(From the}New Zealand ifail.) “ We mourn in Hack-, why mourn we not in Wood 1 ” Sooner or later during our sojourn on this earthly sphere, most of us are called upon to sutler bereavement, to endure the agonizing pageantry of funeral arrangements, and to don “ the customary suit of solemn black " —outward expression of midnight gloom and sorrow. The tyranny of custom is nowhere more apparent than in our mourning obser vances : rich and poor alike, bow under the yoke while protesting against it. tpth our heartstrings wrung with grief for the loss of husband, wife, parent, or child, we must perforce attend to details which harrow the soul, and outrage the feelings. From time to time efforts have been made in various quarters, to render our mourning usages less irksome, and to draw attention to the sense lessness of wasting so much money on the worse than useless pomp and parade so constantly associated with death. From a mistaken notion of paying proper respect to the departed, sums are expended out of all proportion to the means of the survivors, and in very many cases the family is straightened, if not absolutely impover ished, by the outlay. Take for example, the case of a household in comfortable circumstances through the exertions of its head ; the income is a stated one, sufficient for present needs, but with small margin for reservation. Suddenly the bread-winner is removed by death, and in the midst of her poignant grief, the poor wife is compelled, either to leave all arrange ments to the tradespeople, or to attend to their minutiae herself; for is it not of vast importance that a well conducted and hand some funeral should bear witness to the es teem in which.the departed is held ? And must not the depth of the widow’s woo bo gauged by the depth of her crape? So milliner and dressmaker appear on the scene, discus sing the relative merits of parramatta and bombazine, with the sickening reiteration of the words "This is most fashionable,” or “ that is not worn." After an effort or two to-keep down expenses, the poor woman gives in, and allows things to take their course, regardless of consequences. 