American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1874-02-28
EXOrbitant Funerals.

| regiment Ol gTOWleTS- LIttte CO7poTuG.
EXOrbitant Funerals.
The rites observed at funerals have
been greatly modified within recent years.
In former times among the Scotch and
Irish peasantry funeral was the scene of
revelry, feasting, and drunken sorrow,
and, to certain extent the custom still
exists. IL was a disgrace to a family not
to provide a sumptuous repast in the
good old times, and this probably took
its rise from the fact that people in the
country had often to travel many miles.
In England the same custom existed, and
| the reeve" of the manor of Hinton
spent, between the death of Lord Berke
ley and his interment, seven bushels and
three quarters of beans in fattening one
hundred geese for his funeral feast. In
these more enlightened days we eat less
| in expression of our sorrow, but we turn
it into massive and gorgeously- decorated
Baskets, costly exotics, and expensive
mourning cavalcadcs. OF the two modes,
perhaps the first was the most satisfac-
tory, because the average mOurner, whose
grief is not too overwhelming, or is, per-
haps, measured by the extent of his
pecuniary hopes, scarcely enjoys ride
upon cold winters day, while good
inner would certainly soothe his feel
!
citations in much more satisfactory
manner. Moderate grief undoubtedly
needs food, and the lavish expendi-
ture of many modern funerals might
very much better be employed in
providing good feast for the poor, than
in the usual vainglorious trappings and
suits of woe. When the breath is out, the
man will die; and after fighting and
struggling through this world of self,
when one comes to number up the many
that love him with an unseltish love, how
they come dwindling down to a few fin
gers. 1t is the instructive desire of every
stricken heart to shield the form of the
loved one from the curious gaze. And
although it is perhaps natural that friends
and acquaintance should wish to take
what is called a last look at familiar
face, it is a mere matter OF curiosity after
all. To the bereaved members of the
household all the paraphernalia attending
the usual display is not only painful
ceremony, but terrible expense. Worn,
perhaps, with watching at sick-bed, the
weeping soul needs solitude, or simple
pressure of the hand from loving sympa-
thy. The only true republic in life is
death. In the Iowly tomb all men are
free and equal. No fashion guards the
confines of the grave, or shapes the ever
lasting doom of frail humanity. What
mOckery, then, to shroud one form of in
animate clay in a casket of gold and
another in the covering of the forest.
Why strew the tomb with the glitter of
wealth, or offer up lie, tribute to
mortality.
There is no custom of our time which
calls for reform more than the ruinous
expense and unnecessary show of funeral
observances. The death of poor mans
wife or child or brother, is a terror to
him, and an expense which months can
not atone for. All because the fashiOna-
BILE undertaken must fatten on the fOllies
of earthly varity, and reap harvest
from post-mortem flattery. 1t is enough
to wake wild laughter in the throat of
DEATH" to behold a costly train following
the remains of some wealthy sinner, who
in his lifetime would not have cast a
penny to beggar. We have no objec-
lion to fashion in life. Folly was Ewes
first legacy, and we must minister to it;
but, in the name of human feeling and
common sense, let fashion cease with
death. Better the old, old custom Of
bearing the remains upon the shoulders
of four stalwart men, with the few who
loved him walking reverently in the rear,
than that the poor man should ruin him
self to please the world The expense of
burials, all over the United States, is en-
ormous. If it cannot be brought within
reasonable limits by other means, let us
have Campo Santa, with grave for
every day in the year; let us adopt the
process of incremation; or, better still,
limit the eyorbitant charges now demand
ed by legal enactment, and compel that
which human feeling and common de-
cency seem unable to proc Ire.-Chicago
Inter ocean.
THE Statesman, of Salem, Oregon, re-
lates this queer hog story: 1.-THE owner
of the ferry at Buena Vista had two hogs
which mysteriously disappeared about
three months ago, at which time they
weighed about 800 pounds apiece. About
that time a new warehouse was built near
the ferry at Buena Vista, and filled with
wheat, which was shipped week ago,
when the temporary structure was re
moved, and under the floor were found
the missing swine, alive, but not weigh
ing nearly much as when last seen
They had evidently gone under the ware
house to find wheat which leaked through
the floor, and were detained there by the
settling of the building. They lived ON
what wheat leaked through Il crack and
occupied circular place they had worn
for themselves, but during all that time
they must have been without water.
a CHARIvARI party which waited upon
a newly married pair in Crawford County,
Pa, the other night, with the usual aggra-
waiting music, were much surprised TO be
asked in and invited by the fair hostess to
partake of cake and cider. After drink
ing the health of the hospitable bride a
great many times, the MINISTRIES began 10
feel uncommonly queer. There was in
that cider something which riled the
stomach and temporarily destroyed the
head and happiness of the jolly partakers.
They got better the next day.
Bret Harte, il is said can command
"A higher price for his work than any lit
orarT man In the metropolis Scit5Tel's
Monthiy has paid him as much as Slo0
a page. and, ike sensible man, he would