The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1887-03-19 00:00:00

FUNERAL REFORM.

On Saturday afternoon Vicountess Harberton pre-
sided at a well-attended meeting, held at the residence
of the Misses Davenport Hill, Hampstead, in connec-
tion with the National Funeral and Mourning Reform
Association, the object of which is, on sanitary,
economic, and other grounds, to simplify and impro% e
funerals and mourning customs. Miss Florence
Davenport Hill announced the receipt of letters ap-
proving of the onject of the meeting from Cardinal
Manning, the Bishop of Bedford, Sir H.nry
Holland, M.P., and others. Viscountess Har-
berton said that this was the first of a series of
meetings which the association hoped to be able to
arrange in different parts of London to make
its objects better known thaa they had hitherto
been. They wished to do all they could ti remove
the burden and hardships from which many people,
especially among the poorer classes, suffered in conse-
quence of the present system of expensive demon: tra-
tions of grief by showy funerals and the purchase of
new clothes for mourning, in the mistaken n( t•on of
doing honour to the departed. She thought tints was
one of those social shams which ought to be done
away with. Miss Whitby having given an account of the
circumstances under which this association was formed
in 1875, the meeting was addressed by the Rev. Dr.
' Hermann Adler, Mr. Howe (a working man), Miss
Annie McCall, M.D. the Rev. Charles Voysey, Mr.
J. H. Allen, Miss Thomas, the Rev. Dr. Sadler, Mr.
Emmanuel, Mr. Cuerel (a working man), and the
Rev. E. C. Channer. Resolutions in support of the
objects of the association were unanimously carried.

Ati EXPERT Cook.—The King of Bithynia, in some
expeditions against the-Scythiana, in the ‘v;nter, and
at a great distance from the sea, hada vblent longing
for a small fish called aplig—a pilchard, a herring, or
an anchovy. Ills cook cut a turnip to the perfect
imitation of its shape; then tried in oil, salted, and
well powdered with the grains of a dozen black
poppies. His majbsty's taste WPil E 0 exquisitely de-
ceived, that he praised the roo_ to his guests as an
excellent

A PERSIAN MISEIL—A merchant who has lately died
at Isphahan, and left a large sum of money, was 80
great a niggard, that for many years he denied himself
and his son, a young boy, every support except a crust
of coarse bread. He was, however, oneday tempted by
the description a friend gave of the flavour of cheese to
buy a small piece; but before he got home he began
to reproach himself with extravagance, and instead
of eating the cheese he put it into a bottle, and con-
tented himself, and obliged his child to do the same,
with rubbing the crust against the bottle, enjoying
the eneese in imagination. One day he returned home
later than usual, and found his son eating his crust,
and rubbing it against the door. What are you
about, you tool?' was his exclamation. It is dinner-
time, father; you have the key, so I could not open
the dcor ; I,was rubbing say bread against it, because
I could not get to the battle 'Cannot yo a go without
cheese one day, you luxurious little rascal? You'll
never be rich !' added the angry miser,
..as he kicked
the poor boy for not being able to deny himself the
ideal gratification,