Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1889-12-14

ialu pnlOW ienStnWlSe OF tne ueUlc,
Another pillow was laid at right angles
with the first at the head of the table.
Each pillow was trimmed with cheap
lace. When the lonely bier was all
ready, the mother, with reverent hands,
lifted the child upon the pillows. The
little cheap shoes, badly worn at the
toes and heels, were then removed, and
white slippers were put upon the baby's
feet. The useless shoes were placed in
the top bureau drawer bedewed with
tears.
By this time the news had spread and
the neighbors began to come in. These
began to decorate the room in manner
usual among the Neapolitans. A bed
sheet was tackled upon the ceiling. Then
three more sheets were hung from the
ceiling in such manner as to inclose
the dead child on three sides. By this
time the father of the infant had re-
turned from a millinery store in Divi-
sion street with some artificial flowers
and mortuary ornaments. One of these
consisted of bouquet of white flowers
mingled with red and green blossoms Of
most vivid hue. Upon the bouquet was
perchcd white dove with outspread
wings. This was placed upon the baby's
breast. A chaplet of artificial flowers
was placed over the brow of the dead
baby. Bright colored handkerchiefs
were busy upon the sheets. The whole
scene was picturesque and striking.
The infants face wore peaceful ex-
preston, as If he had fallen asleep.
Ao fla ,,inht ON ha ata1a
dropped asleep in their chairs. But the
mother, who sat near the head of the
baby, rocked to and fro, and at intervals
called to the infant in Italian to return
to her. 1t is tho custom among the
poorer classes of Italians for the mother
not TO eat anything until after the fune.
raj is over. Sometimes tho mothers &c
without food for three days. In the
morning male Italian learned of the
child's death. He also learned from the
family that an undertaken was needed.
He turned across the street to tho chop
of Charles Bacegalupo and informed the
undertaken that his services were re-
quired. BY SO doing he secured 10 per
cent. of the money derived from the fu-
neral expenses. The undertaken placed
a bow knot and streamcrs of white Grape
upon the outer door of the tenement.
Over this he hung a silver cord, indicat.
ing that the silver chord of life was
broken, as spoken in the book of Ecclesi-
astes. He also placed brazen sconce,
in which seven candles We're burning, at
the head of the table upon which the
baby lay, together with figure Of Christ
hired four coaches to convey the mourn
ers to Calvary cemetery, paying S4.5o
apiece for them. These were sublet to
the mourners at the rate of S1.25 head.
The father Of the dead baby thought
brass band was necessary in order to
make the funeral complete. The band
was secured at its headquarters in lager
beer saloon in Mulberry street. Fifteen
pieces were hired at 50 per man. The
itinerary of tho band included walk
around the block and thence to James
slip, distance of about one mile.
At 10 o'clock the coffin was carried un
der the undertaker's arm across the street
to the room where the body lay. 1t was
about three feet long, and was made OF
cheap white wood covered with papieI
mache. At intervals upon tho sides and
tap of the coffin were little decorations
evidently cut with die out of block tin.
These were made to represent Roman
urns, with a lion asleep upon the top.
While the undertaken was putting the
baby in the coffin the band came strag.
Cling up the street.
The men wore no uniforms. They
went into the saloon under the room
where lay the baby. A white hearse,
made to carry babies, also came to the
door, followed by the four coaches. The
band came out of the saloon and each
man blew few preliminary toots upon
his instrument. Then swarthy Italian
came down the stairs with the little coffin
in his arms. He was followed by bare.
headed woman carrying the bouquets and
the dove. These were placed on top OF
the coffin as it lay in the hearse. The
band ranged itself in irregular fashion in
the middle of the street. 1t struck up
spirited Strauss waltz and the procession
started. The only one who showed any
symptoms of grief was the mother of the
baby. At the first sound of the music
children began to gather from every
direction. Every window was filled with
heads. The crowd filed the sidewalks
and literally crowded the mourners
There was halt at the corner of Baxter
street by the band to permit the coaches
to catch up.
When the procession started again
fifty children, from 5 to 10 years old,
marched ahead, keeping time to the
music, which was of the most jubilant
kind. Among these children were two
little girls about 8 years old. Each car
ried over her shoulder an infant about as
old as the baby i'm the hearse. The living
babies Were as rosy as red apples. They
looked with wondering eyes at the brass
band spilling music all over the muddy
street. Both Of the girls who carried the
babies were barefooted and bareheaded.
The visible flesh was Drowned from con-
slant exposure to the sun. BY the time the
cortege had gone distance of 300 yards
from the starting point, the sidewalks Of
Baxter street had become impossible ON
account of the crowd. The procession
went around the block bounded by Park,
Baxter, Mulberry and Bayard streets.
All the time the advance guard Of little
children tramped along just in front Of
the musicians, the two caretakers stag
gering along almost under the nose Of
the cornet player.
The narrow escapes of these children
from being crushed under the hoofs of
truck horses and vegetable wagon wheels
which filed the streets were alarmingly
frequent. Meanwhile, one of the babies
had fallen asleep in its juvenile guard
ian's arms. Not even the blare OF the
big bass horn could keep it awake. The
baby vobbled about In its sirteT'l arms