The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-03-14
FRENCH FUNERAL CUSTOMS.
Social Exigencies of Partisan Funerals-The
Fashionable Routine.

Fashionable Routine.
Correspondence New York Evening Post.
Certain little features connected with Partisan
funerals in church are SO different from our own
that they are worthy to be set down here In
the first place, when the corbege or procession
reaches the portal of the sacred edifce, there is
a small ceremonial at the door. A gigantic
beadle, dressed in court costume. with a mace
decorated with Grape and accompanied at a re-
spectful distance by mysterious party IN long
cloak, who bears himself with the grace of a
Spanish grandee, comes down to meet the pail
bearers, who are always In evening dress. as also
are the chief masculine mourners and their i'm
mediate friends Ladies' it is needless to say,
are attired in solemn black. Shifting mis- staff
upon the pavement, the beadle then escorts the
procession down the grand central aisle of the
church to a place below the altar, while the pell-
bearers deposit their burden upon little plat
form near the entrance. Meantime, people of
distinction who arrive are escorted forward and
seated in order of precedence A prime minister,
for instance would be placed in the very front
rank, a diplomat behind him. and noted repre-
sentative of the army or navy of the
Academy II In uniform, as would almost lnvarI-
ably be the case would have an excellent place.
And now the music begins, and little bells ring
hither and yon, calling the small army of prestly
functionares to their respective posts in the
ceremonial. Down the long aisle comes a black
capped, white-stoed procession of priests and
acolytes and these, headed by a new beadle,
take their station about the coffin. Then they
return, and the old men sit in the stalls to the
right and left The little boys are disposed
gracefully in front of the stalls, and hidden
choir sings selections, now from French now
from German. now from old Latin funeral music.
Meantime the pail bearers have advanced with
their burden to huge catafalaue, which gener
ally stands about in the middle of the audience
or congregation The usher opens the door and
the coffin is rolled into this catafalque, which is
draped in black and is heaped with the crowns,
the wreaths, and other tributes of respect sent
by relatives and friends. IL the dead one had
been soldier, his sword would lie upon this
catafalque; II he had numerous decorations,
there they will be found reposing upon velvet
cushion. In short, this is the dead PERSONS last
appearance in society, and is made as imposing
as possible.
The pail bearers are now seated in solemn
row behind the catafalque the mysterious usher
in the cloak begins gravely to pace back and
forth between the gentlemen on the right and
the ladies on the left, observing them somewhat
with the air of general inspecting his troops.
The sacred concert goes on until a bell is
heard, louder and more melodious than the
others, and then, in solemn state, headed by yet
a new oeadle the clergy arrives and begins its
holy offices before the altag When this is over
the priests and boys come down to the catafalque
| and are ranged about it in order which rarely
varies. The little children hold candles in their
hands while the chief of the priests reads the
final prayers for the dead, and the responses
come melodiously from the choir. The funeral
dience Immediately breaks up and goes in rather
informal fashion to the catafalque, where each
person takes q holy water brush and makes the
sign of the cross whit.
The most dreadful ordeal for the mourners
then begins and | was surprised to notice that
in own Episcopal church, at the funeral of
the great armorer Mr.. Hotchkss the other day,
the same ceremony was observed. The mourn
ers, ranged in row, according TO Importance or
age, shake hands with or salute each person who
has been invited to the funeral as he or she
passes out. This is most trying occasion for
sensitive people, as the spectacle of the weeping
women and the men, quite broken down with
suppressed grief, is always touching and now
and then quite crushing It sends one away
with real funeral feeling still clinging to him.
The concert, the gorgeous dresses of the priests,
the windows of stained glass, and the majesty
and peace of the edfce have brought one to look
upon death with some resignation, and to think
it almost worth while to die that one may have
such funeral But then one is suddenly con
fronted with the spectacle of the bereaved ones,
and the bitterness of death is severely brought
home to the mind.