New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-05-26
CREMATION IN JAPAN.

Mr.. IT, ". Lucy IN the PaH Mau Ga1sHe
There is one nation now the Oldest empire II, a ,mI
world where cremation is an established usage, anu
where the Government, with shrcwd appreciation OF
the advantages of sanitary laws have OF late years
carefully fostered it. This Is Japan where crealpn
establishments under Government control are to be
found in all the chief cities In Toxic the prnelpSl
place of cremation is situated at ShenJ3 suburb
reached through long lines of busy streets Ii was fee
dav in the ncighborhood and at the time OF my VISIT We
approached it through dense crowd 9i n9nday
makers The shops were 9lgh.y Ut @ nt 1T
four nersOus two being babies. On these occasions
the japan infant obtains change of view and position;
For the most part i peers out upon the Wofid Tona
the side OF its mothers or sisters head But II DelDS
nbyeically impossible for woman to sit in ,nricksha
with the everlasting baby at her back 10 u.s. on ts
occasion ONLY slowed round to the front Many Oh inc
Too bouses in This quarter were brilliantly illuminated
with scores of lanterns. One which our guide SAID
was " goose-house." had over hundred, tan pole
runnino IN from befofe il hanging out score. IL ap-
nears that the Japanese is rapidly developing carny0r
pns tastes As the home culinary department not yet
equal to cooking joints, the luxurious japanese o INC
lower middle class goes out to beef house or goose
and duck house. and feeds on the unfamiliar Wand
After an hours drive through lane of busy life we
came to the silent house where the dead awaited me
last service of the living. 1t stands little apart from
the main road. building OF single story with an IN,
nocent looking tall chimney ana might be conhecleu
with pottery or a small iron foundry The business Is
ALWAYS conducted privately, and there are lew ID
Toxic, except those who are PROFESSIONALLY engaged,
who have witnessed the process SUI arranGelhc.u
made by the omn:potent Foreign Minister opened the
doors and secured a respectful welcome for u.s. we
ore first received i'm the house of the manager where
tea was served in priceless porcelain cups OF hutani
ware The furnace if imposing name may oe
used for process simple, stood few PAGES from the
house On entering ii there was nothing to be seen out
what appearcd to be two butter tubs resting upon
few fac0ts of wood There several cavities about
two inches deep and foot long III the stone Moor, ana
these were filed with shavings. According 10
uncipa law no burning Is to be done before hall past
six in the evening 1t still wanted ten minutes to that
time but in the circumstances the manager thought he
would be safe in anticipating the hour, and the shay
ngs were fired.
One of the men, kneeng before the growing flame,
famed it with piece of wood. IL caught the dry agots
rccdy licked the sides of the tub high in the air.
and then with horrible thud the head OF the barrel
hurst outward Quick as thought the seized large
niece of wood living by in readiness and bid from sight
whatever may have pTotruded 1t is the boast OF the
skl crematOr that under his supervision the contents
of the barrel exposed to view heaVy mat,
ting of wet straw is laid the length OF the Darre
before the fire is gnited. As the barrel IL burned
away this falls in and the body In three hours
the work is done Every particle of flesh Is burned
away and there remains only the skeleton The bones
and the teeth the relatives collect and give them
sepulchrc. ,.-..,,..,
There arc three classes OF cremation at this establish
ment. In the first class each body Is burned sepa-
ratey, charge being made of seven yen, equal 70
twenty weight shngs i'll money. In tie second
class the charge j. only ten slnngs, Inc uluefchcc
being that two according to the brlShpess Oh
trade are burned at the same time. The third class
nav andsxpeDce, the semblance OF collin pro-
yded by the tub being dispensed with. II viii be seen
that as compared with the most moderate scale or
| could gather, it is this which recommends itself 10
the class of Japanese generally the least wealthy VINO
avail themselves of the resources at the establishments
at Shen-io and kindred institutions.