The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1885-11-19
Ghe g1tekLiaeretG.
MHEEL1No. 81. va NovEMbERlo.I 1855.
Cremation GrowioE In FEyor-Dr. LeioJne'S
Example Spreading.


Example Spreading.
DR.. LeMoyne's grain Of mustard seed
planted at Washington, Pa, a dczen years
ago, is growing into a tree Of constantly
enlarging proportions. His example has
commended itself to thoughtful and phi
lanthropic men in this country and in
Europe, and crematories are no longer
either an experiment or novelty.
Neither have people the same obiec'
tons to being cTemated after death that
they once had. The factthat fire simply does
in couple OF hours what time invariably
does in few Year,, viz, reduces the hui
man body to its original elements and
gives to the air aud the earth the portion
that belongs to each, is now better under
stood and appreciated.
A dozen years ago the discussion wal
actually started over Dr.. LO Moyne's bold
step whether cremation was not an
impious attempt to prevent the resurrec'
ton Of the body at the last day by the
destruction Of Its idantity. OF course
scientific men speedily laughed such a
discussion ont OF all countcnance, among
people OF ordin Ty intelligence, by sim
plyshowipg what we havs stated, that Gre
nation only anticipated the work OF time,
aud that the chemistry oil the earth was
no less an agent, although sloTe one, in
the work OF complete disinte2ration and
exhalation beyond Identification than fire.
In other words, that under ordinary cir
cumstancss there was not so much as an
atom OF even a bone Left in an ancient
graveyard. So subtle is the escape OF
gas that the atmospheEs receives itsproper
portion Of the volatile clement in the hui
man frame despite every precaution
against decay. Nothing but embalminC
can preserve even the rough and semi
petriaed form Of humanity against this
memorable demand OF nature, aud we all
know that the embalme4 bodies Of Egypt
are simply 80 many baked clods OF earth
in the valley OF the Nile. And to-day
many OF those bodies, so>called, are used
Is fuel on the locomotives that run on the
railroad between Alexandria and Cairo.
All this is predatory to notice OF the
fact that another crematory has Just been
finished in the vicinity OF New York. 1t
Ia situated at Mt. Olivet on Long Island,
and 80 great is the demand to be on itthat
already forty bodies await cremation
within It's walls. Its'completion leads the
New York Times to several appropriate
reflections on the general subject Of Gre
nation, among which are the following:
"The danger to the living that lies in the
graves OF the dead has been shown in
countless cases. The germs Of disease lie
dormant in the soil for many years. De.
composition may poison the air or the
water within short time alter burial, or
the deadly influence may not be exerted
until centuries have passed. The plague
In Modena, in 1928, was caused by the up
heaval OF soil in which the bodies OF those
who had persisted OF the same disease 800
years before had been buried. The germs
Of yellow fever ill the soil Of the cemeter.
les in Rio Jaueiro, where the victims Of
that disease were inferred years ago. Epi-
denies are aggravated and even caused by
the disturbance Of soil polluted in this
way. Thousands OF human lives have been
cut short" says Sir Henry Thompson, "by
the poison Of slowly decaying and often
times'diseased animal matter. The con-
tinuance OF pestilence has often been due
mainly to the poisonous influence OF the
buried dead"
This is Of course the strength Of the
argument In favor OF cremation, but
nevertheless another important argument
Is economy. No one needs 10 be told Of
the expense attending q modern inter
ment, nor that many poor family is
mortgaged for years to provide funeral,
4 grave and a monument for itq dead.
DR.. LoMoyne, in his day, estimated that
the monuments alone in the cemeteries
OF this country had cost more than the
amount Of the National debt Immediately
afterthe war. To the rich and well-to-do this
argument may mean little, but to the poor
the varied expenses OF death have indae
practical Significance. The expenses OF
cremation are mere bagatelle compared
With ordinary funeral expenses, DR.. lie.
Moyne estimated that in the crematories
OF the future they need not exceed five
dollars, all told.
The real obstacle that stands opposed to
the speedy and general adoption of Gre.
nation is sentiments desire to a1soci-
ate with some spot Of earth the presence
OF our dead. Upon this point the New
York Times expresses itself as follows:
at is said that incineration is irrevcront
and indecent. But it is possible to dis
pose OF the dead as reverently aud as do.
Gently in this way as in any other. Nor
can Il fairly be urged that it is a process
that must be regarded as more repulsivo
than inhumation. The horrors OF the
grave are unutterable. They are hidden
BY the mantle Of earth. We venture to
say that il the slow process Of decompo-
silion in the grave were not concealed, ii
It could be seen and followed by the
living, the number Of those who advocate
the use OF fire, the great purifier, would
speedily and wonderfully increase. In
either case the process 10 one Of comhua-
ton. In one It Is rapid and perfect,
leaving no germ Of disease for those who
live In the other 1t is slow, repulsive,
and full OF danger TO life.