Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1881-02-18
The Trappings Of the Tomb.

The Trappings Of the Tomb
There are more than one hundred and
seventy-fye undertakers in the city Of
New York, and the number is swelled
to two hundred by the addition Of
coffin. dealers and furnishers Of under
takers goods, hardware, etc., The I'M.
dertaker's lot is not generally looked
on as happy one, but the men in the
business are not apparently gloomier
as O class than those of other trades.
The undertaker's work does not seem
repulsive to him, however it may ap-
pear to other people.
What does his work consist Of? He
first makes his bargain. Then he pre-.
pares the body for burial This done,
he places it in the coffin. Frequently
he is called upon to insert the thneral
notices in the papers. He furnishes
candelabra when desired; he gives no
tice to the minister and sends car
rage for him; he places the invariably
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 IL
simply earning his livelihood. He be-
comes hardened to tears and mourning;
in fact, he is complacent and happy,
though through constant practice he
wears long face; he is earning his
money and rejoices in the prospect OF
speedy payment. But this prospect is
not always realized. One of the oldest
undertakers in the city, Oldest not in
years but in the business, James Win
terbottom, said to a Tribune reporter
recently: -.H a
81 have been an undertaken in this
city for thirty-fve years. Up to the
year 1877 over S160, 900 was owing to
me for funerals. It is still owing to
me, together with few thousands more
that lave accumulated since. Although
I am pretty we'll off to-day in this
worlds goods, yet I would like 10
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 one hundred funerals not
more than twenty are really profit
able to u.s."
Undertakers have printed fo-ras
which they fill out and place on ii IL.
These are not cheerful Document, to
contemplate, recording, as the, 10.
particulars as to the place of de,sth,
age, security, "casket," coffin, plata.
number of handl es, opened or closed
hearse, carriages. ferriages, location Of
grave, shroud, icing body, board or
box, name of dead, number OF grave,
date and place OF funeral. Rut the un-
dertaker reads over these woful words
with calm indifference. And, when
preparing coffins in his workshop, he
whistles as lightly as does the school
boy truaging past his door; OCCASION
ally passing to shout to his assistants
in an adjoining room such questions as
these: 9 Fl as that ice been sent to No.
-- Sixth avenue yet ?" or, = What
was that last measurement 2" Receiv-
ing an alternative reply to the former
inquiry, and the ats wer: Five feet
four and half, sir, TO the latter, he
continues to whistle and hammer ~,
before. u
The prices of. collins range all the
way from So for children and $40 for
adults up to $l00. ~ Caskets," as
cofins Of certain shape ana htyle ars
called, cost from So. for children and
$50 for adults up 70. $500 md over. !.
The average "casket,r therefore. il
worth twice as much IS q coffin 0f Cor-i
material. 1 A ".casket "re-
quires far more trimming and work
than q coffin; in. fact, the finishing
alone Of casket il worth more than D
complete coffin pf the Same, grade,
There are fluctuations in the styles Of
cofias just as there are in those OF
clothes and household decorations. At
present cloth. covered . caskets are in !,
favor. "Undresssd " baskets are man
ufactured on a large scale in Rochester.
New York. g
MIR. Brown, former sexton OF Grace
chur oh, who died recently, was the
most noted sexton in the city, and his
prices were the highest. He charged
$500 for q "casket" which any other
undertaken would have furnished for
5000, and he always had host OF GUS
toners in spite of such charges. A GER
tain class Of people 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 undertaker's at prices ranging
from 80 to $25. These are often pre-
pared with great ingenuity" remarked
one of the trade, so that in dark
ened room the most common ones will
pass for a big thing. One Of the
tricks of the trade is the placing Of
the wrong plate and inscription upon
the coffin-lid. This is only. done where
great haste must be made, and the per-
sons present at the funeral are likely to
be illiterate. There being no time to
engrave plate, some ancient and cast
off one, bearing totally different in
scription and eulled from o pile Of
store rubbish is substituted. "-[New
Yo,k Tribune.
SKINNED IT.-Here is what the De-
troit Free Press says about Lord
QnonarcGa1ISo NAVAL 50 EndW-