Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1890-01-25
TOLD BY AN UNoERTAkER.
orosesque rneidents Of the Funeral Diree-
tors Grave Calling.

orosesque Incidents Of the Funeral Diree-
tors Grave Calling.
II have met with q thousand and
one odd fancies and curious notions
during my connection with the under
taking business" said a prominent
funeral director to a reporter the other
day. Indeed, think it is safe to say
that ninety mine out of every hundred
persons have and express preference
of some kind or another as to the dis
position of their bodies after death.
Sometimes their requests are complied
with, and sometimes they're not. Cen
orally the preference. relates only to
some minor detail, either of the coffin,
of the grave, or of the burial cere
mony. Some people want plain,
wooden coffin-mahogany, walnut, or
ebony. Some want a metal casket
Some want their caskets covered with
black cloth, some with white The
desire for certain style of handle is
often expressed, and women are fire.
quently concerned about the lining,
wanting it of color to suit their com
plexion. Some people, too, want their
collins large and roomy, others to fit
exactly.
very often people want to be bur
led in particular spot, and give ex-
press instructions as to the direction
in which the grave is to lie, and how
deep it must be. Then, too, some per
sons want a quiet, private funeral,
while others are uneasy until prom
ised that they will be given a grand
and costly burial.
"All these are matters that can be
easily attended to, and they generally
are. But there are requests made by
people in regard to their obsequies that
are extraordinary, and in some in
stances ridiculous I'll tell you about
a few cases that have come under my
own notice.
There was an old lady died few
years ago who had new and very
costly set of teeth made just before
her last illness. When she learned
that death was imminent, her greatest
lament seemed to be that she should
never have an opportunity to wear
those teeth. Finally bright thought
struck her, and calling her husband
to her bedside she begged him to have
her friends would be able to see and
admire her beautiful teeth. The old
man promised, and almost with her
dying breath she reminded him of it.
We were summoned to perform the
necessary duties after her death, and
the widower, having explained the
matter of the teeth, declared that his
wife's request must be carried out. He
had promised and could not think of
deceiying her. We did the best we
could. The result was rather start
ling, but the teeth showed, and the
old man was satisfied, so we didn't
have anything to say. of course.
II remember another case of mid
die aged single man who had been
great dresser-a regular dandy, in
fact. He left directions that he should
be buried in the last suit of clothes he
had bought. As he was man of con-
siderable wealth, and had left some
very generous requests to his friends,
they decided to comply with his re-
the suit. When he returned he car
ried the loudest suit of clothes ever
saw. It was of plaid two or three
inches broad, and green, blue and vel
low in color. With it came shirt
covered with pictures of ballet dancers
in every conceivable attitude, and
necktie to match. The appearance of
these unexpected articles caused some
CONSERVATION, but the dead mans
friends finally decided to let him have
his way and bury him as he had re-
quested. The body was accordingly
robed in the flashy shirt and suit, a
dog head pin stuck into the tie, single
eyegiass placed over the staring eye,
and the dandy was ready for his last
resting place.
Sometimes people want things
buried with them. A lady whose prin-
cipal fortune consisted of her many
costly jewels made great stir among
her friends and relatives by requesting
in her will that she should be orna-
mented with all of them when finally
prepared for the grave. She had pro
vided, too, that unless this was done
not one of her friends should receive
a penny from her estate. Here was
quandary, but the matter was finally
settled by placing the jewels upon the
corpse, and then, after it had remained
few days in the vault, removing
them.
II was once called upon TO bury
man who had at some previous period
chopped off one of his great toes. Just
as Twas about to screw down the cover
of the casket his weeping widow came
to me with small jar, and said that
her husband had expressly desired her
to bury this with him. l looked at it
and found that it was the missing toe,
neatly and carefully preserved in al
cohol
II never buried anyone who had
made his own coffin, but ] have heard OF
such cases. Several times, however, |
have sold people their own collins. and
in some instances two or three years or
longer before they died. Sometimes
| the boxes were left with me until
needed, and sometimes they were taken
home at once. The most peculiar case
| of this kind / ever had was that of an
artist who lived in couple of rooms
| by himself over in the western part OF
| the city. He had plenty of money, and
| his rooms were elegantly furnished.
| but all in the most somber colors. One
day he came to me and ordered collin
made. 1t was to be black inside and
out, and was to be large enough for
him, to lie in comfortably. Another
thing he was explicit about was that 1t
was to be lined throughout with spring
cushions. i made it and sent it to his
rooms as he directed. Four years later
Twas called to bury him. Then found
that during all that time he had used
his coffin for a bookkeeping in 1t
always-and he had left a request to
be buried in it. He said he had grown
used to it, and did not think he would
sleep well in any other. baltimore
Herald.