The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1875-12-15
The EIpenSlveneas OfFunePnIs-
IL there no Remedy?

ANU A1AEg4NANeuGll30 OF = uueEtllB-
u there no Remedy?
To the Editor Of the National Republican.
SIN; For the sake Of humanity, more
especially the poorer classes, l desire to
call attention to the false ideas exiSting
in regard to the observance Of funerals
and the burial Of the dead. The great
expense incurred in having "decent
funeral" Ia we'll known, and yet there
seems to be no objection or dissent from
the customs observed at the present day.
Forexhorbitant bills,generally,the under.
takers are ahead Of any profession with
which | am acquainted, and il il consld.
cred not only discOurteOus to the under
taker but disrespectful to the dead to
dispute his bill, or ask him to discount
something for cash. You can question
the bill, or beat down the price Of the
carpenter, painter, plumber, or any class
OF workmen except the undertaken. Now,
| do not wish to say that the underLakers
are worse class of than is found in
other professions, but simply this The
peculiar relation that they bear to the
departed place them in different light
to the friends Of the deceased, therefore
the immunity, The fact Is, decent iu.
neral so.called is too expensive 10 the
common and poorer classes, yet hard and
unyiOlding as the demands Of custom and
public opinion are, the masses fear to
rebel: Ineed not give any illustrations
showing the truth Of the statement, for |
have no doubt every one Is cognizant OF
the facts sustaining what l have said. /
recall one case, clerk in the Depart
mentS died. The funeral expenses were
over $3.50, which amount was mostly
paid by contributions from clerks, An.
other, the paternal head Of the family,
was removed, and the wife and daughters
two went into mourning externally, (?)
running into debt for their apparel, while
the undertaker's bill was paid by contri-
buttons from clerks. l throw In here a
note, !. e., the Departments have no funds
out OF which the funeral expenses Of
clerks can be paid, although Congress
can appropriate money for like purpose
to the members and attaches OF that body.
Tho widow and daughters, | presume,
thought It would not be showing proper
respect for the dead unless they put on
mourning, although somewhat doubtful
whether they ever paid for 1t. The world,
society, would have irowned and people
would have saidythat Is sOme--it was
shabby II they had not Conformed to the
demands Of custom. Such expense un-
der the circumstances, in my opinion, was
not only discourteous to the dead but an
insult to the living, and the sooner war
is made against this ubiquitous custom
the better. | know a poor widow with
three children to support, who Il strain
ing every nerve to earn enough to keep
soul and body together In the family and
pay little every month towards the
undertaker's bill incurred in burying her
husband. The bill was five times a. much
as 1t ought to have been, and before she
pays the utmost farthing II Is quite prob
able the children will incur one In bury.
Ing their mother. Inotice that this subject
Ia attracting the attention Of tho people In
Europe, and II Is about the time somebody
calls up the subject here. Now, strong.
ly recommend that the dead be consigned
to the undertaken to be carried to the
cemetery, thereby dispensing with q |
funeral cOrtege, which, In fact, il more
for show than for anything else. Some
where there must DO n parting between
the living and the dead. know Of no
more fitting place than the threshold Of
the house. OF late the habit Is gaining
favor-if the deceased was q member Of
some order or association-ot heading
the funeral procession with band, which,
by tho way, as the dead cannot hear, must
be TO attract attention. How much bet.
ter i would be to dispense with this, and,
II the order or association wish 10 do |
anything out Of respect to the deceased,
give the money to the family. l know OF
not ono single argument that can be ad- |
duced In favor Of the mourners following
the deceased to the grave with large or |
small procession offollowers.
pnrYTtsu |