The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-03-12
EVENING CHAT
By RUTH CAMERON.

When I die please tell my friends to
wear red, white and blue, to feast, sing,
dance, and make merry. If any love
me let them be glad, not sad; because
If they consider my happiness better
than their own, they should realize that
my soul must have gone to higher
and better plane, where 1t would not be
content If it knew that my friends on
earth were weeping because of my pro-
motion."-A philosopher.
Yes, I've used that quotation before.
But in a different connection. Last
time 1 used it, it was to point few
remarks on the abominableness of
that soul-harrowing device for making
unhappy people as much more unhappy
as possible-the ordinary fLAeral SER
vice.
Today I use it to help me in attack
ing a custom that is first cousin to that
devise, and that is the wearing OF
mourning.
What would you think of a woman
who walked about the streets saying 20
every one whom she met, Il have had
unhappy" You would surely say she
was extremely selfish to continually
flaunt her grief in the face of world
that had troubles enough of its own. .
wouldn't you?
Now, why should virtually doing the
same thing by wearing mourning be
considered any less selfish?
And then aside from the selishness
of such a parade of sorrow. think of its
vulgarity. OF course some of the best
people, wear the heaviest mourning
and for that reason We have come to
think of the wearing of mourning as
rather an aristocratic and refined Gus
tom, but don't you think If it didn't
have the unfortunate sanction of fash
ion and of usage, if, in short, such a
custom were suggested as a new thing
today, we should be quick to call such
a parade of grief vulgar and com
mon
And then think of the inconsistency
of such custom for Christian. How
with any show of reason can a Chris
tian dress in black because the one she
loves has been translated to a happier
home? She has her own loss to grieve
for, to be sure, but any real Christian
who truly loved her friend. must be-
lieve that her own loss is as nothing 10
the others gain, and be glad even If
she cannot be happy.
If one is to be logical about 1t surely
the "red, white and blue" in my first
paragraph that doubtless offended and
shocked some of you would be more
appropriate than black.
Respect for the dead is, I suppose.
| the plea on which this abominable GUS
| tom got itself established in our midst.
| The woman who wears mourning is by
| that fact safely excluded from taking
any diversion. But is that a result to
| be desired?
Don't YOU think you are insulting
| your dead to believe that they would
| be gratified to see you outstanding and
| cherishing your grief secluding your
self from society, morbidly running
away from anything that could cheer
| you, instead of healthily seeking it?
Isn't the respect that keeps a shrine
| in the heart before which it lays a sao-
rifice of kind words and good deeds a
| far finer tribute than the respect that
| shows itself merely in q stilted custom
Take it home to yourself. What
would you wish If you were to die?
If you saw those whom you loved
| grieving you'd long to comfort them
of course. Then surely you'd wish
them all the comfort the most cheer
| full clothes and surrounding could give
Why not credit your dear ones with
| equal considerateness?