Women.  Mourning cards should be sent, to
       indicate temporary retirement from society. 
       Later cards should be sent, to indicate return
       to society.

  Children.  Children under twelve need not be
       dressed in mourning, though they often are. 
       Only the lightest material should be used. 
       Girls of more advanced age do not wear veils,
       but crape may be worn in hat or dress,
       according to taste.

       For parent, brother, or sister, mourning is
       worn for about one year.

  Men.  Men wear mourning one year for loss of
       wife.

A crape band should be worn around the hat, its width being determined by the nearness of the relative mourned for.  It is usually removed after eight months.

A widower wears mourning for one year, or, if he wishes, eighteen months, and for a brother, sister, parent, or a child, from six months to a year, as he desires.  For the loss of other relatives, duration of mourning is generally regulated by the members of the family.

The wearing of a black band on the coat sleeve in token of half-mourning is an English custom, and is somewhat practised in this country.

  Stationery-men.  A widower uses a black
       border about one-third of an inch on his
       stationery, and this at intervals is diminished.

       All stamping should be done in black.

  Women.  A widow’s stationery should be heavily
       bordered, and is continued as long as she
       is in deep mourning.  This is gradually
       decreased, in accordance with her change of
       mourning.

       All embossing or stamping should be done
       in black.

  Weddings.  Mourning should never be worn at
       a wedding, but it should be laid aside
       temporarily, the wearer appearing in purple.

  Widows.  A widow should wear crape with a
       bonnet having a small border of white.  The
       veil should be long, and worn over the face
       for three months, after which a shorter veil
       may be worn for a year, and then the face
       may be exposed.  After six months white
       and lilac may be used, and colors resumed
       after two years.

  Women.  The mourning dress of a woman for
       parent, sister, brother, or child is the same
       as that worn by a widow, save the white
       bonnet ruche—­the unmistakable mark of a
       widow.

For parents and children, deepest mourning is worn at least one year, and then the change is gradually made by the addition of lighter material or half-mourning.

For other members of the family—­as, aunts, uncles, grandparents, cousins, etc.—­black clothes should be worn, but not heavy mourning.

       Complimentary mourning is worn for three
       months; this does not necessitate crape and
       veil, but any black material can be used.