ith a deep black band on the hat, and of course, black ties and
socks and shoes and gloves.

=CONVENTIONS OF MOURNING FOR MEN=

Although the etiquette is less exacting, the standards of social
observance are much the same for a man as for a woman. A widower should
not be seen at any general entertainment, such as a dance, or in a box at
the opera, for a year; a son for six months; a brother for three--at
least! The length of time a father stays in mourning for a child is more a
matter of his own inclination.

=MOURNING LIVERY=

Coachmen and chauffeurs wear black liveries in town. In the country they
wear gray or even their ordinary whipcord with a black band on the left
sleeve.

The house footman is always put into a black livery with dull buttons and
a black and white striped waistcoat. Maids are not put into mourning with
the exception of a lady's maid or nurse who, through many years of
service, has "become one of the family," and who personally desires to
wear mourning as though for a relative of her own.

=ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF SYMPATHY=

In the case of a very prominent person where messages of condolence, many
of them impersonal, mount into the thousands, the sending of engraved
cards to strangers is proper, such as:

Mr. W. Ide Bonds
wishes to gratefully acknowledge
your kind expression of sympathy

or

Senator and Mrs. Michigan
wish to express their appreciation of

[HW: Miss Millicent Gildings]

sympathy in their recent bereavement

Under no circumstances should such cards be sent to intimate friends, or
to those who have sent flowers or written personal letters.

When some one with real sympathy in his heart has taken the trouble to
select and send flowers, or has gone to the house and offered what service
he might, or has in a spirit of genuine regard, written a personal letter,
the receipt of words composed by a stationer and dispatched by a
professional secretary is exactly as though his outstretched hand had been
pushed aside.

A family in mourning is in retirement from all social activities. There is
no excuse on the score of their "having no time." Also no one expects a
long letter, nor does any one look for an early reply. A personal word on
a visiting card is all any one asks for. The envelope may be addressed by
some one else.

It takes but a moment to write "Thank you," or "Thank you for all
sympathy," or "Thank you for your kind offers and s