Daily independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 188?-1915, 1889-05-20
STYLES IN cAsKErs.

said ono Of the leading undortakers in
the city. For years much has been
said OF q necessary reform in funerals,
partly to lessen the cost and partly to
deprive the grave Of needless terrors.
I! Those engaged in the undertaking
business have lent their voice to the
general cry, but it is only of late that
we have been able to see any results.
Innovations make slow Roadway
against established customs. especially
in such matters rs burials, in which
people are conservative to fault.
"Thc disuse OF tho old-fashioned
baskets became popular there was still
allegiance TO the traditional colors,
black and white, according to age of
the person to be buried. People would
have been shocked at any thing like
color even in the matter OF flowers
That old conservatism is gradually
breaking down, though. Casl1ets COW
cred with colorcd cloth are daily grow
ing moro popular. Shades OF pink
gray, buff, blue and pun pie seem to
meet most favor, and the effect is
really much more pleasant than the
od-time somber black. Pinks, and
the delicate shades, of course, are
chiefly used for children. The purple
covered caskets are in the main for
ladies, while the grays fall to middle
aged people Of both sexes. 1t is only
the moro radical families who venture
to buy the higher colors, but the mass
of the people are beginning to prefer
the grays.
"Thcn again thore is a noticeable
change in the method of conducting
funerals that is daily growing mora
marked. 1t is that Of inviting friends
to the religious services, and having
the burial, sometimes two or three
hours later, strictly private. Usually,
however, the burial takes place as
soon as the friends have departed.
This is doubtless step in the right
direction, for it not only takes away
the public character of the occasion
and makes grief moro private and per-
haps easier to bear, but it materially
lessons the expense rst burial.
THE carriages al funerals are the
greatest item in the total cost, and
again we find people coming to what
one would call a common-sense view Of
things. Fewer conveyances - often
just enough for the mourners and pail
bearers-is growing to be the regular
custom.
II think there was never time
when decency without lavishness or
parsimony was more generally the
motto Of the masses than at present.
People get distorted notions about the
cost OF burials and in Il measure are
doubtless led astray in their Affections
by their preconceived notions of the
cost and requirements. 1t is only
rarely that we now hear Of great ex-
penses incurred even among wealthy
f miles. Sometimes the cost runs ur
TO 500 or $500 but more often it falls
to SIS or 500. Probably $75 to $3.50
would represent the most common
range of prices for buriuls in
tho average families of Chi
caro-. There is a manifest
tendency to go hey nd what financial
circumstances would warrant in the
matter OF expense, but even mild OK
trnvagnnccs Of TIN 8 sort are beg ming
TO be less frequent, and doubtless ns
much for the undcrt;lker's interest u
for that Of the mournerS.
at is u fact, as ofton said, that un-
dertuking is u business Of great risks
and losses. ! speak, Of course. re-
latively to other businesses Often in
case Of death u neighbour or friend OF
the afflicted family comes TO tho under.
takcr. They suppose ovcry thing is all
right aud practically the undertaken
has to suppose the Same. At a1l events
1t is not time for hesitancy. Under.
takers are as tcndor-hcarted as most
people, and they arc constantly led 10
sorve families of whom they never
heard before and from whom they may
Or may not succeed in collecting their
pay. Often, too, 81 family is supposed
to be in aflluent circumstances, and the
doceaSo Of the father or husband sud.
denly reveals the fact that bouse