The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-04-30
A wonAS,s PROTEST AGAINST CREMATION,
To THE EDITOR OF TEE HERALD

To THE EDITOR OF TIE HERALD
Now that the papers are iull OF grim and ghastly
jokes as to the feasibility OF utilizing the remains
OF our loved ones, By burning them IN gas retorts
ana lighting the city with their remains, pray let
a woman protest against the ill-tImed levi,y that
thus turns subjects long considered sacred into q
fruitful source OF idle badinage and persinagc.
Surely, even in this heartess utilitarian age, We
are not yet greedy for the almighty dollar" as
to grudge to our dearest ones-Done OF our bone,
fesh OF our iesh-the lew feet OF ground requisite
TO buy them decently ont Of sight. II we are to
90 back to the barbarous customs or semi-civiized
nations, let us begin with bull fights and gladia-
torial contests by nude athletes, or unequal war
fares between wild beasts and human beings for
the sport OF the public. But only when we have
reached this depth OF degradation let us burn the
bodies OF those we love.
If IL is detrimental to the public health to bury
bodies in or near large cities, how much more 90
must it be to allow bone boiling estabu snments.
swirl mik stables, leaky gas pipes, defective sew.
eragc, swamps in sunken lots full Of dead dogs,
cats and chickens under from one to ten feet Of
water may be seen on the outskirts OF the cityf
n, as some state. the amount OF the dead
buried in or near New York or Brooklyn Will reach
in a certain stated number OF years such an ap.
paling figure that cremation becomes sanitary
measure, why NOT remember that aitnougn thcre
certain large nuuiucI Uulicu Soon yS0ie
those thus turned ashes to ashes ana dust 70 unsc
the preceding year are no longer In condltlcn 70
affect the public health, having been absorbed
again into the loving bosom Of their mother earth,
cxaang no nox.ous vapors 10 BURDEN the Daimy
air above them.
Before we wrcst from those near and dear to us
the ever sacred privilege OF resting the outer cas-
kct III their freed and immortal souls In c0n5e.
Grated ground where the BIRDS. In waving
branches of vernal tress. may lovingly sing a sad
reuuIeul above thom, let us burn the bodies Of
criminals and paupers who have forfeited their
RIO nj 10 CHRISTIAN burial or who have no near and
dcar friends 10 have their innernost heartstrings
Iacerated by the lildeuus spectacle VI handful Of
ashes only lett oil all tncY 50 loved and idollzed.
An now every motler's heart must nstinctively
reco from the thought vi having the tiny form
she has so wofshipped become prey to the de-
yourlng hamcsl
on now horrd to think OF the sunny ringlets she
has so often twined lovingly with all mothers
PRIDE arouud her fingers being snrivecd and
scUrChcd 10 loathsome mass! to think OF
tile rosy lips So often pressed 10 hers ana To her
heart burned TO black ana ieid dusti
much more 10 lest over tins earul Iatey Is IL not
bad enough to lay away our loved ones IN the cold,
dark grave even under the summer sun and
meath fragrant nowessy
only ~ tnink OF 4 father burning his son In an
iron boiler. ana then, alter placing tue ashes III Q
vase upon MS nantci, bOastlng that the urn cost
only 81. ana nat tile Whole expense CremA
ton was lcas than sl0J When we grow as ma
ton so missry us 10 wish To measure by mere dol
lars ana cents the BEST mode OF dsposlpg OF the
bodies OF our ancestors IL will be time enough for
us 10 ght our streets and bake our saturday Ueana
with their dead bodies L. N. STENrUN.