The interior journal. [volume] (Stanford, Ky.) 1872-1881, 1872-11-15
AssUAGING soIlROw.
Uo~ an obituary Poet Checred the A.
nIeted Families.

uo~ an Obituary Poet Checred the A.
nIrted Families.
Naa ktsie. m New Nort p-rlt,t
j. Alfred Brimmcr, E-l., editor and
proprietor Of III, Morning Glory having
observed the disposition Of persons who
have been bcrcaycd Of their relative t'
give expression to their feelings in po-
ctical form, reflected that It might per-
haps be a good thing 10 introduce % his
papcra a department Vt obituary poetry.
Tie considered whether if. when an iudi-
vilual inserted ii1y cents worth u death
notice. the establishment should contrib
ute gratuitou.ly halt a dollar- worth Of
mortality stlHlas, hi- paper would not at
once become tlc most popular vehicle
for the conveyance Of thsi peculiar form
of melancholy intelligence - tdc public.
And Mr.. Brimmcr rightly etimated
that, a. most newspaper readers seem to
take deeper interest in such sopulchral
ncvs than in information ui any other
Kind, the journal containing the largest
number Of subscriber.
- Mr. Brimmer determined that he
would, a. AN experiment lt any rate, cu-
gage AN obituary poet 60, q -ter, time,
with tic purpose 90 give h,w permanent
employment if ihe p.au seemed 20 take
with the public. Accordingly hc ent
for Mr. Bennington Ou, o constructor Of
verses, who had frequently contributed
10 the columns Of Che Nuiy G5y
poems Of what would have leen cou-id-
cred by a h,tiliou- -.ulrI. Of EEriiA
literature an appalling ga0d revolutionary
character.
Mr.. Brimmer soon giiectei au Arrange
ment with thc bard, by which il VS.
agreed that Mr.. Ot should take poi
ton in the office for short time, and
whcneycra death notice sru,-iL. should
Immediately cudogvor 80 --ui out some
verses expressive of tby tustion.
you understand, Mr. OF, explained
Brimmer, chat when the death Of an
individual Is announced, want YOU,
it were, to cheer the afflicted family with
the resources of your noble art. wish
you to throw yourself you may say, into
the situation, and to give thcm a verse
or two about the c1rp-o which will seem
to be the expression Of the cmoiuu Of the
hearts Of the living
ITO tighten the ghom, in = certsin
sense, | suppose said Mr.. OF.
Precisely Tighten the gloom, Do
not mourn over the departed but rather
take joyous view of death, which, after
all, Mr.. OFT, is, a. il were, but the en-
trance to n better life Therefore. /
would advise you To touch the heart
strings OF the afflicted with tender
hand, and endeayor, for instance, 20 di-
vert their minds from contemplation Of
the horrors of the tomb"
Refrain from dependency, | suppose,
and liil their thoughts To-
"Just so! And at the same time com
bine elcvating sentiment with such prac-
teal information a. you can obtain from
the advertisement Throw a glamour
Of poesy, for instance, over the common
place details of the everyday life Of the
deceased. People are fond of minute
description. Some facts useful /, for this
purpose may be obtained from the man
Hho brings the notice 10 the office; other.
You may readily supply from your i'm
agination."
"'ll throw of stanns,' said Mr. OFT,
"in such manner that people will want
their friends TO die Tor The sake Of the
poetry"
"But above all, % continued the editor,
"take bright view Of the matter al-
ways. Make the sunshine of smiles burst
through the tempest Of tears and, if We
don't make Tie Many Glory hum
around among the mourners Of this town,
my name is not Brirmer."
lie was right Ii did hum.
The next day Remington OF went on
duty, and Brimmer ran down TO the sea.
shore for a breath of fresh ain. All
through the day death notices came pour
ing in, and when one would reach on,
he would seize it end study il up to as
certain particulars. Then he would rush
up stairs, lock himself in his room, TAX,
down his rhyming dictionary, run hi.
finger through his hair, and hack away
half an hour at piece Of paper until
he considered that he had the poetry in
a shape which would make the stricken
family feel proud Of the corpse. Wher
his days work was done, OF went hom'
with the conviction that the MorHin.
GLORY had finally robbed death Of is ter