Weekly Chillicothe crisis. (Chillicothe, Livingston Co., Mo.) 1878-19??, 1882-10-26

Douglas Jerrold once remarked that
every branch of business had its bright
side, and then, by way of making good
his assertion, he added: Nov, were
an undertaken ! know of several per-
sons could work for with not little
satisfaction Doubtless if Mr.. Jerrold
is familiar with the current undertake
ing business he has discovered another
and signal advantage that it possess
es. So far as we are aware, no other
trade or profession is permitted to adj
vertise itself upon the walls Of church.
es. The patent-mcdicino men, the pat
ent-bittters men, the patent dentifriCc
men, the circus-men, the ncgrO-min-
strcl men, the theatrical and operate
stars-in fact, all people except under
takers-who bid for public patronage
are never suffered under any circum-
stances to set forth their attractions
upon such capital coigneS of vantage as
church walls. Having done their best
in the newspapers they are compelled
to put up theirpOstcrs placed on fences,
sides of houses and dock fronts. Phin-
eas L. Barnum, like another Alexander,
is always seeking for fresh fields in
which he may call peoples attention TO
what he has to interest them, But
we have yet to learn that he ever sue
ceeded in getting one of those Impress
i've Autographs Of JumtO upon even the
most liberal OF churches. The under
takcr of the period, however, is per-
mitted not only TO utilize fences, sides
of houses, dock fronts and hundred
other secular places, but to nail his
business sign-gencrally neatly picked
out in gilt-upon the very walls OF the
temples erected for the worship of God.
Why should this be so? How does
it happen that in these days when anti
monopoly ideas have free course
and are gloricd by both political par
ties, any class in the community should
be granted 50 remarkable a special
privilege? 1t may be said in reply.
by the defenders of this monopoly,
that experience has demonstrated that
undertakers as a class are more world
ly-minded than the rest of their fellow
citizens, and that, therefore, the
churches of the country, without re-
gard TO sect, are simply employing n
justifiable means of grace when they
suffer these extremely worldly-mindcd
men to catch the public eye from
church walls. But we can not regard
this as satisfactory reasoning, For we
do not believe that the average under
taker is closer welded to the world, is
less seriously minded than the average
lawyer, or hackman, or dealer in
horses, or lightning-rod dispenser, or
professional politician. Unless we are
greatly mistaken in our estimates. Il
competitive examination would firmly
establish the fact that your undertaken
is just as good, as men 20, as any other
man. But heaven forbid that such an
examination ever should be made We
would infinitely prefer that the under
takers should enjoy their advertising
monopoly undisturbcd. May the day
be far distant and constantly rcceding
when to the sigh-boardS of undcrtakerS
upon our churches shall be added those
Of the 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 undertakcrs be politely request
ed to remove their business cards from
the churches. Centuries ago thcmoncy-
changers and the dOvc-ScllcrS were