The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-11-04
CARRIED TO BURIAL.
6ORPses BORNE IN ARMS AND ON
BEERS AND uTTeRS.
The uemrsc . Modern AfYair--Mcshods of
tho Ancient fyyptians-Rome's Pubic
and rrsvnte Iuner,ais-Coths, HunA
Ethan llama A (;reut Change.

Men took the corpse up bodily and carried
IL Upop their shoulders or IN their hands.
After while they employed the bier In the
funeral PROCESSION. The natives OF India
used TO SUSPEND the dead body between two
horses or mules. The American Indians
bore their dead upon litters, ono end OF
which was fastened to horse. while the
Other end dragged upon tie ground. In by
gone ages dead knights and warriors wero
often carried upon the spears Of their living
comrades. In primitive regions rough carts
were used, and are still used today, TO con
vey the dead to their final resting place
From the rough cart tat other tines EN-
ployed for all manner Of purposes to tue
heaise. having but one single, melancholy
mission, was an easy transition, compare
lively speaking.
And III ali these changes it is to be observed
that the moro intelligent the riore enbght-
ened people become, the simpler are their
burial rites. The most ostentatious funerals
OF today, even in our own cities, are those
that occur among the poorer and supersti-
tious classes. in England the lower middle
classes and the grades below them still adj
here to all the ilummery of black plumes and
long Grape steamers, and mutes, draped
horses and other depressing accompaniment
of ceremony that is always solemn enough,
but should not he made painfully melancholy
ANCIENT EGYPTIANS BELIEF.
The ancient Egyptians bore their dead in a
barge across lake, as they held it a vital
part Of their religions belief that the departed
soul passed from this 10 the unseen world
over the stream which they believed to scpa-
rate tho two existences Transporting TIE
body across a lake was merely symbolical Of
this The ancient Greeks carried the corpse
to the funeral without any support whatever,
except that of tho hands and arms Of the men
who bore IT, The beliefs of the Romans in
respect 10 death, and for the most part their
funeral rites, were similar to those Of tho
Greeks If a dead body could not be found
the sacred rites were performed at an empty
tomb, and II any one happened to see a dead
body ard did not throw earth upon it, no
was obliged TO expiatc tho crime by sacritlc
ing a hog 10 Ceres. For these reasons, and
the belief that tho spirit of the departed
wandered a hundred years along the banks OF
the Styx before being allowed TO cross If tho
body had not been inferred, shipwreck was
tho most dreaded Of deaths.
ais, to tho former of which tho people were
invited by herald. Infants and young men
were buried sooner than grown persons,
and with less pomp. The bodies of the de-
parted we're carried to the funeral pile on
couch covered with rich cloth, and commonly
supported on the shoulders Of heirs or nearest
relatives, though sometimes on those Of freed
mon. julius Cesar was borne by magis-
trates, Augustus by senator's, GeiInanicus by
trbunes and centurions Poor citizens or
slaves were carried TO the funeral pile in a
piain bier or coihl, and children who died
before they were wearcd wero carried by the
mother Ancicntly all Roman funerals were
celebrated by night, in order that The magis-
trates might not meet the procession and be-
como dcfiled. Later in Roman history pub
lie funerals were celebrated at an early hour
in the forenoon, while private or ordinary
funerals were always at night Torches were
used al funerals rs well as at marriages.
The funeral rites of the Cloths and Huns
were often conducted on a scale Of cxtrava-
gancc, both in regard to money and cruelty,
that seldom las been caualcd. Attla, for
example, who died in 453, was buried in a
coffin which was incloscd in ono Of gold, ia
another Of silver, and these in third of iron.
With the body was inferred ali the spoils
of tho enemy-halnesses, embroidered and
studded with jewels. rich silks and precious
booty from the kingly palaces they had
pillagel; and then, that the place Of inter
ment might forever remain concealed, the
Huns butchcrcd all that assisted at tho
burial.
DRYING DEAD BODIES.
Tho EthiopiaG5 are said to dry the bodies
of their dead. sailing them to prevent pntrc-
faction and then placing them in grave
covered with glass, through which the body
Invisible Sometimes their collins are thrown
into rivers, and sometimes they arc kept in
the houses OF the dcceased'S friends Tho an
Gent Bactrians suffered the bodies Of their
dead friends and relatives to DO devOurcd By
dogs, and even Kept large and savage animals
to devour such as lived to.an extreme age, or
became cnfeebed and useless through illness.
The ancient Christians testified their abhor
renee of cremation by depositins the body Of
tine deceased in the ground.
In Brazil there is today apparently littlo
uso for the hearsc. AS soon as a person dies
tho doors and windows OF the house are closed
ftho only occasion, it is said, when tic front
entrance OF q DldIiil-l uNciilil,5 II Snull, ava
the undertaken is sent for and told TO prepare
2 fu.ieral which shall cost SO many milrCis
EVERYTHING is then left TO him The corpse
is ALWAYS laid ont in the best room in tho
house and rarely kept over thirty-siS hours,
tucnty-four being the number required by
the law. If the diseased was married. fes-
toon Of black and god cloth is hung over tho
street door If unmarried one OF lilac and
black, while if a child is dead the co!ors arc
white, or blue and gold. Thccoflins for mar
ricd persons are always black, which is never
the case Tor young, unmarried persons, theirs
being red, scarlet or blue Tho chief use Of
the coffin IS 10 convey the body to the ceme-
terry, aud few persons arc actually buried In
collins
Within the past forty years a great change
has occurred in tho external matters relating
u burial in this country. While most Amer
leans OF half century ago had a belief in
God, immortality and life hereafter, yet
they seemed to hold their opinions on these
subjects not as real beliefs that shaped aud
fashioned their daily life, but as matters TO
which, in q half slumbrous way, they gave
assent. The grave, the tomb and death were
all looked upon as matters Of terror, from
the thought Of which all, old and young.
wise and simple, seemed to draw back in