Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1886-07-01
ABOUT rUNsRALs.
Ertrnvngant Customs Obtaining Among
All Glasses OF Population.

Ertrnvarant Customs Obtaining Among
All Glasses OF Population.
At the funeral services of the daugh-
ter of a millionaire in one of our large
cities recently, the dead body was at
tired in dress made by Worthi the
music was rendered by an orchestra
brought five hundred miles for tho pur-
pose. at great cost; the clergyman
received an amount treble his annual
salary for his sermon, and the flowers
which decorated the house, IL is said,
cost eight thousand dollars.
Among thepoorest and most ignorant
class of foreigners in our cities there Is
much emulation as to the display OF
dress and ornament made on the occa-
sion of funeral. In Philadelphia and
New York IL Is not unusual at such q
time for a family which has been living
on charity TO attire the corpse in white
satin, and send IL TO the grave escorted
by dozen carriages.
In old times this desire for display
and show, when death entered the
house, took the form of feasting. rather
than, rs now, of dress and mortuary
bric-a-brac. In England the arvel din
ner was u banquet prepared for all
friends OF the dead man, to be eaten
Just before his intermcnt.
In Ireland this posthumous hospital
ity took the shape of wakes at night.
In Charles the Seconds time the
crowning point Of the feast was a pot
of wine, which stood on the coffin, and
out of which every one drank during
the sermon. In some parts OF England
the whole parish was bidden TO the
funeral feast, even of the poorest.
The only instance in which this Gus
tom would now be more honored in the
breach than in the observance. Il that
of a wealthy, kind-hearted butcher in
Philadelphia, who left by will a sum
''to provide a hearty dinner on each
anniversary of his death for the in
mates of the almshouse and city pris-
ons.n
Among many OF the German settlers
in Pennsylvania a funeral Is the occa-
sion for heavy feast prolonged for
DAYS. The slaughtering. brewing and
baking for this untimely hospitality be-
gin as soon rs the breath is out of the
body of the dying person.
Among the more cultured and re-
fined classes IN this country there is q
growing dislike to any appearance OF
parade or ostentation over the dead.
Private intermcnts are now customary
in this class. The cast-or body is laid
away quietly and tenderly by those
alone to whom il was most dear.
Funeral pomp can have but two mo-
tives: to impress the living, or to dc
that which it is supposed would have
given pleasure to the soul that has
gone out Of the world forever The
money spent in satin, flowers or eat.
ables would send sick child to n hos.
pital, or rescue some poor waif from
misery. Surely, both the living and
the dcad-if the dead know-ought tC
find this the better memorial.
If, too, but tithe of the money, the
affection and the appreciation which
we lavish on the dead. had been given
to them while they were living, how
much happier a world this would be
The American is apt to be undemon.
strative. He lives with his brother
father or friend. and speaks not a word
of encouragement, gratitude or recog
milton of love to them, until one day
they leave him and he pours it out over
their deaf ears in the coffin.
Make the living happy, and death
will be shorn of half its sting ut the
graves of the loved ones who have
passed on" before you. Youths Com
DQniOn.