The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1872-10-04
A FUNERAL IN PARIS.
HY REV. LYMAN ABBOTT.


uuurqlnintcd with the CuslOm4,nDI know.
Ing u single resident III the city, only one
o! orr party really familiar with the Ian.
guaGr, and She confined by the claims of
the sick 10 the sick chamber, the pcrplcXi.
lies Ut our position were enhanced by
fears alike for the sick and for the well.
For the mysterious visitor that had pur.
sued us IRON Belgium proved 10 be the
typhoid fever, In three OF the four eases
an attack OI the most virulgnt type Of
that dread disorder.
OF the strange and pcrplcXing expert.
cnCrs in procuring competent assistance;
OF the sister ul charity that came Unl sat
by tie bedside, more hciplr-, than our
selves, counting her beads and uilcring
her prayers, bu, rarely rendering any
more efficient service than occasionally
10 mOislrn the parChcd lips with wine
and water; OF the Partisan Mrs Camp
who ordered and drank two bottles Ol
wine in the first hpur, md who would
have proved u nurse beyond all praise
il she had been half Us sOIiCitOus Tor her
patients comfort us she WAS Tor her own;
If Il third assistant, who was seized with
the horrors almost rs soon rs she learned
the nature OF the disease, md who, having
engaged for month, quilted in thirtysiX
hours, twelve OF which she had spent out
If the house; and, finally, OF Nine. -,
whose s!ccp!css vigilance, and unrCmit
ting Gaze, and thoughtful kindness no
money can adequately rccompcasc; ui
our own days and nights OF anxious
watching; oil the deepening dread with
which VIC marked the doubtful battle he
tween life aud death; Of the solemn hour
when in that iar.Olf land we stood by the
bedside where medical skill owned itself
defeated, and saw htr whom We loved
fall painlcssly and quietly into her long
last sleep; Hnd Of the thanks with which
We received her companions back from
the sladOwly land that separated life and
death rs twilight day from night-ui all
this ! venture not 10 write, but only as o
spectator, rather than as a participant, Of
our subsequent experience.
The Americans first reliance in Paris
IS the banking house OF Munrcc u Co.
Their table is always covered with the
leading American papers. They are our
post Office. They take our address, and
receive and forward our letters. Their
register affords directory OF Americans
in Paris, nigh! almost say Of American
travellers in Europe. Our first appeal
Was 10 them. They informed US where
We could get good wines. They were
ready, IN short, 10 COusCl, and alwaS wise.
y, III respect 10 every question about
which strangers like ourselves might well
hcI.norlHt NDlcss u friend in need was
the American Chapel. Il is not mere
preaching station. Sill less is it q mis-.
s!unrry station. II cXcrts very li;:lr rli-
rec; influence IN the French population.
Its minister is no, permitted tOprcach in
The French language, even il he knew
now. Blu! It's greatest service is not 10
residents. Ii is what its name indicates,
an american chapel. 1t is icliCiOUsly
what he American embassy is politically.
Every American Christian should have
~ much pride in the honorable and sue.
Ccssiul maintenance Ot one ~ OF the 9th
cr For fifteen years its sexton, Mr.
George smith, has made i, his duty to
act in just such cases rs ours. lie tool;
the whole charge Of the painful Guty
which, in Ely ignorance Of the laws and
the language, il would have been almost
impossible Tor me Ia perform. lie pro.
cured the Cmba!mcFs. lie arranged the
funeral services. In his room in the
chapel the remains were suffered u
await the time d sailing. lie attended
pursOnllIy 10 their shipment, accompany.
Ing them 10 !lgvrc Tor that purpose; and,
indeed, i!igt they were suffered To be re-
moved II all was due, | Judge, 10 his
good management. For the laws OF Paris
ulscOursc such removals, which are not
always easily accomplished by foreigners.
1t Is one Of the pCCulilritics OF that sys.
TEN 81 Capitalization which CharaCiCriIes
the French Government that all funerals
and in,crmcn's are conducted by the p0.
lice. There is not & private undertaken
in al Paris believe even the cuiliu is
furnished by government. know there
IS M choice q! collins They are always
made 0! plain oak. For the poorer classes
the COilil Is uncovered For the better
classes it is covered with while Cl0la in
case Of the yOuEg, with black cloth in
the case o! the midic.agcd. II the re.
m.ins aye 20 be removed, lead coffin is
enclosed in the outer one OF oak. All this
is regulated hy law. That i! be legally
done, il is all supervised by the police
Thee IS no such variety Of COilins-Oak,
black walnut, rosewood iron-as with Us
Tie rich and poor meet together" in
death.
Our first duty, after death, il, therefore,
20 communicate the tact 10 the ChiCi o.
the GrDndissmGn,-that is to say, 10 The
captain Of our ward. lie sends To the
house the health officer, 10 examine The
remains and determine the reality and the
cause OF the death. Until he comes have
SINCE been told that the law lOrhids the
corpse To be touched. In the case oil An
acquaintance ol mine, i, was not even
washed and dressed Tor twcnty.iour hours
owing 10 this officers delay. Our iunor,
gnCC was cur good fortune. These ncCrs
slry duties were performed before he
arrived. After his examination, We arc
obliged to return 10 the police head.
| quarters again. Our declaration ~ 10 the
ngr and the birth plscc Of the deceased
and the circumstances Of her death, is
taken down. We are then called upon tl
designate what class Of funeral We desire
lhcy range, | believe, from one tC
ten. The price Is adjusted according Il
the class. The government furnish the
hcgrsc, the carriages, the pail bearers
Tor augh, | know, the m0urncrs. II there
is - public service rt the church, there i,
extra charge. Government owns The
cemetery and sells the lot. The riChcsI
nnbpD and the most wrcichcd paupcr tina,
even makes his exit from life in Paris i
buried by the municipality There is NJ
choice II was In this EFFICIENCY TINT
tanned 10 the American Chapel. | lcl al
| questions Of tho form and nature OF tht
iGnrral IN the hands Ut IFS experienced
/ EgNsRu IT, thin .l.,t I = ,,f.t .