Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1889-03-23
SOMETHING ENTIRELY NEW
OlR PRESENT AND FUTURE HO}iEN.

INHE many beautiful homes scattered ovcr
L our country are evidences of a very high
order of refinement, and no people have
made more generous provisions for the com.
fort and happiness of the living than the
American. While III advance of the rest OF
the world in scientific research and every
thing pertaining to the interest of the living,
yet we are very far behind other nations, and
especially the ancieuts, in our method or
manner of dlsposing Of the human body at-
ter death.
These facts have awakened much interest
of late. Scientific societies. the press as
well rs the public, are at present actively
considering the means best adapted for the
disposal of our mortal remains. We instinct
ivclv shrink with horror from the thought
of having those sacred remains placed in the
grave III common wood or iron rcceptacc>,
which SO soon decay, there to hc prcyei up
on by !oathSomo objects which intcNt it.
Some advocate a return To the ancient
practice of cremation, but this to the Chris
tian world seems revolving.
Many eminent prclatCS, scientists and 9th
ers, at a meeting lately held in the cty Of
Buffalo, advocated the eutombing of our
dead in imperishabc cement. The plan pro
posed by these gentlemen has already been
aloptci, and a ciNket cmhOdyjug these pru-
cipleS Is now being manufactured in this
city.
The preserved bodies Of the ancicnts, taken
from the catacomb~ of the buried cities are
now CNhiotcd, and are evidences of the care,
skill and reverence felt for their dead. Money
IS freely iavlShcd ou costly funerals and pro
fusely decorated but tlmsy wood or iron
burial cases, which are covered with costly
SatlnS, velYets and plush, Ornameutcd with
silver and gold trimmings
These are borne by loving friends to the
cemetery where they are placed IN marble
vaults or lowered in the ground beneath
costly monuments. All in fact, is done
which love and solicitUde could suggest
These things, when regarded from a Chris
tan or sanitary standpoint, have created Il
demand for the substitution of something
better than the common wood or iron burial
cases something which is not susceptible TO
decay from either ihr acids of decomposition
or the alkah of the earth something, in
fact, which Will preserve the remains Of our
loved ones from those influences and admit
of their dlsinterment without shocking the
senSibilities Of the living.
These thoughts have awakened the m
ventive genius of our people, and prompted
the production OF burial caSkets made of met
al and other substances, but they are found
to be very defective in that they so soon cor
rode and decay, and retain the fluids which
constitute 90 to 20 Dcr cent. of the human
body, permitting their escape to pollute the
atmosphere, or To hold them until they eat
their way through the material leaving
holes for the admission of those loathsOmc
objects which inieSt the grave.
/ material known rs lndcotruCtlble artl-
iiciai marble, made from imported cement
which is but the dust of stone or clay, from
which all vegetable or mineral matter has
been eliminated, umbodying principles advo-
Gated by the society for the advancement of
science, is now being manufactured into
CaSkctS in this city.
The mode of manufacture is as follows: 4
galvanized woven wire frame is formed over
IL core, and the the composition cement is
I'M, la, Il
the centre of the walls which gives the
siren 9Th and symmetry, without the UNI
wieldiness of the ancient Egyptian recepta-
Gle.
A groove is east in the upper edge or body
of the Casket, for the sealing of the top to il
with cement, or the introduction of a rubber
tube, making it absolutely jontlcSS, air-tight
and indeStructible, and arresting the decOm-
position of the body, and the escape of noX-
ious gases making possible their storage, dis
interment or transhipnent I" any part of
the world.
The material being porous, absorbs the
fluids of the body. leaving it dry and intact,
while the exterior can be made impcrvious
to moisture from the ground by the appica-
tion of "A waterproof wash. They are strong,
light, beautiful in design, and constitute
within themselves miniature vaults and are
finished in broadcloth, plush and satns, all
of the latest designs and are furnished at a
price which brings them within the reach of
the rich and poor alike.
All trimmings and handles are adjusted
the same as ON wood collins.
The universal adoption Of these casketS
should be encouraged and looked upon with
favor by the pulpit, the press and all
classes, for i'll preserving and arresung the
decomposition of the body, they answer all
sanitary requirements, besides appealing To
the most refined ideas regarding our own or
the final resting place of our loved ones, in
that they bring within the reach of all classes
miniature, portable and imperishabe
"vault' and burial casket combined, that
will guard the sacred dust of our loved ones
for all time.
You are cordially invited to call and ex-
anime them.
GEHAUE 8. YER