The Lincoln County herald., 1872-10-02
Funeral Ceremonies tn Athens.

uuCVal OeuCmVuNS - nsueuSs
Long before q funeral procession comes
10 sight, the ear catches the low mono.
tonous chant Of tho priests, sho are pre-.
ceded by boys 10 white robes bearing
tho crucifx and ecclesiastical insignia, in |
presence of which every head is uacov
cred, and every hand makes the sign Of
the cross. The corpse is exposed to full
view ia an open colin of light material,
covered With white or black cloth, with
silver or gilt decorations, the cover Of
which, marked with q long diagonal
cross, is carried before the procession.
The body is dressed in the customary
clothee Of the deceased, the head slightly
elevated, and the hands folded iu front Of
q panel picture Of the Virgin set up on
the breast. If it is q female, the cheeks
aud lips are painted vermillion, intended
to reproduce q natural expression, but
which gives to the corpse an artificial aud
ghastly look. Even to 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 aud
insensibiity Of the public street, the
features CT q deceased person who in lite
may have been known only to the little
group of mourners gathered about the
remains. At Greek funerals the hearse
is not generally employed, aud the light
open casket is borno by the hands Of the
nearest friends Of the deceased, while
the other mouruers walk, not march, in
u group around it. Thus they literally
carry and accompany, rather than follow,
their friend to the grave, aud gaze upon
the face which was dear to them up to
the moment When ho is laid in his last
resting place. The funerals Of the poor
are even more touching to behold. A
single priest, perhaps, performs the
chant ani half dozen mourners, repre-
ssntiug the little household, bear bet" ecu
them the coffin, which is composed Of
the cheapest MA erial, aud covered with
white muslin. When a person OF dis
tipguished position dies, the funeral pro
cession becomes an imposing spectacle,
with the bishop aud priests in their
gorgeous sacerLotal robes, numerous
lighted candles, and martial music
once saw the body Of venerable bishop
of the Greek Church carried in process
sion through the streets Of Athens 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 iu his hand. A cloth
around the o,ehead bound it to the back
of the chair, but not sufficiently close to
prevent the head from bobbing up and
down, as if tho dead mans pale aud rigid
features we're salu ing, for the last time.
the people among whom be bad exercised
his holy Office fer over threescors years
In this position he was placed in the
gravo. peculiar honor accorded to his
ecclss,astical rank. The dead-chieAy
from climatic consideratlons-are buried
. within twenty four hours Of their dc
cease. This is very shocking to foreign
ideas but the custom has come to b'
complied with within less timet than the Law
!, requires. Indeed the feeling is, that th'
} sooner the painful duty is over, and the
house freed from the distressing spectacle
of corpse, the sooner will the minds o
the mourners bs relieved from association
; with what is repulsive, and return to tn
inward contemplation Of their friend, d
. they knew HIM in life. Thus it ofte
| happens that the first iutimation OF
death is conveyed in the printed invita-
f ton to the funeral. have converse
with q gentleman at an evening party
! who appeared to be in the highest enjoy
. ment Of physical health, and the day fol
, lowing witnessed his interment, he hav
ing expired in the mean time from spop
Q lexy. had once a business appoint
4 ment with a near neighbor, aud, on "a
b log to fulfill it, met his dead body con-
' ing down the door steps, I was sittin
one evening at the bedside Of distir
/. euishsd Amsricau Missionary, who wa
!. describing to me his peculiar malady, an
/. the next afternoon l saw him laid IN tn
Q Protestant Cemetry. The modern Gree
o may we'll exclaim with the ancier
}. Creek
"Who knows what fortunes on to morrow wait,
h Since Charms oIe day we'll to us appeared,
- And on the next was mournfully inferred !"
h 1t is the custom, after tho deeesse
the occupant, to drape the interior Of tt
!. house with mourning. have seen ever
b article Of furniture, from plane to foo
ID stool, draped in black, and even q sma
strsamer Of Grape attached to the key
a. the tobacco box, FROM "ModeI
n Athens" by Charles K. Tuckermau,
Scribeer's for October.
j. In his recent epsech at Greenfisl
a. Indiana, Dan Voorhees, made the folol
,s lug sensible remarks which va CONNER
,e to the careful consideration Of "tl
stra;uhk outs -