The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1878-06-28
Extravaganza of Funerals.


1t was very sensible clergyman at Pitts
burgh who recently read paper upon the
expensiveness of funerals and they were
very sensible colleagues who adopted his
views as their opinion. Mere fashion is no.
where more hateful than in the burying of
the dead, and none the less hateful because
it imposes enormous expenses upon those
who can not afford them. The savings of
year are often squandered in the idle ostenta-
tion of funeral. 1t is a not unnatural feel.
ing among the poor that the last service they
can render to beloved friend shall not fail
in any usual distinction, and the result Is
that living family is often straitened that
dead member of it may lie in mahogany
coffin and be followed by long train of
carriages to his grave. Reform must come
from those who "set the fashion," and a
modest simplicity in funerals can be attained
only by the example of those whe can afford
to be extravagant.
The worthy undertaken, who lives by the
death of his fellow-creatures, is naturally
desirous that grief shall be lavishly mani
tested, and he encourages to the utmost this
sombre spleudor. The young American used
to be shocked as he read in England stories Of
mutes and mourning carriages, of men hired
to wear the garb of sorrow, and of grief meas
ured by train Of emptiness. Two or three
years ago the movement against this extrava-
gance began in England, and it has the pub
lie sympathy and support of very eminent
persons. 1t has shown itself in this country
by the common request, with the announce.
ment of death, that no flowers be sent. A
simple and beautiful tribute of affection has
grown into an oppressive fashion, and GER
tain flowers have become odious to many
persons from their constant association with
| funerals. When such gifts are in truth the
offerings of love and sympathy, no symbols
can be more touching, but the moment they
spring from the mere force of fashionable
custom, and are sent to the house of mourn
ing as gii.i are sent by formal acquaintances
to BRIDE with no more feeling than in the
leaving. of ceremonious visiting.cards, they
are touching and significant no longer, The
change in the mere fashion of flowers upon
such occasions can be carried by the same
good sense into every 9th er funeral extrava-
gance, so that the poor need no longer feel
that their dead are sighted if they are not
buried with ruinous expense.
There was another suggestion made at
Pittsburgh which is worthy of consideration.
1t was proposed that funeral sermons as mat
ters of course should not be preached; and
to this suggestion there will be probably a
a very general amen. They are of necessity
eulogies, for no good-hearted preacher would
choose such time to tell unpleasant truths.
Yet if man has been selfish, bard, grasp
ing, self-indulgent, sordid-and there are
such men what is the poor preacher to do?
The well meaning reply that every person
has something good in him, and the eulogist
can speak of that, is conclusive il the
preacher is not to give his honest character
of the dead But to say of man notorious
for meanness that he went regularly to church
or of IL debauchee that he gave generously
to the poor, is not to tell the truth, but TO
dodge it. A change in this habit, however,
must spring from the good sense of the cler-
gyman ard the community in which he lives.
And the first step toward the change is cal.
ling attention to the subject as the Pitts
burgh clergymen have done-EDIroR' EASY
CHAIR in Harper's Magazine .ttr July.