The Weston leader. [volume] (Weston, Umatilla County, Or.) 189?-1946, 1915-05-28
IN HONOR OF DEAD
Practically Every Country Hat
Day Set Apart for Solemn
Observances.

WHn custom OF atrowing flowers on
tho graves OF tho soldiers orig
mated IN the South Even before
the Civil war was over the women
In the South. whore skies are warmer
and tompsramenta more poetic than
In the practical North. formed the
habit OF scattering noworu on the
graves OF tho dead
Days set apart for festivals IN honor
OF the dead are found among all ma
tionA The Chinese. Japanese. and
even our druidical ancestors had or
have such days
The Romans commrmorated 4 himi'
lar occasion and called II "Parcntalia." p"
With them Il lasted eight days But the
Romans loved holidays They nnaiiy
accumulated 30 many In the course OF
the year that the law was forced 20 re-
strict the number.
Mass Of Brilliant coIors.
There IL u strong contrast in the
way this day Ia observed in different
countries In France the Jour deB
Morris" Day OF tho Dead. as II 10
called. IL q pathetic and beautiful 90
casion. For two or three weeks be-
fore the day arrives the shop windows
arc laden with wreaths OF immortellen.
some In their natural color and some
dyed blue. pink. or purple. When the
day arrives the people stream to the
cemeteries.
Thousands Of people. thousands OF
wroRthal The cemeteries are one
mass OF brilliant color. OF moving
throngs. for not even the remotest
part of the potter's field is neglected.
In Naples this day. celebrated there
as All Saints day. IL regarded as q
holiday. and the visit OF the families
20 the churchyard becomes n pleasure
party. Metal garlands are chiefly
used. and though they are more dur
able, they do not possess the charm
OF real flowers.
In some Of the villages in southern
italy the grotcsqueness and realism OF
tho observance 10 painful. Ravello. q
mountain village overlooking the sea.
and one OF the most beautiful spots In
the world. has n unique and revolt.
ing custom. A wax figure represent
ing Death. dressed IN the court cos
tune OF some previous century. with
red stockings and pointed shoes. 10
brought into the church during the
services. The beauty and peace OF
Rayciio's wonderful surroundings do
not find outward expression In their
feeling toward their dead.
Forecast Of Coming Deaths.
In Austria Il is the faith Of the
peasantry that on All Souls eve at
midnight anyone visiting tho cemetery
will zee procession OF the dead draw
Ing after them those who are to die
during the coming year.
A gloomy drama founded on this is
acted every year In the Peoples thea
ter in Vienna. The miller has q beau
tifui daughter. tho daughter lover;
the miller opposes the marriage. After
somc years OF waiting the desperate
youth goes TO tho ehurchyard and secs
the spectral train and. following II. the
miller.
The drama might have closed hore
with marriage bells, but II would not
be right to lot tho Austrian youth
count on the death OF parent, how
over cruel. 80 the lover looks again
at the spectral company and behind
tho miller he sees himself. In the
course OF the year the unfortunate girl
loses both her father and her lover.
When one observes these customs
Il 10 easy to understand that among
many people the belief still survives
that the dead have some power over
the living, which 10 often exerted In
Avfl