The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1875-06-26 00:00:00

"EARTH TO EARTH."

In London, on Thursday in last week, according to
announcement, a number of perishable coffins, made
on the principle advocated by Mr. Seymour Kaden,
were exhibited in the garden of Stafford-house, and
they proved sufficiently attractive to bring together a
large number of spectators (says The Times). The
coffins were simply wicker baskets, of the ordinary
coffin shape and of various sizes. Two of them, which
were made at Trentham, had their meshes filled by
moss, but the rest, which were supplied by Mr. Kirby,
a basket maker at Derby, were left with their meshes
open, like those of an ordinary waste-paper basket.
Two or three were double, with a space 2in. or 3in. in
width between the inner and the outer basket; and
this space,Lis intended to be filled with charcoal, for
cases in which any precaution against infection or
decomposition may be required.

Mr. Seymour Haden was himself present, and was
eagerly questioned about many details of his plan,
although this has the merit of being so simple that very
little can be said about it.
The following handbill, which was given to each
visitor on entrance, contAins all the necessary ex-
planations :—" It is necessary, perhaps, to explain that
the models shown are merely suggestive, and that the
majority of them do not as yet fulfil all the conditions
essential to their practical use.-1. The mesh in most
of them should be larger than it is, and as open
as is consistent with strength, and .the perfect re-
tention of their contents, which contents, p.gain, should
consist of the larger ferns, mosses, lichens, herbs,
fragrant shrubs, and any of the coriifer, willows or
evergreens, which are always- to be ha-2. The
osiers composing the baskets should be light (two
thin ones being better than one thick one), and no
more solid wood should enter into their construction
than is necessary to preserve their form.-3. They
should be of white, or stained willow, without
varnish or other preservative covering.-4.
companying each Of them should be a narrow leaden
band or ribbon, pierced with name and date of
death, to be passed round the chest and lower
limbs, and through the sides and over the top of
the basket : (i), for retaining, the ,body in its posi-
tion; (4), for the subsequent identification of the
NO, for sealing the coffin, as a guarantee that
the contents have not been disturbed.-5. In special
cases linings of some imperishable material for a few
inches upwards from the bottom will be necessary, ,
and, in other cases, such modifications of the ordinary

forms as may insure a complete inclusion of the body
in wool, charcoal, or other disinfectants, Of these ex-
ceptional models, No. 3 would seem to be, on the
whole, the best for its purpose. 6. Other materials
which are light, strong, perishable, inexpensive,
adapted for carriage, and favourable to the disselution
of the body, may do as well and possibly better than
these wicker baskets. Readiness of carriage and the
insurance of resolution being the main objects aimed
at, several such materials do, in fact, suggest them-
selves, and may afterwards come to be employed."