The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1883-05-03
Funeral Extravaganza.
New York Star.

The love that outlives death is one
of the sweetest sentiments of human
ity. The cherished portrait in the
household and in the heart; the rev.
erential regard to the vacant chair;
the devotional respect paid to every,
even the smallest, memento of the
loved and lost are all instructive at
tributes of higher and holier hope
than any that the grosSneSs of earth
present; for there is involved in the
feeling that prompts the memorial
duty recognition Of the after COM
munion suggested by the or, at event
of the resurrection-a pious belief
that 1--WE shall know our own in
heaven 1t is because of this Unborn
faith and affection that human nature
clings to memory and hope regarding
the dead; it is from this, feeling
that the holy and wholesome thought
of prayer and praise springs. 1t is
begOtten of the expectancy of the
hereafter as well as of the associations
of the past, that with the wild church.
yard grass growing from the dull de-
cay of the grave there are often inter-
mingled the tributary WreathS from
those in whose hearts the love of the
departed are ever green.
But there is phase in which this
memorial respect for the dead can out
do itself. Decent and decorous obser-
vance of all the solemnities attach
ing to the house Of mourning is not
only commendable in itself, but debt
due to public propriety; the religious
service in church or chamber is cere-
monial endeared to us by tradition
and demanded by faith, and the sol
emn funeral march to the tomb will
never be dispensed with as the last
public demonstrative offering to the
dead. But precisely in proportion to
the use of all these fOrmalitieS of re-
spect is the abuse too often witnessed
OF turning the solemn abode of death
into banquet room, where funeral
baked meats" and wines dissipate the
sorrow, and of making the simple pro-
ceSsion to the cemetery pretentious
parade-apparently more a glorifica-
ton of the living than of grief for the
dead. We say, apparently, for in
most, if not in all, cases, it is thought
lessness that leads to the eXtrava-
gance; it is the excess of love that
would grudge no sacrifice in gratlfica-
GlOu VI ldllllly locIuS.
This excess and extravaganza may
be all very well in the higher circles
of society. "The trappings and the
suits of woe" are fully in order when
there follows no diminution of do
nestle comforts for the living; the
expenditure of the millionaire in fu-
nereal pomp may be praised for the
certain amount of employment it
gives to trade. But when it comes to
the poor mans home-when the hard
working mechanic thinks that he can
not sufficiently honor the memory of
a dead relative without a cost that
brings Indebtedness to himself, and a
curtailment of the common necessa-
ries of life to his children for months
to come-then it is time to step in
with a word of advice and suggest
that false pride should give way to
better principle and practical ac-
ton.
Every day-and at every hour of
every day-is witnessed an illustra-
ton of the evil complained of. On
Sunday it is particularly observable.
Watch for an hour at any of our
ferries leading to Greenwood or Cal
vary or Flatbush and you will see
lines of carriages at the funerals of the
humble and hardworking. These
must be paid for, and at a grievous
loss of after protection for which the
present pride is poor atonement.
There is no use arguing the question
on economic grounds where senti-
ment is the motive; but appealing to
sentiment we would suggest that tie
dead is more meekly honored by a
few sincere mournerS than by hosts
of Indifferent individuals, who often
attend funerals for the opportunity
of cheap carriage ride, and tighten
the tedium of the journey by any
thing but funeral conversation.
The voice of the Catholic church
and of high functionaries in the
Episcopal church has been raised
against funeral extravaganza. Among
Catholics Catholics of Irish
birth or lineage particularly-the
wake and burial are invested with
almost a religious obligation for dis
play. There is no sacrifice that the
living can make too great to show
devotion to the dead 1t is one of the
home characteristics that has survived
tranSplanting to new country. The
sentiment would be hard to uproot,
and it would be unwise to counsel
the experiment. We would simply
join our desires to the counsels and
commands of bishops and other clergy
and suggest t. at moderation in ex-
ternal mourning does not argue any
impairment of the heartfelt grief of
the household, and that the absence
of costly parade is thoroughly con-
sistent with the presence of the sim
cerest love and the most acute sor-
row.