The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1877-07-19
Funeral Ceremonies In Paris.

Lucy II. Hooper, in an article in
APPlet0~'s journal on Paris etiquette,
thus describes the funeral ceremonies
The ceremonies that go to make up
The sum total of French funeral are
well nigh as numerous and as onerous
as are those OF French wedding. The
first thing TO be done after n death is
to make declaration thereof at the
mayoralty Of the reimbursement or
quarter wherein the defuuct resided
The mayor sends an official physician
to examine into the nature and cause
of the disease, ETC., after which the
relatives of the defunct must 90 TO the
mayOralty in order to- have the so
called act of deeease drawn up. They
go provided with nil the papers and
data concerning the age, domlcilc,
married or unmarried condition of the
dead person, ETC., by which this paper.
which is Of peculiar importance in
French law, may be prepared. The
day and hour Of the funeral are fixed
by the mayor, of course as much
IN accordance rs possible with
the wishes of the family. But no per
son is allowed to retain the corpse Of
relative unburied for a space of more
than three days. The reason for this
immutabie rule is obvious. Owing to
the comparative scarcity of ice in
France the use of the ice. box is un-
known, and three days is, consequent
iy, the outside limit of time TIN. laws
of hygiene and the rules of common
sense can allow to family sflliction in
such cases. Another sensible custom
is that of closing the ccfil1 before the
funeral takes place. The rules of
French etiquette demand that during
the time that the body remains un-
buried no person should speak above
whisper in the abode, and that the ia
bic should never be set for meals, but
that each member of the family should
take his or her repasts either in his or
her bedroom or at the corner of the
table IN the dining room. On the dav
OF the funeral the porte cockcre of the
house wherein the apartment of the
deceased is situated must be draped
with black, and all other persons
who have apartments in the same
building must abstain from re-
ceiving all visitors. The mourners
do not ride to the cemetery, but
follow the hearse on foot; therefore
ladies scarcely ever go to the grave.
but content themselves with being
present at the funeral ceremony. OF
late years the fashion of civil inter
ments has become very general among
the members of the ultra-repubIican
party. at these funerals there are no
religious ceremonies whatever, some
intimate friend OF the deceased being
selected to pronounce discourse at the
grave. Among the leading members of
that party Victor Hugo and II. Gam
beta are most frequently called upon
to perform this Office. The impassioned
and eloquent utterances of the former
1t the graves of Madame Paul Meurice
and Edgar Quinet will not soon be for
gotten II must be confessed that sucn
interments, after the peculiarly me-
chanicsl and formal routine OF a French
funeral conducted in the ordinary way,
have touch of reality, of warmth, OF
heart felt emotion, that is at once novel
and refreshing.
As regards mourning. the French
are far more sensible than are we. The
rules Of bowed shutters, and Of wool
and Grape hAbiliments Of the hue Of