St. Paul daily globe., 1889-02-10
A CHEERFUL BON MOT.
Ready-Made Verses for the AT
fiicted, Warranted to Fit All

Ready-Made Verses for the At
flicted, Warranted to Fit All
Sizes.
'sDid you ever see memorial caIdH'
asked recently bereayed Minneapolis
widow OF sympathizing friend. !,
The friend had heard Of rival under
takers, florists, and even ministers,
leaving cards with the family of the de-
ceased, and soliciting patronage. Me-
mortal cards must be a new freak.
What are they?' she asked.
'.Pll fully satisfy your curiosity"
said the charming widow. with falnt.
pathetic smile. II have now four diff
ferent varieties. Each mail brings
new One."
The cards were of heavy, black card
board, with gilt beveled edge, about the
size of a cabinet photograph. On the
face was decorative pattern, With the
name>of the deceased and date OF death
in the center of the card, sandwiched
between verses OF. what might be called
poetry, if the Teaier had an elastic lnl-
agination. Some have suggestion OF
absurdity, is usually so dear to the
Christian heart. The following is a
sample:
Safe in the arms of Jesus,
Safe on His gentle breast
There by His love o'ershaded,
Sweet1y MY soul shall rest.
Safe in the arms of Jesus,
Safe from corroding care,
Safe from the worlds temptations,
Sin cannot harm me there.
The card is accompanied by circular
which informs the bereaved ones ''that
it haselately become beautiful custom
in the United States upon the death OF
relative to present each memberof the
family and friends with a memorial
card" the enclosed card being suit
able for album. easel or other cheerful
parlor decoration; concluding with the
information that the card is sent for in
spection. and friends are under no Obli-
CATION whatever to keep it. 1t may be
returned or retained by sending %
cents in payment. reduced rates being
quoted for large orders. A list of verses
is also enclosed, from which friends
may select ones to their taste. Friends
may furnish original poetry for the
adornment of memorial cards by the
payment of so cents extra, to cover the
loss from that breakage of type and
wear upon the printing press which
original poetry usually entails.
The enterprising firms seemed to be
scattered all over the East, as the cards
came from Philadelphia, New York,
Trenton, N. j.. and Pullman, LII. They
all forgot to enclose stamps for a return
of their cards, which in the case quoted
were liable to share the fate of manu-
script whose return postage is not pro
vided.
A bill collector from the undertaken
happened in, and was asked Whatfhe
knew about Such cards
1.-THE memorial card business is a
comparatively new phase of American
industry" he said. "These companies
study the death lists, and by sending
sample while the family are still
plunged in woe, they often get liberal
order. Their price gives a large margin
of profit to the company, say about IS
per cent"
''Do people really like to have such
tokens of grief decorating their pars.
iors?" asked one. y.
q "Some people don't think memorial
cards, framed coffin plates and funeral
wreaths in good taste. But that class
are in the minority. Most people like
Ostentatious funerals and weddings.
Such events give them social promi-
nence. MementoeS of aff1icton in the
shape Of cards are considered quite
delicate token of remembrance by most
people"
Having succeeded in collecting the
balance of his bill, the undertaker's
agent took his leave with alacrity, leav-
ing the widow and her friend to discuss
memorial cards, heavy Grape and the
other paraphernalia of fashionable woe.