The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1890-10-22

and tall monument In memory of the
dear departed than grief at his de-
| parture. In other cases, greed swal-
lowed up grief, and a desire TO hear
the will read and TO take possession of
the dead mans shoes was the deeper
emotion. L have attended funerals
where not tear was shed bv any
member of the bereaved family, the
whole ceremony seeming a mockery in
Difference to custom; where, but for
fear of Mrs Grundy, the dead would
have been buried like dog-all OBJ
sequies dispensed with.
These, of course, are exceptional
cases. There are but few people so
| debased that some heart does not bleed
at their death, and few so hard and
cold that they feel no real grief. In
deed, L sometimes wonder, knowing
| the deceased, how his demise can be
so deeply regretted. or so much re-
spect shown for his memory But, TO
| the credit of poor human nature be 1t
said, | think most grief displayed at
funerals is real"
why do most people attend funer-
ais 2"
"Ostensibly to show their respect for
the memory of the dead or regard for
the relatives; but l have often asked
myself what particular degree of re-
spect was shown to either by crowd
of people assembling at the house of
mourningS making this time of woe
the occasion for gossiping, talking
politics, etc.
Il we'll remember being called to
conduct the funeral of an old gentle
man who had been greatly respected
in the community and beloved by
large circle of relatives. The funeral
was held at the house, which was too
small to accommodate the large num-
Der gathered there. Only a part of
the crowd could get within hearing of
the minister's voice, and while the
heart-Droken wife and sorrowing chill
dren listened to the words of consola-
ton for the wido,- and fatherless, read
from the Book of books, the loud voices
and laughter of men could be heard
Just outside the windows in coarse Jest,
and ever and anon snatches of gossip
or discussion of farm matters or poll
tics were waited in. To be sure, these
same men filed past the coffin with
Duitu anu lOOho vi SOI1OM ~ iuo
still, white face of their old friend, but
they would have shown more
genuine respect for the living
by staying away. For the dead it
could not matter-he was deaf to all.
When the solemn procession wound
into the cemetery, marble dealers
wag IN stood not far from the new-made
grave, the driver being at work uron
a stone close by Did he pause in his
work Not he As the solemn words,
ashes to ashes, dust to dust" were
uttered, he kept on pounding, not even
looking mp, and the sounds of the
earth falling upon the coilin-the most
heart-rending of all sounds to those
who have just consigned a loved one
TO his last resting place-were mingled
with the clatter of his hammer and
trowel. Even the grave diggers-
poor, rough, ignorant fellows though
they were-displayed more delicary of
feeling, refraining from their task of
filling the grave till the mourners were
ont of hearing.
"In direct contrast to the above was
the conduct of young carpenter of
my acquaintance. He was at work,
with gang of men under him, upon
large building, which he was in great
haste TO finish. His haste was not so
great that he forgot common decency,
however. A funeral procession came
in sight around bend in the road.
Leaving his bench, he stepped to the
foot of the ladder and called in a sub
dued tone. Boys, come down. pleased
And, uncovering his head, he stood
reverently, his example followed by his
workmen, until the procession had
passed Not until the last carriage
was out of sight was work resumed.
And vet the deceased and his friends
were all strangers to him. The car
penter's jacket covered the heart of a
real gentleman.
mo. many months hid elapsed after
the burial of the old gentleman above
mentioned ere L was again called to
perform a like task in the same family
the mother this time. She was an
active church member, devoted Chris
tan, and good woman; but some of
her sisters in the church, and those,
too, whose silken raiment and lofty
airs proclaimed them ladies p. seated
themselves in the kitchen. all other
rooms being full, and devoted the time
to the most trivial gossip, senseless tit
tering, and rude comments on every
thing about them. They were no
thoughtless girls, either. mind you. but
grayhaired matrons, like their sister
lying so still and cold in the room be-
yond. surrounded by her sorrowing
children. Outside could be heard the
same talk and coarse laughter as on
the former occasion. Now, tell me, is
this respect for dead or living.
"Do j believe in opening the coffin to
the public gaze? Most certainly / do
not. To make public show of
corpse is an outrage to the finer sensi-
bilities, to say the least. Imagine the