Los Angeles daily herald., 1888-08-19
1.-THE SIGNS OF WOE
How We show Our Respect In
Last Sad Rftes.

How We show Our Respect I'm IN,
Last Sad Rites.
The last thing a man wants to know
is about an undertaker's parlors or 8
cemetery. Yet loath as we are to dwell
upon these sombre aspects of our depart
ure hence, as all must die, SO all must
contemplate these subjects. In passing
along Los Angeles street day or two
ago HERALD reporter noticed pair Of
fine, black horses hauling a magnificent
hearse into stable. The animals it was
which attracted the newspaper mans eve
in the first instance, but from the beasts
he was forced to cast a glance
at the sombre vehicle behind
them. He entered the stable and
there he saw an entire Under
takers outfit. There were no less than
three hearses-one, the handsomest
white hearse on the Pacific Coast. ele.
CANT enough to provoke another poem on
the
Little White Hearse,"
That was passing by. Another was q
fine hearse indeed-or would have been
thought so were it not that by its side
stood the one which first caught the re-
porter g attention. 1t is superb funeral
car. Unusual as the fact may appear
tits absolutely the finest funeral car on
the Pacific Coast. There has been no
expense spared in its construction. 1t is
fitted up in the most suitable manner,
and betrays in its finish the
taste of an artist. 1t is supplied
with a pair of duplex springs, which
keep the doors in any position they may
be placed in. When shut the springs
keep them closed, and when open
they hold them SO. This simple device
will obviate all awkwardness in placing
a casket in the car, or removing one
| from it. With the car was full supply
of ornaments of all sorts, ecclesiastical
or of the various secret societies. These
| are of silver, as are all the mountings
and finish OF the car.
With these stood an ambulance used
for transferring the sick from one place
to an Jther. 1t is most ingenious thing
in its way, with every ima ginable ad-
junct to it which is calculated to make
the vehicle ride easily, and thus spare
the afflicted occupant all the pain human
ingenuity can avoid. There was also
here a fine business wagon, used for
taking caskets to homes in the city. The
outfit taken as whole could not be i'm
proved upon. The reporter asked Mr..
Celestin, of the stable, whom these be-
longed to, and was told they are the
property of the Messrs. Peck & Mccoy,
whose parlors are at 40 North Main
street, opposite Court street.
To this place the reporter at once re-
paired, where he found both of the
proprietors. They showed him through
their large and elegantly appointed par
lors, where are to be found all the other
'Trappings and the iigns OF woe"
How human love clings to the lifeless
form of the being once loved Cold and
dead as are those for whom these estab-
lishments are maintained, yet there are
loving hearts left behind which care for
these things as if they could min
lister to the comfort or happi.
ness of the clay which is to
inhabit them! The caskets are, many
of them, copper lined and covered with
the finest broadcloth, silk plush, etc.
The sleep that knows no breaking"
ought to be sounder for such tender care
| being spent upon it.
Some of these caskets have peculiar
interest for their associations. Here is
one style kept in stock and known as
The Judge" because it is fac simile OF
that in which the late Chief Justice Waite
was buried. Here is another, the very
counterpart of that in which the dust OF
the late Samuel ]. Tilden sleeps; while a
third is the pattern of the one used to con-
tain all that is mortal of the late Vice.
President, Thomas A. Hendricks. One
would not suppose that these caskets
could be carried in stock by a Los An
geles establishment, yet here they are.
They are the only thing OF the sort found
on the Coast. When the reporter set out
to inspect an undertaker's establishment
he did not dream of finding news; but
the more questions he asked the more
he discovered that even in such sombre
and woe.abiding places something of in
terest was to be encountered. The
Messrs. Peck & Mccoy are very urbane
and attentive gentlemen, and their par
lors at No. 40 North Main street are con-
stantly sought by those on whose houses
the angel Of death may unhappily set
his seal.
10 THE ILLUSTRATED HERALD is now
on hand at this office and for sale at the