Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1872-09-30
MEMPHIS, TENN:
S-''--'"f ~ Ashsns -T'-'T18

NtAI sNf Athens tftiit |At
From Scribner for octobor.I
Long before a funeral procession
comes in siobt the ear catches, the low.
mouotonous chant Of the priests. who
are preceded by5 boys In white robes
hearing the crucifix and ecclesiastical
insignia. in presence OF which every
bead Ia uncovered. and every hand
makes the sign OF the cross. The corpse
| "a exposed TO full view in a coffin of
light material, covered with white or
black cloth. With silver or gilt decora-
tions. the cover of which, marked with a
long diagonal cross, is carried before the
procession. The body is dressed in the
customary clothes of the. deceased, the
head slightly elevated and the hands
folded upon the breast. If it is a fe.
male. the cheeks and lips are painted
red yermillion. interded to reproduce a
natural EXPRESSION, but which gives to
the corpse an artificial and ghastly leok.
Even 10 one accustomed to witness the
exposure Of the dead in oriental
countries, there is something painful in
the idea of exhibiting to the glare OF
day. and amidst the whirl and insensi-
bility of the public street, the features Of
deceased person who in life may have
been known only to the little group of
mouruers gathered about the remains.
At Greek funeraIs the hearse is not gen.
erally employed and the light, open
casket is borne By the hands Of the near
est friends OF the deceased, while the
mourners walk, not march, in a group
around it. Thus they literally carry and
accompany, rather than follow, their
friend to the grave, and gaze upon the
face which was dear TO them up to the
moment when he is laid in his last rest
ing place. The funerals of the poor are
even more touching to behold. A single
priest, perhaps, performs the chant, and
half dozen nourners, representing the
little household. bear between them the
coffin, which is com posed Of the cheapest
material. and covered with white mus
lin. When a person of distinguish
ed position dies, the funeral pro
cession becomes an immense spec!
tacle. with the bishop and priests
in their gorgeous sacerdotal robes, nu-
merous lighted candles and martial mu-
sic. once saw the body of venerable
bishop of the Greek Church carried in
procession through the streets of Ath-
ems. He was seated in his bishops
chair elevated above the people, and
was clothed in his canonical robes, with
inter on head and the crosier uplifted
in his hand. A cloth around the fore
head bound it to the back of the chair,
but not sufficiently close to prevent the
head from bobbiug up and down, as if
the dead mans pale and rigid features
were saluting, for the last time, the peo-
ple among whom he had exercised his
holy Office for over three-score We. RS. In
this position he was placed in the grave,
a peculiar honor accorded to his eccle.
siastical rank. The dead-chiehy from
climatic considerations - are buried
within twenty-four hours after their de-
cease. This is very shocking to foreign
ideas; but the custom has come to be
complied with within less time than the.
law requires. Indeed. the feeling
20" II -,
Is, that the sooner the painful duty
is over, and the house freed from
the distressing spectacle of corpse,
the sooner VIII the minds of the
mourners be relieved from association
with what is repulsive, and return to the
inward contemplation Of their friend, as
they knew him in life: Tins it often
happens that the first intimation of a