The Russellville Democrat., 1881-08-25
Cremation in Germanx.

A correspondent writes from Gotha to the Pail Mall Gazette: "Amid pleasant fields outside this active little city stands the famous cremation hall, with the ex- ception of that at Milan, the only one in Europe. The building itself IS hand- some, is built on classic models and faces the ordinary burial ground or kirchof. Before describing what have just seen, l will mention tn atthis crema- ton hall IS of two and half years date only, and was built by an association or vereln of some of the most learned and thoughtful men in Germany. Fifty-two persons, i've of whom were women. have in thisspacc of time chosen such a form of burial, one body being sent from New York. The cost of the mere pros cess of cremation is about G5, and the religious ceremony can first be read over the body. It is unnecessary to say that the Catholic priests refuse church burial to any one electing to be cremated. Protestant pastors, on the contrary, willingly accord it. The cinerary urns bear the name of one or two Jews. These are arranged outside the cremation hall in an open portico, and are solid and artistic, bearing the names of the de- ceased, etc. Some were richly decorated with fresh flowers. My guide now takes me into the spacious hall where the re, ligious ceremony, when given, is read, and where the body is laid before its removal to the receptacle underground where cremation takes place. I may mention that the public are not admitted to the ceremony at any time, only the nearest relations of the deceased; and that nothing is seen of the process. We At x.rttt .c well as of deepest interest of my part, descend by dark winding staircase into the subterranean chambers where the burning is performed. My guide, with much intelligence, explained the pro- cess, which is highly elaborate and con. ducted on scientific principles. We see the huge preparations in the fornf of coal, and the burning oven, also on a vast scale, finally the receptacle for the ashes. Nine hours of preliminary prep- aration are necessary; and it must be ex- plained, in order 10 remove any feeling of repugnanee on the part of the reader, that the body is not burned in flame, but is reduced to ashes by air heated to 600 degrees Reaumur. Two hours elapse before the ashes are collected-six pounds being usual in the case of man, folr In that of woman. As have be- fore said, the process is not visible, and is so scientific that every element of hor- TOT is eliminated. The ceremony takes place in silent solemnity, only the nee essary officials and one or two near relatives being admitted. I think few visitors will visit this cremation hall without being deeply impressed in favor of system so advantageous 10 the liv- ing, and, it must be admitted, ,--at least. of France and Germany--also advan- tageous to the dead. Here, as in France, the law compels such promp interment that in many cases it has been known to take place before the breath had left the body. In Algeria I have known per- sonally victim of this misapprehension and my German friends all speak to me in warm terms of the new system as, irrespective of other advantages, pres venting premature burial.