The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-01-04
conRTEp BY A CORPSE.
- E,,,balnned Body Utilized as an
i '--odercaker's Advertisement.

r-pderCaEer ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS.
~, tbe S,l, Francisco Alta California.
~ q great while since there died in San
francisco gentleman who was on visit
This coast from the East. He was ap-
or,rtlv person who commanded suffi-
F,,+ means for all the ordinary purposes of
"a. INT when he died ouly a small sum of
ny e1e,- was found in his possession. His
IuIat;;.es we're communicated with, and in
ions came from his wife to have the
FL embalmed, preparatory to shipment
Io"{ lie old home in the East. This
70 70 ''11 done and the bill, represent
wa rather a steep figure, for
,,usrded to the grieving widow. The sum so
sor exceeded her expectations that she in
I4il,nantly refused TO pay for it, and the
.,lSe was left on the hands of the under
toi,ar This gentleman had read somewhere
IN in q similar case down in Arizona the
lnndnceor of funerals had utilized the corpse
~ ON his hands as an advertisement for his
t,ada Acting upon this suggestion he had
tho cadaver in question taken from the neat
ma allie coffin to which it had been fitted,
and dressed up in a Prince Albert suit adj
insted to a sitting position in an armchair
n fine Sack parlOr of his establishment.
~ 90 perfectly had the emba ming been ac-
-o,nriished that, with the exception of the
oroyish pallor which overspread the face,
tba dead man looked as natural as life
This circumstance suggested to an ingenius
1.anno man connected with the undertaking
sstabIishment the idea of utilizing the corpse
for entertaining visitors. To this end the
,.hair in which it sat was placed against a
thin partition, which had been previously
,1iarced for the reception of speaking tube
XII bis was so arranged that the tube rested
sgainst the coat-collar of the corpse By
Stealing through this from the other side
If the partition, in the dim light of the
hack parlor to the casual observer it ap-
reared as if the corpse was talking.
Fortunately, however, the upright posi-
non and graceful poise of the body of this
interesting person led all who looked upon
il TO conclude that it was only a middle-aged
gentleman sitting there at his ease. But
3 his was not ali. The undertaker's IN
genous clerk had attached to the right arm
Of the corpse the wire of a galvanic battery,
and, by the proper manipulation of the in
strument, be could cause the arm to rise or
fall or gently curve around any object
near it.
One day spinster lady of uncertain age
came into the parlor to make some inquiries
relative to prospective funeral. As she
entered, the corpse, which she supposed to
be well-dressed visitor, gracefully bowling,
invited her to take seat at his side, where
a vacant chair was ready for her service.
"Take a seat miss; sit here indicating
the chair. | am charmed to have the
pleasure of seeing in this desolate apart
nent lady of such destinations"
''You are very polite, am sure" muir
INJURED the flattered fair one.
Il make tia point, my dear" continued
the corpse, ito note every beautiful face
that comes into this room. You must know
that | remain here all the time, night and
day. and my only happiness consists in re-
ceiving and entertaining the occasional Wis
itor."
"Why, how curious! You stay here all
the timer"
IAN the time, my dear, night and day.
In fact, never leave this chair softly and
sadly remarked the dead man.
Are you doing penance, sir!n inquired
the lady.
''Oh, no; the undertaken is my jailer."
For single moment the lady was fright
ened. The thought occurred to her that
she was in the presence of a maniac, and a
thrill of apprehension shot through her
heart. But the calm. serene face treasured
her, and when the corpse gently raised its
right arm and calmly encircled her waist,
she no longer doubted its sanity.
"You are very beautiful, my dear"
sighed the middle-aged cadaver.
"Oh, sir, how strangely you talk" and
ears.
''You see, my dear, to lonely man like
myself, condemned to sit day after day in
this darkened chamber, such lovely vision
as yourself comes to me like CLEAN of sun
light. trace in your fair face some of the
sweetest memories Of my youth, when in
long by-gone years l was loved and was be-
loved in return. When you entered this
dreary place a moment ago you seemed to
h,iuc n xviciny, of tho beautiful world
which lies beyond the threshold am never
allowed to pass, and my withered heart
turned to you with an emotion of delight"
It must not be supposed that the lady
listened to these bold words without sweet
and tender reflections upon the possibilities
they might lead to She was not very old,
but she had wanted a husband longer than
che cared to acknowledge, and words like
these naturally raised food of most agree
able thoughts. Nevertheless she deprecated
the dead mans enthusiasm and insisted that
he was speaking unadvisedly. Still she
turned upon him a tender glance, which
would have had anything but a chilling
effect upon the ardor of a veritable wOoer.
Itseemed to send fire through the veins of
the dead man. The arm frightened around
her waist. His words grew musical and
soft
Il see in you, my dear" continued the
of bliss. If | only had your sweet COM
panship in this desolate room its gloom
would take the hue of radiant sunshine, and
j should be conteut TO sit here forever
warmed by your smiles and gladdened by the
tender glance of your eyes"
'Oh, sir" sighed the lady
Can it be possible" continued the en-
raptured dead man, THAT you reciprocate
my passion! that you will be nine"
TIE fair head was gently inclining to the
shoulder of the corpse when the undertaken
entered. The lady screamed. Tue corpse
sat upright.
Why, how is thisp exclaimed the aston
ished dealer i'll cotfins
"Oh, sir" gasped the fair one, ''this gem
tleman has been talking so very strangely"
Talk e" shouted the undertaken
why, you must be mad! How can dead
man talk~
"Deadr screamed the lady.
why, yes; look at him. Lord help you!
You have been courted by corpse"
The astonished spinster cas- one fond
despairlng look on the ashen face of her
wooer, and finging her arms above her
head, cried piteously: Heavens! Does
my beauty charm the dead" and tainted
away.
WEDr, rrrIru CT AVE- nEATrDCo