Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1874-04-13
BURNING VS.. BURYING.

tenderest sentiments are so lnwrapt with
it that it is only with the greatest Diff
Guilty that we can regard the subject in
the light of reason at all. BUTT is nec-
essary sometimes that even these matters
should be reviewed in the candor of rea-
son, with due regard, of course, to the
sacredness of sentiment as well. The
question of new methods does not yet
press. perhaps, upon the rural and we'll
TODD classes of society, but the continu-
ally recurring scandals in all great cit
les. connected with the burial of the
poor, demand attention. For cities of
the size of London, Paris and New York,
and even Boston, it is coming to be an
utter impossibility to provide strip of
green turf over the remains of every de-
ceased citizen. Our Mount Auburns and
Greenwoods would be the most feeting
temporalities if they were not pro-
tected by tariff of prices so high that
only the silver-trimmed casket can enter
into their peaceful repose. The dead of
the multitude must be otherwise provid-
ed for, and the question arises at once
whether it is not better to adopt some
rite so simple and cheap that it shall be
common to all, that in the grave there
shall be no caste.
In the disposition of human remains,
the end sought. as indicated by the con-
current voice of common sense, science
and Scripture, is to return ''dust to dust
ashes to ashes" The language of the
Bible was taken from the expressive Ro-
man and Greek rite. We have blurred
its significance by adopting burial, but
"ashes to ashes" contemplated a more
rapid process of decomposition. The diff
ference between all the modes of dispos-
ing of human remains is difference Of
time in the process of decomposition.
The Egyptians and Mexicans delayed il
thousands f,years by embalmlng corps.
es into hideous mummies. We delay il
few years by laying bodies in the eartf
to purify, corrupt the soil and springs
In the great cities we hasten the process
for the mass of the dead by dumping
their remains into pits and burning then
up with quicklime. How much prefer
able to avoid corruption entirely by tn
reduction of the remains by combustion
to ashes. sweet earth, purged of tn
eorruptible by fire, as soon as prope
after the certainty of death. The pro
cess of incarceration would of course b
conducted at public institution, wher
the last religious rites could be perform
ed as decently and as solemnly as in th
presence of the grave-digger.
No one will confess to love of TIL
idea of burial. 1t is repulsive in ever
feature, and it is only tolerated by tt
resolute refusal of the mind to dwell III
. on its details. Theologians and mora
. lists have we'll used "the worm and IL
o corruption of flesh as means to horrit
the souls of the living, but, to-day, whe
religion is being exercised of the horl
- BILE element, they are no longer tolerate
, at all in association with the loved wi
% are dead. But in the process of bur
ing (cremation) or of reduction to ash
II Gncineration) there is no foothold f
n these uncleanly and ugly fancies. II
y body is turned ''ashes to ashes" as
e "the refner's fire. of Malachi.
!, But in its more economical consider
Il tions, if anybody cares to consider thel
! cremation is equally to be preferre
The process of incarceration in the citi
would cost a very small fraction of t
expense of burial. For those who won
~ preserve portion Of the ashes, the c.
% of suitable urns would be very much Il
=. than that of grave stones and monumen
!, Prof. Brunetti of Padua, finds that t
&c remains of a human adult leave less tn
: four pounds of delicate white" ash
od and that go cents buys sufficient wo
10 to complete the process. Scientific mea
If would be employed, of course, to deod'
4 ize the gases given off from the burniI
nd The expensive travelling of corpses wol
Of be largely done away with. A most
No. portant consideration is the greater
of curlty from premature putting aw
., OF the remains, before life is extip
bo No remains would be burned till IL
IFS were submitted to unerring tests as
!, the presence of life. Our British frie,
u IN their discussions give great pro-
80 nence to the consideration of fertilize
no Over 100000 pounds of human
,ds mains are annually buried from the c
cd of London. at depth which preve
~ the enrichment of the soil, but VIII
re does not prevent the escape of poison
Tho efiuvia and the corruption of the. wa
-, courses. Hundreds of thousands of &
law lars are spent in fertilizers to repair
-. waste.
nse The question is at least one on VIII
,er. people may as we'll be thinking and
ons missing their prejudices. 1t is being
,rn, itated in New York, and some pu1
demonstration is likely to be made u
the issue before long. To the inh;
IN tants of the smaller cities, the fate of