The Grange advance., 1874-05-06
From the Philadelphia Sunday Dispatch.
The New Department in the :" Mornine
GIOry.''
BY MAX ADELER.

BY MAX ADELER
j. Alfred Brimmer, ESQ.,, editor and
proprietor of The Morning Glory, hav-
ing observed the disposition of persons
who have been bereaved Of their rela.
tives to give expression to their feelings
in poetical form, reflected that it
might perhaps be good thing to intro
duce to his paper department of obitu-
ary, poetry. He considered whether
If, when an individal inserted fifty
cents worth of dead notice, the estab-
lishment should contribute gratuitiously
half a dollars worth Of mortality STAN
zas, his paper would not at once be-
come the most popular vehicle for the
conveyance Of that peculiar form of mel
anchoiy intelligence to the public.
Aud Mr.. Brimmer rightly estimated
that, as most newspaper readers seem
to take a deeper interest in such sepul.
chral news than in information of any
other kind, the journal containing the
largest supply, would have the greatest
number Of subscribers.
So Mr.. Brimmer determined that he
would, IS an experiment at any rate,
engage an obituary poet for a short
time, with the purpose to give him per-
manent employment if the plan seemed
to take with the public. Accordingly
he sent for Mr.. Remington OFT, \
constructor Of verses, who had frequent
y contributed to the columns Of The
Aorntng Glory poems of what would
have been considered by fastidious stu.
dent Of English literature an appalling
and revolutionary character.
Mr.. Brimmer soon affected an arrange
ment with the bard, by which it was
agreed that Mr.. OFT should take position
in the Office for short time, and when
ever a death notice arrived he should
Immediately endeavor to grind out some
verses expressive Of the situation.
"You understand, Mr.. OFT, explained
Brimmer, "that when the death of an
individual is announced, I want you, as
it were, to cheer the afflicted family with
the resources Of your noble art. wish
you to throw yourself, you may say, into
their situation, and to give them verse
or two about the corpse which will seem
to be the expression Of the emotion of
the hearts of the living"
"To tighten the gloom, in certain
sense, suppose ?" said Mr.. OFT.
PRECISELY! Tighten the gloom
Do not mourn over the departed but
rather take joyous view of death, which,
after all, Mr.. OFT, is, as it were, but the
entrance to better life. Therefore,
would advise you to touch the heart
strings of the afflicted with a tender
hand, and endeavor, for instance, to d.
vert their minds from contemplation Of
the horrors of the tomb"
"Refrain from dependency, I sup
pose, and lift their thoughts TO-
"Just so! And at the same time
combine elevating sentiment with such
practical information as you can obtain
from the advertisement. Throw CLAM.
our Of poesy, for instance, over the COM
monp!ace details Of the every day life Of
the deceased. People are fond Of min.
ute descri iptions. Some facts useful for
this purpose may be obtained from the
man who brings the notice to the Office
others you may readily supply from your
Imagination
"Ill throw off stanzas," said Mr. Ott
i" in such manner that people will want
their friends to die for the sake of the
poetry"
But above ALL" continued the edi-
tor: take brig hit view Of the matte,
always. Make the sunshine of smiles,
as it were, burst through the tempest Of
tears and,if we don't make The Morn
ing Glory hum around among thu
mourners of this town, my name is no,
Brimmer.''
He was right. 1t did hum.
The next day Remington OFT wen
on duty and Brimmer ran down to tn,
seashore for breath of fresh air. AL
through the day death notices cam,
pouring in, and, when one would reacl
OFT, he would seize it and study it up K
ascertain the particulars. Then h,
would rush up stairs, lock himself in hi,
room, take.dovn hisi rhyming dictionary
run his fingers through his hair. ant
hack away for half an hour at piece q
paper until he considered that lie h.f