Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1882-09-29
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A Swindled Undertaken.

IL don't complain very often" said
a man, entering the Gazette Office yester-
day, "but would like for you to say a
few words in defense of q man who
never wronged any one. l am an I'M
dertaker and have planted more re-
spectacle men than you could con-
veniently shake spade at. but like many
other good men have been swindled by q
heartless rival. Some time ago, Beckle.
the undertaken, came to mo and said:
'Clayhead,' that's my name, all other
professions exchange courteSics; why
should not we? For instance. the news
papers exchange with each Other, even
the lawyers lend books. The doctors
swap points and the preacher fill each
others pulpits. Now. l want to yaken
kindly feeling among undertakes. |
want them TO feel that they are not re-
moved from the great and glorious en-
pire Of good feeling. Suppose we start
the thing. Suppose we interchange
courtesies? Then all the newspapers
will speak of us and such halo of
good fellowship will be thrown around
the coffin that 4 don't understand
you,' l said to Beckle. What do you
mean9'
eel mean he went on, that when y
member of your family dies, l will
furnish the burial outfit, nice metallic
case, you know. Then when a member
of my family dies. you can furnish the
outfit. In this way we can help each
other. We will be so moved with good
fellowship that we'll be glad when q
member Of our families passes away,
merely to show this unfeeling world that
undertakes are men,
"The idea struck me. A new depart
ure was something that had hankered
after. / agreed to Beckle's proposition.
Well. about ten days afterward 1
received note from Beckle stating
that his ten-year-old boy was dead. l
was glad to have the opportunity of
complying with our contract l sent u
man around and the boy was buried in
elegant style. About a week afterward
/ received intelligence that Beckle's six
year-old daughter was dead. The
idea of devastation in the Beckle
family did not impress me near
ly so much as the qualification l expert
enced in promoting the principles of
courteous interchange. The girl was
elegantly deposited. A few days after
ward Beckle sent me note stating that
his wife had died and that he could con-
graduate me upon the success of the in
terchange scheme. Mrs. Beckle was
buried in a magnificent case. All this
tame my family had remained in a dis
couraging state of health, with the ex-
csption Of maiden aunt who lives with
NO. One day she was taken i'll and
insisted upon my sending for doctor.
explained to her how necessary it was
for her to die. but she persistently re.
fused and recovered. Leaving the bed
side disappointed, 1 went down town
and found a note from Beckle, stating
that his wife had just died. You see l
had buried his wife few days before,
and did not understand why another
wife's funeral should occur so soon, so
called on Beckle.
"'Did l say wife?' he asked, in sur
prise.
"Yes, SIR
"'I meant my wife's mother. Hang
the luck, how could l have made such a
mistaken
"Of course it was all right, but
concluded to investigate the matter.
soon found that Beckle had never been
married. and that he was burying the
neighbors at half price, provided the
bodies were all buried from q house
which he rented for that pupose. All
l want you to do is to state in the next
issue that there is something about
Beckle's character which I don't adj
mir" -Little Rock Gazette.