The New York herald., 1878-02-25
The Profits Made Out Of Dead
Mems Bones.
A CHASTITY INSTITUTION.
Avenues of Collins and Squares
of Hearses.
FACETIOUS CROQUE-MORTS.
The Newest Fashions in clears
and "Weepers."
PARls. Feb. 10, 1873.

PARls Feb 10. 1875
There is not an Institution In France Of more daily
Importance and Of which, curious to say, the French
themselves know little that OF the Administra-
toa dss Pompes Funebres II is built In vast locale
beyond La viette and covers, with its annexss over
twenty thousand metres. Tho main building Is sew
sraI stories high. The foreigner who has gone over
this extensive establishment naturally wonders how
such monopoly this could huve grown up IN city
like Paris Tue Information given respecting It by
the majority ofPurisians 70 be relied on. He Is
told that lies Ponpes Funebres'' Is company called
ala Fabrquc" bu, that IN reality "the concern be-
longs the clergy, who make millions out oil III that
t should DO done away with, because priests are
thereby made rich lat and lazy and are tnus enabled
10 keep up all sorts OF nonscnsca exhibitions, pa
rsdss aud professions that only serve 70 minister TO
the pride and vanity OF families" This Is entrcy
Incorrect aud Am sorry TO say that those VINO give
such information we'll aware Of its ialsity, but
ths does not prevent thom reasoning IA this fashion
"Ii there were no FaDr,que people would not have
ANY sous pay their In church; the wealthy
wouldnt have all the nodding piumes over their
hearsss while The poor are Buried In mere hospital
rim.n
FRENCH DISLIKE FUNERALS
II the inquirer pushes his questions little closer
and asks how the much caiumnatel Pompes Funepres
are worked, he viii be answered.
spray, not let talk about buriuls the subject
gives one Ia ehatse de poSle (tbe shiversl"
The fact 10 that It is topic which the French dis
like 10 discuss, and repusive Is IL 70 them that
whenever NJ valiard lhc manager or any OF his staff
are introduced In salon, guests generally turn TO
the door with shuddcr, as II Death himself was
sbout to walk In. These very gentismsny doctri-
sairss by means ugubrious their appearance
manners. but very suspicion Of their calling is
au0ic ant shrtn fr0nn tact "
them. A CONN Is to the Parissnne what shroud
would be corbesle de mari<e story is told OF
LADY wno struck by terror at the idea o! hav-
ing mistaken a hoarse for an omnibus that
she died q week aiterward. She was returning
home on her husbands arm aNer family
party. and the night being cold and damp they con-
eudsd would be safer get into omnibus for the
rest OF the way. The gentleman hailed sombro look
ine vehicle. which In the dark he took for public CON-
veyance, crying, ''lIavs you any room Left cochsr'
rns coachman. fancy,ng an Insult was Intended
sharply replied, 'stop awhile, Mousisur and Madame;
your turn will come, Ia spite Of everything. have
carried healthier people than you seem to be-" As a
rule the croqueort (ths general desg for un.
dcrsakers) is philosophical wit No one Is better
situated TO detect the shams played out round a
eonhn-to appreciate the tragedy Of real griof and
the comedy OF ITS semblAnce. But II the
aspect OF those men causes unpleasant sensa-
lions 10 daily life they usually produce contrary
effect on the stage, in novel, picture or song.
II is d,f1cult TO explain why this should be So The
only that assign for II Is hat men whose
saings are solemn generally have merry thoughts,
which they uncousciously express alter long periods
Of forced siieuce, aud the nocsssiiy OF relaxation
We all know is impsrious. Then, again, many thers
In this world wbo In presence of mourniul asso-
ciations, feel like Figaro, who ''Isugbs not 10
hsvo ~. fhaaa mas her IN INV
Of fun bs iouna among French croque morris
when they iail inspire fright they rarely fnil to
noisy mrth. Tho Law OF contras: 10 all power.
ful at times.
One OF sne good things said by member OF the cor
poraton has been handed oown q bon mot 10 bo
msmbered II was during the cholera period, when
i4mcnse chariols went turough the capla gath
up their course all the victims OF the preceding
night A man. who had had a swoon had been care
lessy laid among number OF corpsos but he had re-
vv.d during tho drive and returning W his senses
availed himself Of proprtious moment to jump out
.'stop, thi,f" cried coscnee. dourishng his three
coruered hat and whip stop niin stop him he's ono
now FUNERALS AXE MANAGED.
But 10 return 10 tue more serious part OF my sub.
tect English speaking travellers are, us l have
already explained, out OF The way OF showing how
funerals conducted IN France. They see II 10
done ny some powerful company, subJeet 10 str,ct
discipline; they admire tho illness OF the arrange
deceased OF all classes, wish things wore carried
every where win the consideration ior the be-
fesvsd out how the company ls managed or wnero u
10 located they Have no means OF lcasnipx u. Van-
laru became manager OF the Pompes Funebres Ia
1853, and he the deus machine vi tho whole insti
tution very active member OF The same ad-
minislrHs,on is H. ChevsIier, who been
twenty years in the service. Both have Witnessed
many changes and after having questioned shs latter
Icanuot lind that ~ vaflard has lst much room Tor
iuture Improvement In his department.
In describing the iDstitu,ion it becomes necsssasy
ma nrll Ia MI NM lN
"fabriQus" And TO show how history differs according
TO ths way IL Is told. Boore the Revolution Of l7s9
dtsreputable class OF mon called crieurs de corps d de
vins or ''desd body ana VINE criers" The dealers
In bodies and drinks also sold vegetables and
meat, owning booths IN The pubic markets rbey
Wcre thir,y humber. anu had stated usys Tor their
rounds 70. ~ stated quarters Of the CITY, dividing
on hoir shoulders or, when there was n contss,or,
They used collins OF which SIX NJ lime were placed
In one chariot ew rough boarus we're nailed round
the poor, from which tuey were, however, thrown 10
\ deep earth pit called a common grsve.p rms
almost savage mode OF burial had been in lul force
lor centuries when, IN I69OD decree Dreamed that
The NUMBER OF dead body criers should bo Increased
" nity. they were also ahowed TO cry out csrtain
local catAstropnas, such lost dogs and lost chill
nrsu.
These men became arbitrary In the exercise Of
their functlonA Being licensed ihey soon acted ~
they pleased toward Tho families OF the DECEASED aud
sven went the way most convenient 10 themselves
from the morfudire 10 the different cemeteries
II private business called them on an crrand o mpor-
saLce direction contrary TO that OF the cemetery
thher the mourners had 10 follow the beloved remains
Of their departed relative.
An old chroncls shows that they frequently put
Town their burdens ~ tho entrance TO tavcrns while
ihsy turned In for reireshments, coming OUT after
Tong station, Intoxicated Quarrels then frequently
ensusd between mou ners and body cTers the police
interierod and the Urawl generally ended Ia a CON-
promise between the drunken and the afflicted, who
husly paid tue sum agreed on and carried their
dead themselves 10 the grave.
Thts state Of affairs lasted until l77e; but few
changes had nevertheless occurred IN the interval
Managers Of nospi.als had Dsen privileged to bury
those had died within their wallis Ths following
year the manuiacturcrs OF hangings, nesrses, &C..
likewise privileged 10 inter tns relatives OF those
Who applied preferably 70 them for respectable inhu
nation. These factories, or fabytqucs were bound "
treaty 10 supply the requisites on condition tnst tney
should divide WITH thc clergy tneir profits Inc Stale
Mus roed itself Of charges made ior rsmunerston by
bhs clergy and tho parishes were provided Tor.
PROVIDING FOR fSDIGExT
One OF tho best features Of this decree was that the
indgeat were 10 be buried at the cost OF the rcn and
this Kind of sumptuary law gave satisfaction not ony
10 those who made IT, but 70 the poor VINO nntcp
ben~ ntihS thereby when dead.
~. l.p.o .t.a rsoAan ~ mi n