The Arkansaw traveler., 1885-06-27
A SHAMEFUL AFFAIR.

Alta reccn, industrial celebration, when it was desired that the buSiuess men would, with gaily decorated floats, illus. Ia,e the numerous interests of the city, there occurred a scene of such solemn character that to write of 1t makes the pen wnggle in imagination of a human shudder.
 Silas rarkman is an undestaker. When he was requested to contribute to the fund necessary to the organization of the parade, he cheetfully compiled. The manager eomplimented the iiberali,y oi Parkman and declared tha, it every busi. ness man were like him, the city would put on dress coat of such attractive hue that capital for investment would be drawn from all parts of the country.
 "l regret very much" said the man. ager, "that ysut business is Of a class tha, cannot be properly represented by q float"
 "lt is pity" the undertaken replied
 "Yes, IL Is almost shame. Of course your line of business Is useful to com munity, and of course we could not get along without you, but you know very we'll that your awful profession admits not of pomp and parade"
 understand"
 "Of course you do. l fsl, a delicacy in approaching you at first, bu, tsmem- bering that you have always been-iu short, you ,l. A man who wants to see the city pr sper."
 "Yes, an that kind of a man. Say, you are go.'g to represent your business, are you not '
 "Of course. The coopesage business, you know can be appropriately presented. l shall have several men making barrels on an extensive float. Oh, I'll do my part. ?
 "I don't doubt it," replied the under taker.
 q am always in the front rank when is comes to advertising for the good Of the city"
 Excursion uains brought thousands of people from the surrounding country, and, fortunately, several hundred north err editors on tour Of free lunch and bad wine, stopped in the city long enough to see the industrial cavalc Ade. The procession was formed in the sub urbs of the city. During the arrange mepts, no little curiosity was occasioned by the appearance Of an immense float covered with canvas. When the man who had it in charge was asked whal business it represented and why he did not remove the covering, he answered both questions by remarking that il represented very i'm portant industry and that it wosld bs unveiled !s lime.
 The procession moved. Just as il turned into a crowded street, where thousands of people, including the visit. ing editors. were assem bled, the covering was removed fiom the mysterious Aoa, What sight was revealed. On plat. form, trimmed in black and decorated with the dread inspiring plumes of the undertaken, were three eoffins. Several men, employed to conduct the details oi the business, went through solemn mas- euvers. Each man was dressed in a shroud and, "turn about" one h them would lie down and pretend to bs dead. The others would put him Into . coffin and tower him into box, arranged under the float. When all the eofins were filled, q general resurrection would take place. Even this was rot all. A black placasd, bore, in white letters, the follow ing inscription
 "Siiss PArkmzn, undertskeY, buries people at all hours, compelled to on &C., count of . rush of business. When sic k people know that they are ts be buried by Pafkmsn, sweet resignation settIss upon their faces. Hurrah for rarkman." 1" The visitors were thupdsrstruck; the editoss were hosri6ed, and many of them declared that the awful exhibition vas as insuit to the northern press. The man. ages, galIoping up to the sssis float, ex. claimed: