OCR Text |
Show MOURNING CUSTOMS. I note as one of the signs of thf times the setting in of a .steady and and general current of feeling among the educated classes against the con-tinuanco con-tinuanco of old-fashioned funeral observances. ob-servances. It was tho special written request of the late Mr. John Forster, the friend and biographer of Diekuns, that his funeral might be conducted in tho least ceremonious manner possible, pos-sible, and although there wiw a large anil dislinguiahcd following of his friends, tho ceremonial was shorn of the usual undertaker' trappings of woe to a large extent. In thn respect Foraler followed in tho footsteps of bis friend Charles Dickons; ami another great friend of h.ah theso eminent mon, who, hnppdy, mill survies, Thoman Cartylo, is hoctilo to the last degrr e to the black paraphernalia para-phernalia of plumes and velvets that lor generations havo n welled the uudei taker's bill. A movement in mi foot, arising out of tho action taken by Mr. Seymour ! laden, tho duke of Sutherland nud others last pu miner in the matter of improved eollins, to provide a funeral cortege on various scales, suited to all puree, which rihall aflonl the exact amount of display dis-play necessary to decency, anil a-oid all nccdlesd outlay upon the under taker s account.. Aireauy pinnies oi fealherH nnd velvet clothH are daily becoming rare, whilo renl brnui;tiainN havo been supplied by more than oik company to tako tho place of tht , antiquated vehicles painted hi nek which havo so long done duly us mourning coaches. It in didicult to over-estimate tho value of wieh an example- set by such men an have given their countenance to nii'era-lion nii'era-lion in funeral expenses, as lo many families it will prove a great lightening lighten-ing of a load that going into numrniiu; has involved. The custom of giving awny hi j k scarfs and black gloved in falling inlodisuetude, and with the last solemn procession shorn of i'-1 gcw-gewHt the undertaker will have- httlo left upon which to levy hia blackmail. Already it ifl tho fashion to employ the new companies, and to lake advantage ad-vantage of their plan of moderate fixed charges by pursoiiH who, from their position, command tin- respect of their fellows; and I son every recoil to expect that the new movement in favor of economy, and tho utmost publicity in all matUrs counochd with the laalaad tribute ofnnpuct we pay to the departed, will spread through all ranks of widely. It is highly desirable that it should do ho, lor tho only person benefited by the old ceremonial was tho undertaker. London Correspondence. |