The Western outlook., 1915-05-29
IN HONOR OF DEAD
Practically Every Country Has
Day Set Apart for Solemn
0bservances.

THE custom of strewing flowers on
the graves OF the soldiers orig
mated in the South. Even before
the Civil war was over the women
In the South. where skies are warmer
and temperaments more poetic than
In the practical North, formed the
habit Of scattering flowers on the
graves Of the dead
Days set apart for festivals In honor
OF the dead are found among all ma
lions. The Chinese, Japanese. and
even our druidical ancestors had or
have such days.
The Romans commemorated SINH
lar occasion and called it "Parentalia"
With them 1t lasted eight days. But the
Romans loved holidays They finally
accumulated SO many In the course OF
the year that the law was forced to re-
strict the number.
Mass Of Brilliant colors.
There is strong contrast In the
way this day is observed in different
| countries. In France the Jour des
Morris" Day of the Dead, as 1t is
| called, is a pathetic and beautiful &C.
casion. For two or three weeks be-
fore the day arrives the shop windows
are laden with wreaths of immortelles,
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
wreaths! 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, Is regarded as a
holiday, and the visit of the families
to the churchyard becomes 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 grotesqueness and realism OF
the observance is painful. Raveiio, :
mountain village overlooking the sea,
| and one of the most beautiful spots in
the world, has a 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. is
brought into the church during the
services. The beauty and peace OF
Ravelln's wonderful surroundings do
not find outward expression in their
| feeling toward their dead.
Forecast of Coming Deaths.
In Austria 1t is, the faith of the
peasantry that on All Souls eve at
midnight anyone visiting the cemetery
will see 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 beau
tiful daughter, the daughter lover;
the miller opposes the marriage. After
some years of waiting the desperate
youth goes to the churchyard and sees
the spectral train and. following 1t, the
| miller.
The drama might have closed here
with marriage bells, but 1t would not
| be right to let the Austrian youth
count on the death Of parent, how.
ever cruel, so the lover looks again
at the spectral company and behind
the 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
it is easy to understand that among
many people the belief still survives
that the dead have some power over
| the living, which Is often exerted In
| evil.