St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1890-02-02
Some Striking Peculiarities
About This Grave Bust
ness.
People Order Wooden Over
coats as They Buy
Clothes.
The Undertaken Who Is Gail
the Style" Is Very
Lucky.
The Difficulty Of Getting Es-
tabliShed in the Bust
ness,
ness


less age, one has scarce time to think
of death, and perhaps it is well that
such state of affairs exists. Death
does not only mean the loss of rela-
tive or friend, but oftimes the expenses
of the funeral necessitates the expendi-
ture of good-sIzed amount of money
that impoverishes the survivors of the
victim who departs for the undiscov-
cred country. While poverty is
not to be compared with loss of
life it is sad that both frequently are
in close proximity. One may ask bow
this is: but it is easy to answer. The
cost of funeral-that is. the purchase
of casket, lot at the cemetery and
the hire of the onveyances-amounts
to sum that the ordinary day-labOrer
cannot meet without great finesse. 1t
may seem strange to the person who
fortunately has eYaded the experiences
of such an event; but to the person who
has unfortunately buried one. two or
perhaps more, it is easily interpreted.
What does it cost? Well, this ques-
ton can be answered the same as
tailor answers his customers when
they ask what it will cost to make suit
of clothes. 1t depends all ON the pur-
chaser, or more properly, the person
that defrays the expenses. The under
taker is like the dressmaker, who can
make dress out OF calico for SIPS, or
out of silk for 5000. However, he has
no casketS for S1.25, but he has plenty
for $500, and one can even go as high as
$3.50 if his purse will allow and his cOn-
science so dictate.
The writer has had considerable ex-
perlence with these "graVeH men, and
is well satisfied that they can live on
fat of the land, so to speak, when the
death rate runs high. But unfortunate
ly for them, and fortunately for the
citizens the death-rate ran very low, in
fact it was nearly below zero during the
past year. Perhaps this very thing is
what now and then causes tilt between
siOner Kilvington, If the undertaken is
like the average business man, he re-
moves if possible all obstacles that in
t T ere in any way, shape or manner
with his enterprise.
But to return to the undertaking bust
ness. 1t does not seem that the bust
ness is Overworked, or that the under
takers have increased in number out of
keeping with the general increase of
population. No doubt, as they all say,
the undertaking business is difficult
one to establish.
A well-known undertaken said to the
reporter: patronage is strangely par
celled out. People are more conserva-
tive in such matters as we have to deal
with than of most others. 1t seems
to be taken for granted that
the man who has q good line
of trade is the man to patronize, and,
consequently, the newer or younger
men i'll the business have little more to
do than to look on. know of good,
competent undertaken in this city who
has been two and three months at a
time without even being called upon.
and | have known other men, who have
something of reputation, to have five
or six funerals in a day."
cit is fatal to start an undertaking
establishment near an old one. The
old invariably casts its shadow over the
new and kills the prospects.
GAS every one knows, reputation
does everything for the undertaken.
People will travel from one end of the
city to the other to get their favorite
undertaken, or one that was recon-
mended. Thus while some men in the
business are growing rich, some just as
competent are hustling for bread and
salt.
"The undertaken has to be careful.
ruin his business. When a person is in
grief it takes but little to affect his
mind, and the undertaken is always on
the lookout. A single blunder will
usually do more harm than fifty we'll
conducted funerals can correct.
The undertaken must use good iudg-
ment in securing his help. tits requiS-
lite that the employees shall be as COM
petent in most things pertaining to the
business as the undertaken himself.
They must be men who will not offend by
deed or word and, above all things, they
must be honest. This may seem trifie
singular, but the honesty of their help
is with most undertakerS a source of
anxiety. People in affiictiOn are not
wont to be careful. Things of value are
left exposed to view and an unscrupul-
GUS emplOye could thus cause irrepar-
able injury to his employer.
The undertaken, continuing, said:
"There is far less diversity in Minneap-
oils than one would think, and far less
lavish expenditure of money for funer-
ais. L know undertakers who have had
fair business here for years who have
never had funeral the gross expense
of which would exceed 500. | have
seen reports of eXtortionate charges and
impoSitionS on the part of the under
takers, but | think there is
fully as much imposition on the
other side. 1t is no uncommon
thing for people to come in and want
the best of everything in our line. An
undertaken of experience will usually
guage his credit by his judgment. The
family that means to pay promptly will,
as rule, exercise good judgment and
figure pretty closely, and the under
taker who gives credit under these cir
stances rarely loses by it,"