A man wears mourning for a parent, sister, or brother for six months or a year, as he prefers. The crape hatband is adopted for this dress, but should be much narrower than that of a widower. First mourning consists of complete suits of black, dull black leather shoes, black gloves, and cuff-links of black enamel. Second mourning should be gray or black clothes, black and white silk ties, gray or black gloves, and black and white linen. Men do not, as a rule, carry black-bordered handkerchiefs. Few men wear mourning for grandparents or other relatives. The wearing of a black band on the coat sleeve is condemned by the best people. It is a custom borrowed from England, where it was originally introduced for liveried servants whom it was not thought necessary to fit out in complete black liveries. The worst thing about a band is that it is unclassifiable, since a man may wear it for a near or a distant relative. If a man cannot afford or does not approve of mourning, then he should abjure the entire livery of grief, for the compromise of a black band betrays a painfully economical mind.

After mourning, a man may resume his social duties in from three weeks to two months. While wearing a broad band on his hat for a near relative a man should not attend the theater, opera, or a ball.