New-York tribune., 1882-09-27
1ryDEPTlETNG AND IDTERTISING.

Douglas Jcrrod once remarked that every
branch of business had its bright side, and then by
way of making good his assertion, he added
" Now, wore | an undertaken know OF several per
sons could work for with not little satisfaction
Doubtless if Mr.. Jerrold is familiar with the cur
rent undertaking business he Las discovered another
and signal advantage that 1t possesses 30 iar as we
arc aware 10 other trade or profession Is permteu
to advertise itself upon the walls Of churches. The
patent-medcine mon, the patent-Dltters men, inc
patent dentifricc men, the circus-men, the negro
minstrel men, the theatrical and Operatic stars-ln
fact all people except undcrtakers who bid for pub
lie patronage are never suffered under any circum-
to set forth their attractions upon such cap
ital cogns of vantage a. church walls. Having
done their best in the newspapers they are compelled
TO put up with posters placed on fences sides OF
houses and dock fronts Phincas /. Barnum, llke
another Alexander is always seeking for fresh ieldS
in which he may call peoples attention to what he
has to interest them. But we have yet to learn
that be ever succeeded in getting one Of those I'M
pressivc Autographs of Jumbo upon oven the most
liberal of churches. The undertaken OF the period
however is permitted not only to utilize iences
sides of houses, dock fronts and hundred other sec
ular places but to nail his ess-sign-generaly
neatly picked ont in gilt-upon the very walls OF
the temples erected for the worship OF God.
Why should this he sol How does IL happen that
in these days when anti-monOpoly ideas have
free course and are gloried by both political par
ties any class in the community should be granted
so remarkable special privilege II may be said
I'm reply by the defenders of this monopoly that eX-
perIence has demonstrated that undertakcrs as
class are moro worldly minded than the rest of their
fellow-ctiZens and that therefore, the churches ol
the country, without regard 10 sect. arc Simply en-
ploying iustablc means of grace when they suiler
these extremely worldly minded men to catch the
public eye from church walls. But We cannot
regard this rs satisfactory reasoning For we
do not believe that the average undertaken IS closer
welded to the world, is less seriously minded than
the average lawyer hackmau, or dealer IN horses
or lightning rod dispenser or professional politician
Unless we are greatly mistaken in our estimates
competitive examination would firmly establish the
fact that youI undertaken is inst rs good rs men 30.
as any other man. But Heaven forbid that such an
examination ever should be made We would inf
mtely prefer that the undertakers should enjoy thor
advertising monopoly uudlsturbed. May the day
be far distant and constantly recedlng when to the
sgn-boar,Is OF undertakcrs upon churches shall
be added those of tho representatives of the hack
and the industries which we have referred to. 1t
is better to let bad enough alone.
If anything is done in the premises let the under
takers bo politely requested to their busi-
ness cards from the churches. Centuries ago the
money changers anu the dOve-sellers were driven
from the inside of the temple and no valid argu-
ment can he urged why another branch OF business
which now desccrates the outside of the tcmple
should not be similarly treated. What IS there III
the nature of the undertaking business which
should secure it the privilege that it now has z
family needing the services OF IN undertaken has
no more trouble in supplying its need than family
needing the services OF grocer or II dry goods mer
chant. Not a bit more. And the union OF church
and trade is certainly roprehensbe rs the union
of church and state.