Note 31 — Chapter I · THE SOCIAL ORGANISATION

When a husband dies his widow may marry again if she wishes. As a rule I believe that it is not considered fitting that she should take another husband before the end of her mourning for her former one. Mr Man says “it is not considered decorous that any fresh alliance should be contracted until about a year had elapsed from the date of bereavement31.” I knew of one case, however, of a woman with a young child who married again only a fortnight or so after her husband’s death.