The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1872-05-01

Down AMONG THE DEAD.-The New
York World, of the 21st, t!eats of q sub
Ject, editorially, which is interesting to
all men and everywhere. The World
says: "How to dispose OF tho dead is q
question concerning which sanitarians
anu sentlmentalists are at swords points,
and rs population increasingly aggre-
gates at certain centres, the discussion
between the conflicting parties acquires
addluonal Importance. The village
ohnroh-yard, distant from the habita-
tions OF the living, with it's dozen or SO
OF hower-bearing graves, is very differ
ent thing from the city cemetery, with
its hundred masoned vaults, in sach of
which are shelved the coffins of two or
three generations, aud medical authori.
tlea are unanimous in insisting that tho
latter, at oil events. if not the former,
must be suppressed. But how? we
must have consecrated ground for Chris.
tian burial, says the churchman. we
must show our reverence for the depart
ed.' adds the strict follower Of the fifth
commandment. Every family of any
respectability must have it's family vault,
chimes IN the patrician. But YOU
mustn't pnt number of dead bodies to-
gether to poison an entire neighbor-
hood. retorts the sanitarian 'Ssnti-
ment'-begins u blooming widow. Sui.
phuretted hydrogen gas, interrupts the
doctor.
ut cannot be denied that our present
method OF lntermept is not only detri.
mental to health but wastefnl, innsmnch
as 1t prevents the useful completion of
nntnre's circle wherein decom posing or.
ganic matter is utilized for the fertiliz:.-
ton OF the soil and the maintenance of
new lie. The system of incremntion-
return to which is advocated by Prof
liam ammond-wonld be almost as wastcful.
because, although no particle of matter
Is really destroyed, aud the vaporize ed
products OF combustion would ultimately
enter into now organic combinations, vet
large number of persons would proba-
oiy Insist upon carrying out the ancient
custom In all its details and preserving
their deceased relatives ashes (which
would contain Important salts) in orna-
mentat urns, thus defrauding the vcge-
table kingdom of its rghtful due.
"a plan satisfying all the conditions of
the problem has been once before sug.
gested In these columns, consisting IN
the simple expedient of abolishing
collins. and declaring thut all inlermcnts
should be made in arabic soil-6xino bv
law, of course, The maximum numb .r Of
funerals to be allowed to an acre. Iu
this way mau's ordained return to dust
would be assured, and in lnxuriant crops
the resurrection of the body would lie
literally verified. The disinfecting pro.
perties of earth. which now are resisted
by the interposition of cof1ins, would
then suffice to protect the public health.
Then, too, sentiment us we'll as a sense
OF the eternal fitness of things, might
be consulted in the selection of appro
pirate. garden.beds to commemorate
special traits Of character. Husband
and wife might repose together beneath
the roots Of prickly pear-apt type of
their earthly union; the pastors sermons
might be recalled to the memory of bis
flock by stately growth of the SOM
nIferons poppy; the lawyer might
posthumously flourish in the Burberry,
while his client might be typified in
ragged robin; the boarding house
keepers dryad would find continua'
abode in ash; and so on through. 1.
wide botanical range of similitudes. Or
special notifications of vegetation might
be induced by experimental horticul-
turists familiar with the mould of human
nature and of garden. not surprising the
liQnor dealers of the West fear for their
profits while the novelty of the new law
lasts"