The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1888-09-16
FROM THE FAR EAST.
The Horrors Attendant upon
a Greek Funeral.
HOW THE CORPSE Is CARRIED
Hole-Some Sick ening Scenes
Greek Filthiness.

CoEsTANTINoPLE, August %, 1885,
special to THE HERALD 1T was while
walking in Pera, Constantinople, that
our curiosity was aroused by the ap
pearance of throng of people In 8
narrow street. This is no uncommon
occurrence where so much humanity
inhabits a small area, but this Gay il
really appeared singularly, as men and
animals were
STRANGELY MIXED UP TOGETHER,
and some of the men carried. bansers
hoisted high in the air. We resolved to
see what it all meant.
As they drew near where we were
leaning against the wall. it became
evident that it was not 10 Para
monkey circus as sometimes takes
place on the streets, and which
gather together similar dense crowd
but Greek funeral. The funeral peo-
pie had come in contact with flock Of
sheep, and these so INSTRUCTED the way
that the other flock could not pass by
and that was how men and animals be-
came mixed. Mixed as they were the
sheep still led the throng; the shep
herd leading the queen" sheep. as
they here call the trained sheep which
all Others of the flock follow. Next
in order came SIX little BOYS clad in
long white robes, ana Carrying silver
emblems of the cross and of noted
saints; but these mlschievous boys had
deemed it fun to work their way among
the sheep, so they became somewhat
separated from the papa SIS" (priests)
who followed; still they ally repes ted
the chant uttered By the ssin 'ly priests
which noise mingled inhsrmeniously
with the sleeps bewildered bleaJ.
What confusion! and be assured that
it was not lessened oy the Turkish dogs
which swarm the street.
Next followed the pall-bearers
CARRYING THE CORPSE UNCOVERED,
down upon which the hot August sun
of this southern CLINE shone fiercely
The dead was sweet-featured little
girl; she was costly laid out and taste
fully clasped small bouquet of flowers
in her dainty hands which lay grace
fully upon her breast. That she was
the child of the rich could be judged
from her having four priests follow her
to the grave. "Papass" are costly be-
ings, although very plentiful, SO per-
son can De classified financially by the
number whom he can afford to have
follow him to his last resting place.
How different it was for our little
maid, once household pet, to be thus
roasteain the hot sun while the pro-
cession sGught out the principal streets
in order to show the costly burial ap-
parel. Shame on such people, who
thus misase their silent deadi Other
people do homage to their dead, but
these Oriental Christians make semi
theatrical performance with theirs
The scene just described is of the
kind which may be witnessed any day
on Constantlnople' streets; but one
ought to follow one of these PROFESSIONS
to the graveyard; it is there that bar
barlsm may be seen barefaced; it is
there that down right
GREEK FLLTHINESs REACHES IKE, CLIMAX
Your correspondent learned that at
such places something might be seen,
and, therefore, spent a day sta noted
Greek burial place; he now wishes he
had not, as a sjckening, nauseating
sensation remains with him whenever
the sights are recalled.
Its anything but pleasant to hear the
heartrending screams of a family as
their dead husband is carried away
from their home, but it becomes dis
gushing to see mourners push their
heads out of window and deliberately
yell to exhibit their grief. This is what
they do here. Of course, it is hard to
part with those whom we love and
who love US in life; it is sad to contem-
plate that snch a one is being carried
away and We are now taking last
look at the mortal remains. At this
moment most of hearts are touched
but we do think that Oriental ladies
could express their grief in a more
quiet mode and still impress others
with their deeply sorrowing state.
FUNERAL PROCESSION
is formed of the dead mans friends,
and is led by church officers, as we have
related. The greatest noise is made by
the priests and attendants, but all con-
verse quite cheerfully as we walk along.
Passing the house of the deceased's
friend, the crowd is suddenly over
showered with candies, nuts, flowers
and odoriferous leaves, which generos-
ity causes some slight disorder in the
ranks, and all seem 30 catch the idea at
once that W. must have some of the |
gifts regard ass u whose head is
bumped in the hurried stopping to pick |
them up.
Thus we passed on through varying |
scenes until the graveyard was reached |
which is plot of ground protected |
with high stone walls and massive |
iron gates. There are two gates, one |
for the rich and the other for the poor;
we passed in at the poorman's gate,
while another passed in at the rich
mans gate at the same time, orit would
have been the same time, but we had to
wait for awhile, even though we ham
mered on the gate with big stone, be-
fore the gate was opened for US That
was why the rich man beat the poor
man rather to the displeasure of
number of our company. Iguess the
te-keeper didn't expect "backsheesh"
from us, and that is what makes the
mare 90. ," However. we got inside