Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1874-02-27
ExOrbitant Funerals.

The rites observed at funerals have
been greatly modified within recent years.
In former times among the Scotch and
Irish peasantry funeral was the scene OF
revelry, feasting, and drunken sorrow,
and, to certain extent, the custom still
exists. 1t was disgrace to family not
to provide a sumptuous repast In the
good old times, and this probably TOOK
its rise from the fact that people In the
country had often to travel many miles:
In England the same custom existed, and
the "reeve" of the manor OF Hinton
spent, between the death of Lord Berke-
ley and his interment, seven bushels ana
three-quarters of beans in fattening one
hundred geese for his funeral feast. In
these more enlightened days we eat less
in expression of our sorrow, but we turn
it into massive and gorgeouslydecorated
caskets, costly exotics, and expensive
mourning cavalcades. Of the two modes,
perhaps the first was the most satlsfac-
tory, because the average mourner, whose
grief is not too overwhelming, or is, per-
haps, measured by the extent OF MS
pecuniary hopes, scarcely enjoys a rae
upon cold winters day, while good
dinner would certainly soothe his 1eel-
ings, and cause him to express his lam;s
entations in much more satisfactory
manner. Moderate grief undoubtedly
needs food, and the lavish expendi-
ture of many modern funerals might
very much better be employed IN
providing good feast for the poor, than
in the usual vainglorious trappings and
suits of woe. When the breath is out, the
man will die; and after fighting and
struggling through this world OF self,
when one comes to number up the many
that love him with an unselfish love, how
they come dwindling down to few I'm
gers. It is the instructive desire OF every
stricken heart to shield the form of the
loved one from the curious gaze. Ana
although it is perhaps natural that friends
and acquaintances should wish to take
what is called last look at a familiar
face, it is mere matter OF curiosity after
ALL To the bereaved members of the
household all the paraphernalia attending
the usual display is not only painful
ceremony, but terrible expense. Worn,
perhaps, with watching at sick-bed, the
weeping soul needs solitude, or simple
pressure of the hand from loving sympa-
thy. The only true republic in life is
death. In the lowly tomb all men are
free and equal. No fashion guards the
confines of the grave, or shapes the ever
lasting doom of frail humanity. What
mockery, then, to shroud one form of in.
animate clay in casket OF gold,. and
another in the covering of the forest.
Why strew the tomb with the glitter OF
wealth, or offer up lie, tribute to
mortality.
There is no custom of our time which
calls for reform more than the ruinous
expense and unnecessary show of funeral
observances. The death of a poor mans
wife or child or brother, is terror to
him, and an expense which months can
not atone for. All because the fashiona-
BILE undertaken must fatten on the follies
of earthly vality, and reap harvest
from post-mortem flattery. 1t is enough
to sswake wild laughter in the throat OF
death" to behold costly train following
the remains of some wealthy sinner, who
in his lifetime would not have cast a
penny to beggar. We have no objec-
tion to fashion in life. Folly was Ewes
first legacy, and we must minister to 1t;
but. in the name of human feeling and
common sense, let fashion cease with
death. Better the old, old custom Of
bearing the remains upon the shoulders
of four stalwart men, with the few who
loved him walking reverently in the rear
than that the poor man should ruin him
self to please the world. The expense oi
burials, all over the United States, is en-
ormous. If it cannot be brought within
reasonable limits by other means, let us
have Campo Santa, with grave fol
every day in the year; let us adopt the
process of incremation; or, better still
limit the exorbitant charges now demand
ed by legal enactment, and compel tha1
which human feeling and common de
cency seem unable to proc Chicago
Inter Ocean.
A PRINTER of Indianapolis thus ex
plains the recent strike there: When tht
panic of last September depressed bust
ness, Indianapolis Union, No. l, consent
ed to reduction in their scale of price!
of from twelve to fifteen per cent, the re
duced rates to hold good for period o
six months. The time having expired
fhav a okad ornnIavers to come up to thf