Further items of interest to the ladies. I guess that with the hair & the corset, getting ready to go out was quite a performance; don't know how you managed if you didn't have your own maid.
Here's one which should not be viewed if you are of a sensitive nature with regard to political correctness. (You might be surprised to know how recently the use of the 'N' word became offensive).
Following on from traditional funeral respectfulness, does anyone close their curtains anymore if there is a funeral in their street? I do but notice that alot of ppl don`t, they stand on their doorsteps having a good nose.
Just found this in the Daily Mirror, 1910, after the death of Edward VII.
On the subject of how in years gone by the households in the street where where there had been a death would all have there blinds drawn. Unlike these days where the person who has died is taken to a chapel of rest prior to the funeral. In my younger days every family had the body in the coffin in the house normaly in the parlour. {front room to those to young to know what a palour was} So out of respect the housholds near by all had there blinds drawn.
Ships that pass in the night, seldom seen and soon forgoten
Kimpri and Jimbob are quite right, things use to be done a lot differently in the past, i think respect was shown in a different way. There must have been chapels of rest but i think the majority of people brought there loved ones home to be laid out, and as Jimbob says,normally in the parlour. I can remember as if it was yesterday seeing an uncle of mine laid out in his parlour in Alwyn St, i was about 4 years old at the time. The coffin was open and he lay there in a white shroud, i can also remember asking why he was laying there and i was just told he was a sleep. As i grew up, it was the done thing to go in to someones house to pay your last respects and always as i remember, it was always an open coffin. My own parents were brought home and laid out and people came to pay there respects. I don't know whether this is a tradition, my sister insisted that a member of the family sat up through the night with my parents, Anyone else done that?. Just recently whenever i have known people who have died, i usually end up having to go to the chapel of rest to pay my respects, just the modern way i suppose.
God help us, Come yourself, Don't send Jesus, This is no place for children.
It was tradition that a member of family sat up all night in the same room with the deceased/loved ones, Don't think people pay there last respects this way anymore,
