Show THE BLOODY SHIRT there arc certain phrases used in writing upon political matters aliat a baxie lo 10 sr aliu abc and yorlli lias given rise lo 10 alie uso of the plira sc alic bloody shurl very frequently abc following its origin is froni cots abc origin of alic alic bloody is in a corsican custom now nearly ir nol quite obsolete in the days of the fierce the feuds which divided corsican family from family bloodshed was a common occurrence before alic burial of a murdered man the gradita was celebrated aliis word which literally means a crying aloud may be translated a the body of alic victim was laid upon a plunk bis useless lire arms were placed near hiis liand and lih bloodstained blood stained shirt was hung above ins licad around the rude bier sat a circle of women wrapped in luicir black mantles who rocked themselves to and fro with strange gaitings wai tings abc men relatives and friends of the murdered man fully armed stood around the room mail with thirst for revenge then one of the the wife or mother or sister of the dead man with a sharp scream would the bloody shirt and raving it aloft begin the acero the lamentation this rhythmic discourse was made up of alternate expressions of love for the dead and hatred of his enemies and its startling images and tremendous curses were echoed in the faces and of the armed mourners it was by a not unnatural transition phrase bloody shirt became applied to utterances concerning the Hc belion |