The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1888-07-07
ALPINE FUNERALS.



Quecr Customs Prevailing in the Remote
Districts OF tho TyroI.
In one OF the most wonderful scenes
Of Der Gruene Heinrich" Gottfried
Keller describes the way in which a
funeral used to be celebrated by wealthy
peasants In remote country districts.
The mournful hush Of the first part Of
the day, the touching simplicity OF the
religious service, the sumptuous meal
and heavy drinking that follow the re-
turn from church, and the wild dance
that concludes the day, are all depicted
with force and vividness which has
rarely been equaled in modern pict-
ures, and the impression is all the
greater because the horror which
breathes through the whole narrative
is never allowed to degenerate into
mere disgust. The dance is omitted In
Upper Austria, but the other practices
are perhaps even more CHASTITY.
In these districts it may almost be
said that the funeral begins before the
death. AS soon as any man or woman
is supposed to be in the last agony, not
only all neighbors and friends, but
perfect strangers, are informed Of the
fact and expected to pay a ceremonial
visit. The guests simply enter the sick
room, take u long look at the dying
man, and go their ways. No prayer is
said, hardly word is spoken, yet even
the chance wayfarer who declines to
enter the house of death on such occa-
sions is considered strangely heartless.
After death the stream OF visitors
ceases, but only for a short time. As
soon as the body has been prepared for
burial long table is spread in the
room where it lies, and covered with
wine, spirits and cold viands of every
description, and here open house is
held day and night till the funeral
starts for the church yard. Whoever
comes, known or unknown, rich or
poor, is not only allowed, but urged, to
eat and drink as much as he can. Be-
side the coffin at least two huge wax
candles which have been fetched from
the church burn dilnly, and near them
two old women sit or kneel. They are
paid for their services and supposed to
pass their time in prayer. From time
to time they are relieved by others,
and they then usually make somewhat
heightened pause at the table before
going home. After the return of the
funeral the chief mourner invites every
one who has attended it to a hot meal,
which is as sumptuous as he can afford,
and which usually ends in hard drink
ing.
Customs of this kind are not preva-
lent in Carinthia or upper Carniola;
funerals are there conducted with per-
feet quiet and decency. Yet in some
observances one may find either the
germ or the relic of much that shocks
us in other districts. On the whole,
the arrangements seem to be adjusted
to the present religious beliefs and re-
quirements of the community, and it is
easy to see how they might degenerate
into such excesses as have been mem
toned. A simple account of u funeral
in Carinthia will show this better
than any amount of abstract argu-
ment.
AS soon as the body has been placed
in the coffin and the room put in order,
the latter is thrown open to all visit
ors. In Roman Catholic country it is
natural that rich and poor should
alike wish to say few prayers for the
soul of one who has been their friend,
their companion, or their benefactor.
Among the educated classes certain
hours are appointed for the purpose;
among the poorer it is usual to keep
the house open day and night. Dur
ing the greater part of the time the
mourners pray silently, but at certain
hours one of them repeats aloud the
prayers, in which the others join. On
leaving the room, each of the visitors
is offered piece of bread and glass
of wine or spirits, and the poor are
apt to be offended if the offer is re-
fused. Among hospitable population
this custom can not be considered
strange, but it must be confessed that,
| though the refreshments are usually
consumed in perfect silence, it is open
to abuse, Beggars will come six or
seven times in the day for the sake OF
the dram with which their devotions
are rewarded, and as it often happens
that no member of the family is pres
ent, and as no one would like at such
a season to be guilty of an ungracious
act, it is very difficult to keep proper
check on such persons. s.-SatMulay Re.
CieU.