Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1889-04-17
STYLES In COFFINS.
The Earth-to-Earth Casket Of Rat
tan the Latest Novelty.
Gable Roofcd Collins, Carved Wood Collins
and Collins That Are Made in Imita-
ton of Merble-Evenlng Funer-
aIs-Undertakers' Bills.

The latest and newest thing in coflns,"
said Rev. Stephen Merritt, TO a New York
Sun reporter, sis the earth to-earth cas-
ket- Iii an oblong casSet made of rattan
stripped of its outer gloss. 1t Is called
'earth-to-earth' because through its open
work meshes the air has free access to the
remains, dissolution follows quickly, and
the body soon asslmilates with the earth.
The cost is about the same that of an or
binary coffin, from s75 up, according TO the
trimmings. The present construction is an
American idea, but similar baskets have
been used in England. They are strong
enough for the purpose, yet they will soon
er disappear in the ground than any that
have ever been used"
Within few years the business of the
undertaken has undergone a complete rev.
olution. In 1854 mahogany coffin was
sold for So. Now a mahogany coffin Is
rarely used, and, if used, would cost a great
deal more. Then funeral cost $75 10 500
that would now cost three or four times as
much. The fashions have changed. For
time rosewood and black walnut were gen.
orally used; now the greater part are
cloth-coyered caskets Of various shapes.
The old-fashioned coffin shape has entirely
disappeared. For young people caskets are
used covered with various delicate shades
of plush. The interior trimmings of the
caskets, the shrouds and flowers all con-
tribute to take away the old-time CHASTITY
appearance Of corpse.
In old times undertakers made their own
collins. Now the business has got into the
hands of enormous concerns that keep only
offices in the large cities and main tain great
factories in the country near lumber dis
tricts, where labor and materials may be had
to advantage Some of these big firms pub
lish large books with cuts Of the different
STYLES of collins Each firm will have hun
dreds of styles and often carry a stock of
$4,000 worth Of collins.
The old fashioned ice box is going out of
date. Embalming is rapidly taking its
place Shortly after death about three
pints of a colorless liquid is infected into the
arteries, and then the body may be kept
for an indefinite period. The natural color
and expression are preserved, and, IN cases
Of emaciatIon, appearance Is even i'm
proved. Tie cost is but a tride beyond the
cost of ice.
Metallic collins are now made at much
cheaper rates than ever before. They are
much used in cases Of contagious diseases or
IN sarcophagi, or where transportation for
long distances Is necessary.
The most durable wood is cedar. The
cloth-covered coffns are made of pine or
cherry. A late style of cloth coffin has
carved work over which the cloth is close
~ pressed. For young people hght-col-
ored cloth caskets are frequently used
Metal caskets are largely used in Cuba and
the South There Is a peculiar white casket
made 10 initiate marble. II - ornamented
with raised plaster figures, scrolls or flow
ers initiating the carving of marble. There
Is apeculiar oak casket made with a cover in
the form of cross. Some of the crosses are
mounted on three steps-one step for each
member of the Trinity
There is late tendency TO expend most
money upon the coffin and things that show
In the house or at the church, and there is
less disposition TO have long line Of car
riaees. Evening funerals are largely in
vogue for the reason that men are less
likely 10 be kept away at that time by bust
ness. At day funerals II is customary for
the intimate friends only 10 go TO the GENE
terv. 4 late fashion is TO line the coffin OF
an elderly person with black satin
Practically. cremation has not decreased
the cost OF funerals much. In many cases
EXPENSIVE caskets have been used. as they
would have been if the bodies had been
buried in the ordinary way. There seems
10 DC an TSClC1Skc lNSa StAl u
economy about a funeral shows want Of
respect for the dead 4 good deal Of the
disputation and dissatisfaction over under
takers bills comes from this source.
People overwhelmed with grief DO not care
to hsggle about prices. They say to the
undertaken: DO every thing in the best
style AMI send the bill TO me-" They do not
think that there are many details of a fun
eral that can best be attended TO by some
members of the family, and that when the
undertaken looks after them it takes 8
great deal of time, trouble and expense,
for which he is justified in charging.
The cost OF q funeral varies from nine
dollars, the lowest charge for burying an
infant, to sl4.l6S75, which was Stephen
Nerritt's bill fog the burning Of General