The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-04-26
A CrematOr Criticised.

NEW YORK. April 20, 1874.
To THE EDITOR OF THE RERALD:-
noticed in a recent issue OF q city paper let
ter upon cremation. written evidently by a woman
in which she advocates the OF those eccentric
creatures wh0 to vim dictate civilization, would re-
turn to the characteristic practice OF barbarlsm
1t is not my intention either commend or to dis
parage the system OF treating the dead that OBJ
tanned among the nations OF antiquity; my
purpose in writing this letter is to consider the
arguments advanced by anserous moderns IN
favor Of cremation. Impartial; disposed TO adopt
any plan consistent with morality and conducive
TO the most beneficial result, l do not attack
theory when crIticise the ignorant absurdities Of
its advocates. Men who consider knowledge Of
their native language more important than 1nane
speculati0ns, Will concur with me In advising the
enemies OF inhumaton to acquire the elements Of
grammar before they enter upon the discussion or
q subject which involves profoundly philosophical
questions, and which can only be confused by their
1atuous camor.
What The lady introduced BY .'Urn" and men,
toned above meant to say when she INDUCED In
sensational reflections on the ''dank Of the pits
must remain recondlte mystery to English
1t is true we possess an adjective '.dank,n signify
ing damp, wet, humid. MOST, dark, &c, but the
sion Of The iaay,s imasinasion. She con.
tinues:-HT0 the cultured mind the idea OF
Illumination becomes especially horrible when
its even current" tine even current OF WHAT
s.the cultured mindn or "the idea OF inhuma-
tionrJ "has been turned aside and its percep-
uonsu 1.-THE perceptions OF what--the .mindn or
the ''deat"y "dimmed and rendered morbid
througn grief"
derstand, is cultured, had concerned herself with
the principles OF language before she assaied the
custom OF Christian burial the responsibility OF
having composed such sentence as the foregoing
might have been avoided. We are next
entertained BY vivid description OF the
happy person. .Racks,n "uncOuth images,p
.sgnasty spectacies,n ''busy denizens.n dead
mems bonesn and "unclean birds battenmg on
dead massesn iniest the mental vision Of our
the word employed by tins LADY TO express the idea
OF "latLeningn IOrciDly reminds me OF line in
Shakespeare, which may be applied with singn-
lar proprlety to The victim OF the lamentaDle
your Junction." saws the great poet, Injunction
which. being explained. means s.c0nAne yourself,
to the legitlma.e sphere Of your usefulness ana
Now confidently challenge any man or woman
to comprehend the following specimen Oh lucid
English upon the first reading OF it:--"From ont
OF the dark depths Oh grief, more bitter than the
gloom OF death, the mourncr may question tnhni--
tude Of the departed spirit. associated with none
but peaceful thoughts, showing that the dead lie
where the winds OF heaven cannot visit them.
nninteiiigble, and assertions made IN such style
cannot De reiuted, because they cannot be un-
derstood. WHAT Is meant by questioning
innnltude OF the departed spirtY" Does the cause
thoughts" refer. to the ''mourner," TO inhnitude
or to .sthe departed spftt2, rms entire sentence
is in state OF hopeless confusion, and II all crema-
tionists promuigatea their peculiar opinions in an
equally perspicuuus manner their efforts would
not only be devoid OF convection, but would. occa-
sion positive agony In the minds OF those who adj
mire ana cherish the purity and the grace and the
strength OF the English language. Respectfully,