The Hastings Standard. THURSDAY, MARCH 15, 1906 MOURNING EVILS.

Hastings Standard, Volume IX, Issue 5148, 15 March 1906, Page 2

The Hastings Standard. THURSDAY, MARCH 15, 1906 MOURNING EVILS.

1 L)i;. S'l'liMson HooKKit. in a letter to the Daily Ivvpress, deals very extensively with the evils of mourning. lie, of course, iias no objection i to people sorrowing for loved ones who have gone before, but lie most emphatieally protests against the " black trappings of woe" which are regarded as indispensible indications of sorrow in many circles. The expenditure involved in purchasing the black attire, in a great | many instances, is enormous, and J more than those in poor circum- | stances can really afford, and in fact I the money con Id be more profitably utilised. The doctor particularly objects to the mourning attire for health reasons. " The wearing of black is inimical from the health point of view," lie writes. "Any clothes which prevent a due supply of fresh air from reaching our bodies, must exert a pernicious influence upon the general health. Everyone knows that black intercepts the > sun's rays, so that by covering ourselves in black we not only absolutely keep out the sunlight, but give ourselves much unnecessary discomfort by the retention of the heat. Then we have the depressing effect upon the system generally caused by seeing ourselves or others in black. The system is very responsive to such | influences. Move than this, the

depressing clothing causes depressing thoughts around us, and thought transference is a fact easily and now often {demonstrated. The custom of wearing entire black is a pernicious one, and in the case of children a positively cruel one. It engenders false ideas of death. It is contrary to the broadening thought of the day." The doctor suggests that people who feel it ueccssary to inform the world of their grief should be content with the band of crape often seen round the arm of the coat or the hat. The custom of indicating sorrow by outward display is a very old one, ami in some countries is carried to much greater lengths than in the various parts of the British lOmpire. At the same time many people will be disposed to sympathise with the view of the matter taken by Dr Hooker.