Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1876-04-21
COSTLY FUNERALS.

nerals, which we notice not only as
events of the day but as furnishing
subjects for curious thought. The
first was that of Mr.. A. Il. Stewart,
Che great merchant prince, who from
a small beginning in the dry goods
business in 1928 became the very
foremost merchant in the country and
left an estate of twenty to fifty mil
lions. He richly earned also a splen-
did burial, Of which the papers give
full particulars. On the day after
his death, the 18th, the body lay in
state at his residence and fully four
thousand people satisfied their curios-
ity by last look. 1t was supported
on rich bed of flowers and several
beautiful floral decorations lay on his
breast. On Friday he was buried
The coffin was covered with black
velvet and bore the usual inscription
en- a plate of solid gold, with gold
handles and heavy gold fringe all
round it. The casket was lined with
black silk and the body dressed in an
elegant suit of black cloth. Bishop
Potter Of the Episcopal church, read
a brief funeral service at the house
before the body was lifted. After
this service the employees Of the de,
ceased were allowed to enter and
take a last look at tn, deceased, pass
ing at the rate Of about forty-ave to
a minute, but at this pace it took
nearly an hour and half to get
through. The coffin was then lifted,
and the procession moved to the
church. The cortege numbered two
hundred carriages and extended a
long distance. Preparations at the
church commenced early in the morn
ing, and the floral tribute there was
magnificent. The catafalque was at
the lower end Of the main aisle, and
consisted OF mass of flowers. Crowds
of ticket holders were outside the
church clamoring for admission, and
it required the utmost efforts Of a
strong police force to restrain them.
The body was then placed in the
family vault.
On the Thursday previous the fa-
neral of Mrs. Keyser, of New York,
took place, and the papers give us mi
mute and interesting particulars of
that event She does not appear to
have been q lady Of any prominence
in fashionable or benevolent circles
1t is only said by the reporters that
her father was thrifty milkman and
that his wife could take the reins and
60 the dailyrounds with the milkcart
whenever husband was not able, and
that with this energetic prosecution
of the business the result was a good
" fortune to the now deceased daugh-
ter. The resulting wealth is pain
fully suggestive Of profits enhanced
by stealthy watering Of the stock
of pure tactical nourshment furnished
by the parents. But, let that pass.
If with such means Mrs. Keyser did
not rise to the creme de la creme of
Fifth Avenue society during her life,
she made sure of post norton pro-
cession to Greenwood cemetery after
the following magnificent fashion: :
Her remains were born to their last
resting place in coffin costing $4,000.
The hearse, which was of the most
magnificent description, was drawn
by six coal black horses, and was fol-
lowed by six carriages, to each of
which four steeds of the same ebon
hue were attached. The pall-bearers
eight in number, wore SUPPLIES Of
white ribbed cloth, with black rosettes
on their shoulders. There were in all
seventy carriages in line, the dead
woman having left strict injunctions
that she should be followed by that
number, nearly half of them being
empty and to cap the climax, the
cortege wound up with a wagon bear
ing burden of floral offerings. The
fitting commentary on all this repub-
licap funeral pomp is the great move
ment now going on in England, sup
ported by many Of the wealthiest oil
the nobility, for an entire abandon.
ment of all funeral display and ex-
travagancs.