The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1874-11-25


following article, taken from the Port
land (Me.) Star, as comprising all the
most cogent reasons Tor the adoption
of cremation in our country:]
eureka! Eureka!''
To the Editor of the Star:
The above was my mental ejaculation
when [ read in your interesting paper
of April 18th the proceedings of
meeting of incremationists in New
York City, endorsed by your able and
philosophic correspondent 1T, who
80 triumphantly revealed how to Rob
the Grave OF its Horrors, and to pre-
pare the dying to exult with more
than apostolic enthusiasm,-"O grave
where is thy victory" since even
though myself, o grave, are doomed
to abOlishment!
The incremationists propose, by bet
ter than purgatorial fires, to reduce
the dead human animal to few
pounds of asEes, which may be sent
to abse mt friends by express or other
wise as valued but not repulsive me-
mentoes of the departed. How sub
lime and beautiful the idea! What
an advance upon the old barbaric SEN
sualisms of the past! Then the re
clamation of the fertile spots now
worse than wasted for graveyards, and
their conservation to the better uses
of growing squashes and potatoes!
Then, again, the utilization Of the
dead animals" for purposes of fertil-
ization! Returned to their original
elements, one can reflect that the cab
bages and turnips in whose mastica-
tion he finds so much pleasure save
been promoted in their growth by the
bodies of departed friends! The
weeded widow can console herself
with the thought that her dear ex-
husband is present with her in the
starch Of her potatoes, the fiber of her
steak, the adipose of her butter! A
lost child may hover around bereaved
parents in the changed form of dried
pumpkins and apples, festooning the
walls or depending from the ceiling
of the household apartment!
Suppose the old bartaric graveyard
has received the SANCTION of all civil.
lied nations, and of thr wise and good
of all ages it only show how civiliza
tion and the worlds wisdom pale be-
fore the light of a new and.developinl
era! Suppose the so-called Gods
Acre" has been decrecd sacred spot
consecrated to cherished memories
and affections,-it only proves how
absurdly human thought has run
Suppose the mt. Auburns," the
Greenwood" and the Laurel Hills
have been considered places of hal
lowed associations, in which the liv
ing can profit by reflection, and tast
and spirit may become subdued ant
hastened,-who does not know tha
to crafty such sentimentalism som
of the best farm lands have been sac
rifced and cords Of rich manure i
every year thrown away!
In the proceedings of the increma
tionists referred to. one speaker-Elli
B. Schankel-is reported as saying:
"All sentiment must be throw
aside. 1t was nonsense to talk abou
inurning the ashes. That was as ba'
as burying them. A dead man was
dead animal, and he ought to G
back to begin again the round c
physical life Every thirty years tn
world was poorer by the loss of tn
fertilizing matter of 100000, ,OO
bodies put too low in the ground t
grow crops 1t was robbery of Go
and nature. If this society was I
live its members must enter their dy
ing protest against this waste, an
give their bodies to the future and il
life"
Here, certainly IS the key note to
great reform, why all this waste
ointment" Why not sell it and gi,
the proceeds to the poor! Why was
land and manure to save sentiment?
But here a query arises. If econ'
my is to rule the hour why not |
more radical in reform? Is it IL
best use to which dead animal
can be put to consign him to the MI
nure heap? Is a dead man of le
economic value than dead cat, who
skin is utilized for its warmth ar
whose bowels even are made to col
/ tribute to the qualification of Il
most refined musical ear? Is not Il
skin of the NANCY cur converted in
material more beautiful than XII
Do not the bones and hoofs of Il
horse furnish the world with articl
of ornamentation and use? Do n
even the rats of the gay French car
tai furnish gloves to cover the mo
delicate hands? And is man of lc
commercial value than these, that b
corporal substance should subser
no higher purpose than that
growing crops-cabbages and garlic
To what uses might not his fl
textured skin-properly dressed
: appropriated! Then what a choi
. relic for mourning widow to have
undervest made of the cuticle of h
departed husband, that she might ;
ways have at least portion Of hi
: near her heart! With napkin rim
made from thigh bones, and even f
. ger rings of the smaller bones, ht
}. easily they could be cherished as m
mentoes of affection and articles
, adornment! With bone buttons ma
of such material, afflicted ones cou
combine utility and sentiment-fast
their clothes aud bind up their grie
4 What forms Of economy could be ft
8 tered by a proper disposition of t
1 cast off human animal! In proper
b prepared watts large amount of ave
dupois could be reduced to tallow, /.
. fording candles for the worlds e
lightenment, and cosmetics and co
: ISOLATION for surviving friends. II
A,Akx cA