, 1875-08-01
BASKETS FOB BURIAL,

The Duke of SUTHERLAND, who ls reso-
lutte. pugnacious man, and has heretofore
fought through many reforms to successful
issue, and who cares not rush for the
opinions or prejudices Of people so long as
be is convinced that he Is in the night, has
now entered upon new campaign against
British prejudices, and more particularly
against British undertakers- This time he
is not advocating theory Of his own, but OF
Mr.. SEYMOUR HADEN, an eminent medical
practitioner and one Of the most ski1lfu1
etchers in England Mr.. HADEx having
long opposed the practice Of bmying in
wooden or meta1lic collins, and being thor
oughly opposed to cremation, has given the
subject much thought, which has at last
resulted in the simple and economical mode
of burying in wicker baskets, which allows
the natural process Of the assimilation Of the
body with the earth The Duke Of SUFFER-
LAND has entered into this scheme with the
same keenness and enthusiasm which hitherto
he has expended upon fre-engines, locomo-
tives, dishonest servants, and extraVagant
.shop-keepers. his first move was to issue an
invitation which requested the company Of
the receiver at Stafford House on the 17th
and 18th of June, "to zee collection of
models Of basket and other perishable cof-
fms, constructed on the principles advocated
by Mr.. SEYmoua HADEH." The receptions
were crowded with people, and all appeared
pleased with the scheme, except the under
takers, OF course. The following extracts,
whieh We make from the official programme
of the occasion, will give general idaa Of the
baskets and the manner OF their use:
!. The rneacho in most Of them should bs larger
than 1t is and open il consistent with strength
and the perfect retention Of their contents which
contents again. should consist Of tho larger ferns
rnosaes, ncbaos, hsrbs fragrant shrubs, and any Of
the conifer willows, or avergreena which ars always
to be had.
Z The osms eompostng The baaksts should b
light two thin ones being better than one thick ene)
and no moro xol,d wood should eutar into their
construction than II necessary to preserve their
form.
8. They shou1d be Of white OF stained willow. With
ont varntsh or oshar preserva1ive covering.
l. Accompanying esch Of them should be narrow
lesden band rhbon pierced With pa1ne aud dEe Of
death 10 Be passed round the chest and lower lnhs
md through ths rides and the top Of the baset
a. For retaining tbs body In IT. position Q1.) For
the subsequent Identification Of the bones {1l) For
sealing the coffin, u = guarantee that tns contents
hare not been disturbed.
5. In specdh cases Innings Of some tmpashablo MS
ter1al for few inches upward from ths bottom will b
necessary; and IN ether cases such notifications Of
the ordinary form may insure complete inclusion
Of the body in WOOL charcoal or other disnfsctsnta.
The undertakers, as we have said, wero not
pleased with the outlook, but the florists
were in ecstasies, inasmuch az the baskets
presented opportunities for almost boundless
expenditure in the way Of flowers, moses,
erc- The general public looked approviugly
upon the scheme, and the ladies, it is aaid,
were lost in admiration OF the beauty Of the
baskets and the suggestions they Afforded tor
floral decoration.
There seem to be three vary strong argu-
ments In favor Of the wicker baateta- The
frat aud most important Of these is that these
cof3ns not only do not hinder the assimilation
Of the chemical elements Of ths body
With ths earth, but that they aocelezate
il thus zszuorins aas source u h.as d