Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1856-07-04

FuSERAL PoMP.-There has been a sad degeneration in
the last half century, ia the Of conducting funerals
Formerly neat plain coffin, with sort OF trappings
about IT, served 10 tbs last remains Usually the
body borne the grave by persons selected for the
purpose single carriage being required for the
occasion. This not uncOmmon. when the distance
was more than a mile 10 the place OF ibtcrmcnt. Now
the il materially altered Under the sway OF modern
fashion, expensive pageants have usurped the honest aud
humble expression OF heartfelt and the mourning dres
instead Of the Borrowed face is the hest evidence Of
grief long array Of carriages frequently filed by out
sdcrs, Who have no business ia theIn-by old wonen
who love to gossip together the melancholy news"
follow the heArse, not IN mournfu possessonfor il any.
thing il said at all ia reference the deceased il gene
rally matters about which they have right IN
knoW to inquire-but ia -tyle OF pomp aud assumed
woe that makes NJ wish return tO the old fashioned
aud honest method Of inerments. The inOurniu
0bscqucs Of stricken hearts should not bc dis.
graced by such Of carelessness IL former
times mourners we're hired to shed tears, aud those
Who Wept the most were paid the highest price
Now there il no pccuniary compensation for hypO
critical grief excepting. perhaps, the pleasure IL
rage ride. Even distant relatives country cousins
Who n the city expressly ~ Join In the funeral ites
too often given n an unneaning attempt appear
-orowul n stated recently that such the pres
Of outsiders funeral, who really had buauess the
place thai with great difficulty that the relatives
and near ihends ~ the deceased could find accomnod
lions in tl.ychclcs provided for their use expressly
And this evil H. ,sing daily, that funerals like
~ ofe long ~ become noisy mObs rather than sober
gathering. Of those Who the los Ut departed
iriends Then too there t. the fuss aud bother about
dresses Ill Tor the sake Of isso Just a. il there was any
~ connrxun betScen real gfe aud such ado
apparel suitable for the occasion.
Such tie needless expenditures. such the r1taya.
gance Oi the charges m8dr by undefakers especially 81
che fashionable stamp that m0uual ~ " may be- lose
friend IL y. m respects, 20 "a give him gen.
t"el burial A. IL H. fashion must rule hohc-t fnan
than able meet family expenses, must b. borne
down ty considerable and needness Debt should be- he
unfortunate ~ Ia have funeral, and them d.
tress him. Aud such Is the potency Of this fashion
that families would feel disgraced tey I'D obey
lie dciaics the Of buria show, irrespective o
cost the prospect Of paymeu, 70 the undertaken
/ PM. ERqairsr.
| TVS TgsrtuoxY 90 ~ OrPoSESr.--The Alexandha
Sentinel Buchansn paper thus refers to W.. Fillmore
/ Albany speech
"The lat portion y admirable We cannOt too strong
y express pleasure IT, practical WISDOM ts cea'
statement II uuths, IL fervent patdosn, w.
correct appreciation Of the dangerous issues pending
IL eloquent oppesls IN behalf Of the Union We trust
that the voice ~ one eminent and who has bmse
learned 10 lay aside early "preudice will have power
ul influence the North in the Of Union aud the
Observance Of those obligations which the fact Of Union
imposes"