The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1889-02-16
Funeral Ccremonies in Paris.
New York Mail and Express

New York Mail and Express.J
Ia all countries death and csremo-
ntes OF burial are sad aud repulsive.
In France, perhaps, decency ia observ-
ed - we'll as In any country, thanks to
the excellent organization of the Com
pagnie des Pompes Fuuebres, which
forms, 10 TO spenk, the administration
Of all the churches in Paria, exercising
on their behatfthe monopoly OF funeral
ceremonies. This company, whose
monopoly is regulated by law, is vast
enterprise, possessed of exceptional re-
sources, AN immense number of horses
and carriages, q numerous and well
disciplined personnel. Every year it
takes charge OF about fifty Thousand
fuoerals, about half of which are those
OF the poor. Thanks 10 this enterprise,
even the poorest citiZsEs are buried
with some show If dseeEcy and Ia
conformity with strict rules. The adj
mtnistra:ion Of the Ponpes Funebres
il situated in Paris in the Quaie
IT. Au6ervtiiiers. 1t is big, heavy,
white stons building, built rouud
vast glass-rooieti curt yard. To the
right and left OF the entrance doors are
the Offices Of the director and The
book excepting department Ia the
court yards are the store rooms, the
stables, the coach houses, and the
harness rooms. Everything is black,
sognber, and silent; everything is
vigorously numbered md tcketsl, ana
arranged for immediate use. The p.,r-
teurs, or bearers, commonly called
crOquensorks, have n big room f:rnish.d
with oak benches, where they assem-
BILE every mornihg, four hundred in
number, 10 await enthusiastically,
serious, clad in various styles, some
with blouses. but most Of them in
Jackets. Over this room are othrr
rooms with cuPboards running down
the middle ia double rows. Each cup
board is numbered aud fitted with a
lick, the key OF which the currespcn-
dinghy numbered crog,teasoS keeps.
In these cupboards are kept the uui-
forms Of the bearers, who dress before
going out ON services aud undress when
their service is over, only wearing
their regulation costume white on
duty. The masters of ceremoni.
have each 4 private room tn dress is.
Their uniform consist. Of cooked ha,,
coat, knee breeches, silk s,ockiD
q
wand. This persuuaga is paid 10y the
day, SO much for each funeral. His
duty Is 10 arrange the procession IN
proper order, t. fix the order OF the
precedence among tbs mourners, and
to start the funeral.
Beneath the vas, building OF the
Pompes Funebres are cellars dimIy |
lighted with gas jets and full of rows
and rows Of cofins of all sizes aud
qualitles. This cellar contains stock
Of fifteen thousand cof}ins ready for
use, varying in length from six fee, (
TWO and one-halt inches down to
tweuty.seven and one-haH inches,
which are the regulation maximum
Hnd minimum sizes of dead French
humanity. For persons taller than SIX
fsst two and one-half inches Il coffin
has 10 be built on purpose, aud to
order. On one side OF the cellar are
the lead collins, and in one corner a
stock OF square boxes in which coflius
are packed for travelling by rail or
steamer without attracting attention.
Near the door OF the caiiar are some
huge collins, with a circumference Of
six 10 nine feet, destined for the ac-
c0mmOdation Of very obese corpses.
likewise near the door arc thirty
hand-carts Of peculiar form, on two
wheels, painted green and lined with
black. These carts are used onty
when some terrible epidemic is deci
mating tho population. The trico of
tho collins, Of Tho inner liuiug, and OF
the covering pail, are all regulated by
An tmmutabte tariff. In 1870, during
the siege, the little hand-cnrts Oain,e,i
green and lined with black, had 10
serve universally ca hearses, for all tie
horses had BEEN killed for food,
SHAKESPEARE ON POKER.