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Show ; IN HONOR OF DEAD ! Practically Every Country Has Day Set Apart for Solemn Observances. THE custom ot strewing flowers on the graves or the soldiers originated orig-inated m 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 ot the dead are found among all nations. na-tions. The Chinese, Japanese, and . even our druidical ancestors had or have such days. The Romans commemorated a similar simi-lar occasion and called it "Parentalia." With them it lasted eight days. But the Romans loved holidays They finally accumulated so many in the course ot the year that the law was forced to restrict re-strict the number. Mass of Brilliant Colors. There Is a strong contrast in the way this day Is observed in different countries. In France the "Jour des Morts," Day of the Dead, as it is called, ls a pathetic and beautiful occasion. oc-casion. For two or three weeks before be-fore the day arrives the shop windov? are laden with wreaths of immortelles, soma 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, ot 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, Ms regarded as a holiday, and the visit of the families to the churchyard becomes a pleasure party. Metal garlands are chiefly used, and though they are more durable, 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. Ravello, a mountain village overlooking the sea, and one of the most beautiful spots in the world, has a unique and revolting revolt-ing custom. A wax figure representing represent-ing Death, dressed in the court costume cos-tume of some previous century, with red stockings and pointed shoes, ls brought into the church during the services. The beauty and peace of Ravello's wonderful surroundings do not find outward expression in their feeling toward their dead. Forecast of Coming Deaths. In Austria It is the faith of tho peasantry that on All Soul's eve at midnight anyone visiting the cemetery will see a procession of the dead drawing draw-ing after them those who are to die during the coming year. A gloomy drama founded on this ls acted every year in the People's theater thea-ter in Vienna. The miller has a beautiful beau-tiful daughter, the daughter a 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 it, the miller. The drama might have closed here with marriage bells, but it would not be right to let the Austrian youth count on the death of a parent, however 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. |