Smyrna times., 1889-02-06
AN UNUSUAL SIGN.
''Misft COfins' for the Trade-Phase OF
the Undertaker's Business.

''NIisfit COhins'' for the Trade-Phase o
the UndertalKer's Business.
On cross town street, not far FROM
where Seventh avenue begins, is an under
taking establishment. To be sure there
is nothing wonderful about this fact, nor
is there anything particularly noticeable
or out OF the way to the average man who
chances past, about the place. For the
office IS nothing more than the basement
Of dwelling house converted into a store,
the brick work torn away and a biz plate
glass window replaced in it's stead, trans
formation that may be seen any time on
Fifth avenue or other thOroughfares now
turned into business streets. But there
was cardboard sign in the window of
OF the shop that, when | noticed it, ap-
peared very unusual indeed | read and
re-read 1t about ten times, and then
placed my hand against the glass to make
sure that it was inside of the pane, for it
struck me that some one might have been
playing practical Joke on the innocent
undertaken. But, no-there was no de
ceptiOn about it. The four corners of a
square of white bristol board were pasted
to the inside of the glass and on it in
modest black letters was traced: ''Misfit
collins. To the trade only"
am not naturally inquisitive, but | at
once became curious enough to inquire
what this notice meant, and accordingly
opened the door and stepped in In the
rear of the store an elderly man with a
smoothly shaven face, which, together
with his body, was about as fat and as
round as billiard ball. was writing at a
desk. lie rose as closed the door behind
me and nodded a good day
bax vor,ff I,,,.- "
said |, "but | would like to ask what is
meant by misft cofins?"
'Oh, that's easily explained" replied
he, with a merry chucllle. You see"
here he produced a snuff box from his
pocket, tapped it and took a huge pinch
OF the aromatic powder-''you see. it's
just this way: When an undertaken re-
ceives an order for a funeral he goes
around at once and takes a measurement
OF the deceased. He then orders a casket
from one Of the large supply houses-for
very few undertakeTs themselves carry
stock. If an elaborate casket is ordered,
with silver mountings and an engraved
plate, it viii not perhaps be ready
until the day of the funeral. Then.
when it is brought around it may
be found for the first time, and to the
CONSERVATION of the undertaken, to be
either, say too narrow or too short. Nav
be the body was heightened out, as they
occasionally do after death, or, perhaps. it
was enlarged Again, the undertaken. or
q careless assistant, may have made a
mistake in taking the measure. Under
such circumstances therois only one thing
to be done, and that is to order a new
casket. The undertaken must, of course
suffer for his own blunder, and the manu-
facturer will not take back the first
coffin. This leaves it upon his hands.
and, not wishing TO carry it and take his
chances of being able to use it at some
future time, he comes to me and Dur
chase it at fair figure.
For Instance, that casket you see
standing at the extreme end of the case
there is one l bought few DAYS ago. It
is a very expensive one of polished rose
wood. The engraving ON the plate have
FURNISHED down, so that it can be lettered
again. Now, that coffin, considering what
gave for it, | can sell for very much less
than manufacturer would charge. and
by and by some one in the trade will want
just such one, and he will naturally
come to me to get il.
How will he know that Won have
casket of that description?"
Because issue a monthly cato1orue
with full descriptions of stock on hand
and if he is careful to keep this before
him on his desk he viii be able to ret a
bargain more than once. l have lust
started in this branch of the business
and at present have the field all to nv
self
and now, sir, you know what misft
coffin is. Call again. John Preston
Beecher in New York News.