New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-04-22

sTUPRNDOUs LYBORs BEFORE TIE ADVOCATES OF
MISUNDERSTANDING AN UNCIvILIZED MODE OF
DISCLOSING OF THE DRAD-THE QUESTION OF
UTILIZING REMAINS.
To the Edftor Of TIE Tribune.
SIR: Possibly IN few of the largest cities
of this country cremation may become CUSTOM II GER
tainy should. But the will probably arrive
it will become provincial practice The lnhaoit-
ants, doubt a majority Of them, IN a majority OF
towns. will the idea with aversion. The char
acter civilization however OF peoples Of Europe
are such that its introduction there be made with
much less argument and time than here The work be-
fore the disciples cremation. they in earnest Is
q stupendOus one. There ia such a vast amount OF
prejudice and objection to overcome many years Of
labor 60 be performed that even the most ardent advo
Gates this burial may well feel the need Of every
assistance possible They are century too soon for
this country but II is practice that sooner or ater
must be adopted.
II Will seem strange at first sight that such DISPOSE
ton of the body after death. which is at variance
with all established ideas Of Refinement eenteness ana
scrptural teaching should after all be the manner OF
disposition most IN accord with the highest type OF CIVIL
ization In all ages world the question has been
what do with the body Before this strange silence
came upon it, could guide ITSELF but those who are
left possessed Of life must become its guardian. Be
cause OF corruption 1t must be put away and because
their fathers did mankind puts II In the earth Ihus
IL has come IN nineteenth century that We, with our
Wanted civilization, follow the burial custom OF tne
most primitive and barbar0us ages womb IL De 700
reat liberty of argument 10 assert that IN the nfst
aggregation OF mankind the first thing to de may nave
been dog perhaps horse. possibly catf IL not TOO
wretched aud barbarous a people they probably put
them earth the easiest and quickest way Oh dis
position, aud when came 70 die ne was put there
for the same reason, But from that distant time unit,
the present day there has been no advance we SUN
Sy our ana aoS onr cats Tue we no longer scrape
shallow hole in the earth TO receive the dead ine adj
vance Of " "a Ss saS We SsSs rosnds
this disposition Of the dead with Impressive
services, beautiful music, aud ufvent prayers
But despite this Improvement in the burial programme
we stl put our dead beneath the sod. as our prede'
have done for thousands Of years AS ioae.
then Ia simple question how TO dispose OF inc
body II is but natural that finally al this late day man
kind should strive for some better way some ess uu
talk Of our beautiful cities of the dead, They are
beautiful some q them a6Svs pM saat from ones
these silent cities" But beneath the rustiing leaves
the green grass. each IN MS marrow ecu
laid" there les-wsati -, ill.,. ,va
what though We know the Immortal soul lives We
cannot forget The body have known IL Is that when
years We rejoice In blind faith that the SOU hves ou,
sb thai RSS s cannot forget the body II one says
mere nsnse1se sentiment ~ g sii ss ss non us
experience feeling because they regard the ooae
with indifference Those who do not cannot fal IN some
fersnt why NOT burn instead OF buryf What better
Improvement What higher advance can De maze tnh
In the immediate and purifying process OF cfepation,
Without exhausng time In discussing the sanitary ana
other benefits arising FROM such practice, AZ the qse
ton simply is how To dispose OF the dead what MA,
and better dis position he made than this' VIZ
among U.s. Lac calmly thinks OF himself aha aeasn,
would prefer 10 reduced 20 ashes In Few
than lie dampness and m0dcring decay for YEAR,
Although at first this perhaps, comes npteasab
10 some minds. careful reflection must influence nay
10 recognize In this OF some ancient nations o
only really civilized manner of dispOslng % tbe ues
Tue discussion OF this question should De oonnnou
too Tar " oppose cremation because " waste OF a.
nal that could the soil. IT ~ not necessary !"