Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1833-04-12
GAZETTE.
THE INTERIOR OF THE. MORGUE, IN
PARIS

of my visit, he very politely offered to show me
all the details of his administration, regretting
much as he said, that there was not SO much va.
riety as could be desired. But will show you
what have-be pleased to walk up
As we were climbing the narrow stairs, and
he was informing me that his establishment was
connected both with the prefecture the one on &C
count of the local expenses, with the other from
its connection with the public health. we were
obliged to stand close against the wall TO allow
a troop Of young girls to pass, well dressed, gay,
but shvering with the cold, which blew from the
river through the chnk whlch lighted the stair.
4" These are four Of. NY daughters. | have
eight children. Francois, the keeper. has had
ali alum ma ara Francois i kind father
Su.' SAID |, twelve children have been born
in the Morgne. Dreams Of joy and conjugal
endearments, and parental delights, have been
experienced in this chamber of death. Marriage
with ITS orange flowers, baptism with its black ro-
bed sponsors, the communion and the embrolder-
ed vel-love. religion. virtue, have had their
home here AS elsewhere. God has sown the seeds
Of happiness every where
Papa, ~e are guing to distribution Of prizes.
My sisters are sure TO get prize. Don't weary,
we will be back in good time"
= g Go, my children, "-and all four embraced
him.
81 thought of the body of the little Nurman
in the dreary room beneath, and OF the mother
who. even now. perhaps, was anxiously looking
for her from the window
- This is the apartment of Francois. Fran.
co.'s did the honors with the activity of a man
who is not ashamed of his establishment. His
room is comfortably furnished; two modern pen.
dulles mounted Oh bronze, a wardrobe with Me.
dusa's head, high bed, and handsome rose-co'
lored curtain. If the room, was not oveIbarden-
ed with fortune, If there was not much of Iuxu-
ry, yet, to those not early accustomed to super
flutes, it might even seem gay. II represented
the tastes. opinions, and habits Of its MASTER
Vases of flowers threw a green reflection on the
curtains, tor Francois is fond Of flowers. Among
his gallery of portraits we're those Of Ausereau
and K;eber. both in long coats, leaning on i'm.
mensr sabres, with reruques aud powder. Ma
poirun is there three times.
Look at these jars,' said Francois, these are
sweetrneats of my wife's making; she excels in
swsetmeats' | read upon them, 'gooseberrIes OF
1881 We left Francois apartment, which
forms the right wing Of the Morsue, while the
clerks house is on the left. and entered the cabl.
net of administration Of NJ. Perrin.
IF Francois is fond of flowers, VI. Perrin has
the same penchant tor hydraulics and the camera
obsrura; he draws, he makes jets from the Seine,
by an ingenious piece Of machinery. OF his own
invention; while he was re-tuuching his syphon,
l asked permission to turn over the register,
where suicides are ranged in two columns.
The fatal unknown; was the prevailing de-
signatlon Brought here at three IN the morn
ing. skull fractured, unknOwn;'-'b brought at
twelve at night, drowned under the Point des
Arts, cards 10 his pocket, MISUNDERSTANDING
woman, pregnant, crushed Dy hacre at the
corner of the Rue Maudar, unknown;-'new
born child found dead Of cold, at the gate Of an
hotel, unknown"
said to Nj. Perrin that he must weary here
very much occasionally during the long nights Of
winter.
sNu,' replied he, good lumoredly; 'ihe chill.
dren sing, we all work, Francois and | play at
draughts or pquet; the worst OF 1t is. We are
interrupted; knock comes, we must
90 down, get stone ready, undress the new
conner and register him: that spells the game
we forget to mark the points.
And this is the way you generally spend your
eveningsF'
always, excep, when Francois has to 60 to
Vanguard at four o'cock; then he must 60 to bed
earlier. ftThdpS you uo uut NHo" wat ouF ou'
rying ground is at Vanguard, as that burying-
ground is not much IN fashion, we have been al
lowed to retain our privilege Of having fosse to
ourselves
| understand-it is fef of the Moigne'
You saw that chariot below near the entrance
gate; in which the children we're hiding them
selves at play-that is our hearse'
And rich or poor, all must make use OF your
convey ance! If, for instance, suicide is recog
nized, his relations or friends may reclaim him. |
take him home. and bestow the rights Of sepul.
chre on him at his own house!'
"No-the Morgue does not give back what
has been once deposited here. 1t allows the
funeral ceremonies to be as pompous as they will,
but they must all set out from hence: one end OF
The procession perhaps Is at Notfe Dame. while
The other is starting from the Morgue. The
Archbishop of Paris may be there-but Francois
lace is fixed. tits the first
And the priests of Notre Dame, do they ne.
yer make any difficulty about administering the
funeral rites to your dead!'
sNevero
Not even to suicidess'