Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-02-23

70 the Editor Of the DiSpdtch:
am one If those who think that if
the city undertakes to bury the pauper
dead it should undertake to do itproper-
w and deccntly, and after Christian
manner The obligation to bury the
dead carries with it by implication all
that We understand by the word burial.
If it is nothing more than TO get rid of
their bodies on sanitary grounds, then 1t
would be much more effective and eco
nomical to provide crematory and burn
them. But perhaps 1t Is unnecessary 10
argue this question. 1t Is to be pre-
sumed that ali are agreed that the
dead should have Christian burial.
The religious sense OF the commu-
nity is shocked mt the Intelligence that
every year $50 persons more or less,
usually more), all children OF the same
Father, aud in whose bodies dwelt the
breath of God, are buried in Oakwood
without Christian bural-bured as dogs
would be bdried. it is their misfortune
that they are poor. Ii they were rich
plumed horses would draw the stately
hearse which bears them 10 their last
resting-place the sOnOIOus organ would
breathe requiems, the long procession
Of slow moving carriages would convey
the mulutudes who deem it a duty and
privilege to pay these last honors to the
dead. You wonder that bitter thoughts
fill the minds of the poor. You won
der that mans inhumanity 10 man should
have its natural results
But all appear willing when their at
tention is called 10 it to give the poor a
more decent burial. The only question
seems to be whether the city should pro-
vide some one to do it or whether the
ministers of the town should undertake
it. | respectfully submit the latter IS
not practicable
|. II is impossible TO give notification
to the ministers long enough beforehand
TO enable them to arrange their engage
ments so as to attend. The city authori-
ties themselves frequently are not noti-
fed of the death of such persons until
it becomes necessary to bury them speed
ily A week or too ago woman lay
dead in room on Broad street for two
davs and no one knew il. Now, there is
not minister in town who has not two
or three engagements for every day, and
when the officials send for one to attend
burial the reply will be {: "Oh you
will have TO get some one else | haze
imperative engagements to-day And
so with another and another, until the
city officials get tired OF sending over
the town in search OF minister, and
give it up. II complaint is made that
| things have drifted back just where they
were, the officials will reply, and justly
"Oh we can never get a clergyman.
Gentlemen speak OF this matter as il
only the dead in the almshouse should
receive this attention. They do moi
seem to remember that the city is called
/ to bury the dead in the alleys and by
ways and purlieus OF the town, AID mol
unlrequently some days elapse before
the authorities are notified, making il
quite impossible TO give any warning tc
the ministers beforehand that they may
arrange 10 perform this duty.
2. Every one who knows anything
about such matters understand that this
duty. il undertaken by the ministers,
will fall upon few of them who may be
more conveniently situated, or who de
demonstrate their willingness by theii
practice or who have more time than
others. Now these few will have to un'
dertake 10 buy $50 year, or an average
of one day. Is il practicable think