It is very injurious to both health and morals–injurious to the health, if you are really sorry, and injurious to the morals, if, as it is, in thousands of cases, simply a fashion.  You have no right to violate nature’s laws, nurse sorrow, nor impress it upon others by wearing long faces and black robes.  Modesty alone, should prevent you from doing it–from advertising your frailties.  Stop and think a little about this relic of barbarism, and sacrilegious rite.

–it is a relic of barbarism, cowardly, and spoils the child–it is like kicking yourself.