The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1883-03-30
AUTHORIZATION LEGISLATION PRO
POSED.


Among ali the customs in vogue, those
pertaining to the disposition of the dead
are the ones to which people, whether
civilized or barbarous. most tenaciously
hold. Any proceeding or suggested inn
provement in the manner of disposing OF
the dead when clearly TO the interest
OF the community is exceedingly
slow Of adoption or approval by
the public, under the idea
that religious and Christian precepts, or ar
ticles of faith are involved in burial of the
dead. For this reason, doubtless, rather
than from any opposition upon rational or
scientific principles, the attempt to intro
duce the old custom OF cremating the dead
nto this country has 50 far been almost an
entire failure. There is but one regular
crematory in the country, the one AT WASH
ington, PENNSYLVANIA, and IL seems that the
effort is to be made to close that one up, a
bill being before the Pennsylvania legisla-
ture at present, having for its object the
prevention, under penalties, of any other
mode OF disposing of the dead but by
burial. We are surprised that such narrow
mindedness should exist with refer
ence to this subject, for the best
thought of the times is pronounced in the
fact that the present custom of burial in
crowded cities and communities is one very
dangerous to the health and well-beDg of
the populace, to say nothing of its costli
ness, and the temptation offered to the low
thieves for grave robbery. There is no
valid objection to remation-nothing, in
deed, that would warrant the states in pre-
venting tho practice, frora any standpoint
whatever. Religious rites can be celebrated
Herewith. The process of reducing the in
animate corpse to ashes at once is more de-
cent and less revolving than leaving it for
the corrupting influences of the worm and
the grave, and the cost and trouble of dis
posing of the body, it has been demon
strated, can he rendered far
less than by the present mode OF
burial. At most, it is matter
of choice, and one about which
viz ANFiolNNult pubhl NV W b'NhNA NNNls
II, stirred by the horror of the grave, the
dying man prefers to leave instructions for
his own cremation and especially when it !
is the desire OF his friends and family TO
preserve his ashes near them, we think |
that the legislative power is overstepping,
or ut least misusing its time and authority |
in insisting that the dead, regardless of |
personal preferences or antipathies, shall |
be disposod oGin only one way, aud that, too,
the one now condemned by many of the
most progressive and scientific minds of the
age. The crematory at Washington, Penn
sylvaua, has been in operation
now for several years, and while
the growth of the sentiment layoring
cremation has been slow, the patronage be-
slowed upon the crematory referred to
gradually and constantly increasing, and
the eminently and satisfactory manner in |
which the instances of cremation therein |
have been performed, furnish nothing but
evidences of the impolicy and narrow
mindedness involved in attempts to close |
up the crematory and prohibit cremation.
Greater trial should be allowed the practice
yet, and instead of rushing into legislative
enactment against u practice as old as civili- |
cation, now i'll favor in many enlightened
quarters oflhe globe, and recommended by
many solid reasons, the progressive egisla-
torsshould rather, it seems to us, take steps
To rive the mntter prpater nrOmineupo and
more extensive trial.