
that much inconvenience and ex-
pense and suffering are caused to nc
good purpose.
"Often it happens that death visits
a family of relatively slender means
just after wardrobes have been pur'
chased for perhaps a number of the
family's female members. To lay
these aside and purchase other cloth.
ing of the kind decreed by fashion
may run the family into debt at a
time when it can least afford to incur
additional expense. Gay colors, it is
true, would not appear seemly in one
who has recently suffered affection
but why would it not be possible to
indicate in some simple way the loss
of a loved one rather than to spend
money needed for other purposes
and, perhaps, to impair the health
of some girl or woman by the pur-
chase. and wearing Of gloomy black
Moreover, our mourning customs
work an especial hardship upon the
woman. Because of the cares Of ma
ternity and for other reasons, Wo-
mans opportunities for the full en-
joyment of life are more restricted
naturally than those which belong to
man. Why limit them yet further
unnecessarily? Why make grief ar
tificial? Why add to the burdens OF
nature?"
Another custom of funerals pre-
valing still in some communities
needs to be discouraged, and tina,
is the opening of the casket in the
church or at the grave for friends to
take a last look at the deceased
The reasons most Objectionable are:
1. The bereaved family, already
prostrated, ought not to be forced OF
permitted to endure thisalmost heart
rending seene. Painting under the
strain is not unheard of.
2. It affords an occasion that
tends to an ostentatious display OF
mourning, censorious criticisms by
the thoughtless and unsympathetlc.
8. It frequently calls forNthe re-
moving of the lid of the casket thai
the body may be arranged for inspec'
ton, and thus becomes means OF
spreading contagious diseases; and II
not this, at least it fills the audtori-
um with an odor that is unpleasant
Of course this custom in these com
munities can not be broken up at
once, for many will wish to cling to
the old ways, and their feelings must
be respected, but as a pastor, al
ways advise against it, when l am
consulted. After all is not the best
impression to leave on friends that
of the living person rather than the
horrible one the lifeless corpse Will
ol,ao EARLE FREEMAN.