The Red Cloud chief., 1880-12-30
Ssne Facts Absat Uadertaken and
Runerals.

THERE are more than LIS undertakers
in the City of New York. and the mum.
Der IL swelled 70 200 by the addition OF
coffin dealers and furnishers Of under
takers goods, hardware, etc The IN
dertaker's lot is not generally looked
on rs a happy one, but the men in the
business are not apparently gioomier
as a class than those in other trades.
The undertaker's work does not seem
repulsive 70 him. however it may appear
to other people.
What does his work consist of? He
first makes his bar gain. Then he pre-
pares the body for burial. This done.
he places it in the coffin Frequently
he is called upon To insert the funeral
notice in the papers. He furnishes
candelabra when desired; he gives no
tice to the minister and sends a carriage
for him; he places the invariable
~squeaking camp-stools in position; he
seats the people: he sees the body laid
in the grave; in fine. he superintends
the entire funeral. But does he weep
with them that weep? No, for he is
simply earning his livelihood. He be-
comes hardened TO tears and mourn
ing: in fact. he is complacent and even
happy, though through constant prac-
tice he wears a long face; he is earning
his money and ~reioices in the prospect
Of speedy payment. But this prospect
il not ALWAYS realized. One OF h old
est undertakers in the city, Oldest not
in wears but in business. James Winter
bottom, said to a TrtJnne reporter re-
Gently:
= IL have been an undertaken in this
city for thirty-!ive years. Up to the
wear 1877 Over $3.50, 900 was owing me
for funerals. II is still owing 10 me-,
together with a few thousands more
that have accumulated since. Although
| am pretty well of to-day in this
worlds goods. vet / would like to
change what | have now for what |
have lost. BY far the greater portion
of this loss is the result of trusting rich
people, the poor, in most cases. proving
far more worthy the title Of honest.
Out of every 100 funerals not more than
twenty-five are really profitable TO u.s."
Undertakers have printed forms which
they fill out and place on file. These
are not cheerful documents To contem-
plate, recording rs they do particulars
dS W tlt At1 va 'shlI hsthfft 90 "
death, age, security, "casket," coffin,
plate. number of handles, open or
closed hearsc, carriages. ferriages. To-
cation of grave, shrOud, icing body,
board or box, ncmeo of deed. number of
grave. date and place of funeral. But
the undertaken reads over these woful
words with calm indifference. And
when preparing collins in his workshop
he whistles rs lightly as does the school
boy trudging past his door; occasionally
pausing to shout TO his assistant in an
adjoining room such questions as these:
HAS the ice been sent to No. -,
Sixth Avenue yet?" or. "What was
that last measurement" Receiving
an affirmative reply to the former in
quiry, and the answer 80 feet AZ
inches. SIR" TO the latter. he continues
to whistle and hammer as before.
The prices of collins range all the way
from S3 for children and $40 for adults
up To 800. "Caskets," as collins of a
certain shape and style are called, cost
from S12 for children and $50 for adults
up to $500. and over. The average
"'casket," therefore, is worth twice as
much as a coffin of corresponding ma
ttGidl. ~ tit>hCJ ICtuiitS la iuoiO
trimming and work than a coffin; in
fact, the finishing alone of a casket is
worth more than a complete coffin OF
the same grade. There are fluctuations
in the styles of collins just as there are
in those of clothes and household deco
rations. At present cloth covered
"caskets" are in favor. "Undressed
caskets'' are manufactured on a large
scale at Rochester, n. Y.
Mr.. Brown, former sexton of Grace
Church, who died recently, a the
most noted sexton in the city, and his
prices we're the highest. He charged
$500 for a "caSket' which n other
undertaken would have furnished for
| $500, and he ALWAYS had a host of GUS
toners in spite of such charges. A Ger
tain class of customers always pay the
highest price for everything, and seem
to delight in so doing.
A large stock of shrouds and habits is
frequently to be found in some room at
the undertaken at prices ranging from
81 to So. These are often prepared
with great ingenuity" remarked one of
the trade. $50 that in n darkened room
the most common ones will pass for q
big thing. One OF the tricks of the
trade is placing the wrong plate and
inscription upon a c~ofiu-ii'i. This only
occurs where great haste nus be made,
and persons present at the funeral are
likely to be illiterate. There being no
time to engrave a plate, some ancient,
cast off one and bearing a totally differ
ent inscription, and culled from a pile
of store-rubbish. is substituted. ~. Y.