St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1888-07-22

the spread of contagion. This goes
quite a ways in inSuring the lives of
baggagemen, though the shipment of
bodies is not pleasant at best. From a
commercial standpoint it is decidedly
unpleasant to undertakerS. There is a
saw in the trade, secondhand goods
don't pay That is because an under
takers profit is in the sale of coffin,
and the man at the point to which the
body is shipped has no chance to make
anything on the deal"
But underta kerS and plumbers are
richer than kings and United States Of
ficials. are they nOt?' asked Prudy. in
HER PRETTY, ARTLESS WAY.
GA popular mistake, my dear young
woman" said the gentleman of crepe.
''COma with me and let me prove it to
you.'' We followed his lead, and found
ourselves in the salesroom. "He is
coffin that sells for $50. 1t costs me IS.
An enormous profit, You think. But it
is not trimmed. That brings it up to
SIS. Then there is 81 more for the box
into which it goes. Besides this / at
. tend to all the details of the funeral,
such as selecting and buying the grave,
hiring carriages, etc, and on the day of
the funeral | am obliged to wear my
best black clothes. and give my time
entirely to the bereaved family. There
is another mistaken impression con-
corning the undertaking business. Peo-
pie think the most unprincipled man
is particular about settling an under
takers bill. Nothing ever came wider
of the truth. / was just knocking SIS off
a mans bill as you came in; he had
kicked so abominably about the guam
tity of fluid [ used in embalming his
wife. | have lots of money Wondering
in Oakland cemetery that | shall never
be able to collect. | have often found
that where there is the most grief there
is the least money for the undertaken.
Not long ago L was called to house on
Dayton's bluff. A man had lost his wife
and their honeymoon was not yet past.
He seemed half-diStracted with grief,
and was possessed
OF THE STRANGEST DESIRE.
He wanted me, after | had made his
wife ready for burial, to put her in his
arms and let him hold her awhile |
did as he asked, and left him alone with
her. He sat there and boo-hOOed for an
hour. But his woe had no cash value.
He owes me SIS for funeral expenses
yet"
SIS there anything new in coffins?"
asked
Yes. Colored caskets are coming
into vogue. l used one like this Git was
covered with coachman's drab broad
cloth and finished with heavy silk
handles to match) at a funeral here
lately, and all the ladies fell in love
with it."
More than one went home and leased
her husband for one just like it, sup
pose, and thought him an awful brute
because he wouldn't rush right out and
buy her one"
Il dare say. Would you like to look
at some Shr0uds?"
Il don't want any in NINE" said
Prudy decidedly, as we examined them.
''Those for women are as tacky as any
hand-me-down, and man who would
be buried in suit of clothes that ends
at his waist would wear dickey while
alive"
We went down cellar to look at cool
ing boards, embalming tables and what
not cheerful objects for contemplation.
Boxed collins were piled in one end,
and when Mr.. Undertaken invited us
forward to see his stock" | went some
how expecting to see dead men.
Out on the street again, Prudy said in
a shudder. Il know shall dream of
bleached bones and black bombazine
tonight. But, Pauline, | rather like
that undertaken. I'm not sure but it
would be an agreeable sensation to be
buried by him." PAULINE PRY