Los Angeles herald., 1891-12-16

The business of an undertaken is at
the best not cheerful one, but it does
not often happen that they experience
scenes such as are being frequently wit
messed in the parlors of the California
Undertaking company of tLis city, says
| the San Francisco Examiner of Monday.
1t is about four months ago that a
woman who gave the name of May
Glover first visited that establishment
and purchased the casket in which she
desires to be buried. Ever since that
time she has been regular visitor to
the parlors, where che spends many
hours.
She is an Englishwoman of evident
education and refinement, about 2S
years of age, dark and singularly hand
some. Her manner indicates the earn
estness with which she treats the bust
ness which draws her to the under
takers rooms, but she rarely lets fall q
word from which her history can be
traced.
She told Thomas McFarlane, the man
ager of the company, that her name was
May Glover, and that she resided at the
Baldwin hotel, but as it is known posi-
lively that she does not live at the Bald
win it is regarded as more than likely
that she is concealing her identity be-
hind an assumed name.
She speaks in the best OF English, is
always we'll dressed and wears many
valuable jewels. When she paid her
first visit she asked to be shown some
caskets OF the better class, and was con-
Quoted upstairs to room around whose
walls are standing on end many costly
coffins and caskets of various kinds.
At one side of the room there stood
an exQuisitely finished casket of pol
ished walnut. This seemed to please
her. She stood up with her back close
to it and asked the attendant if that
would be long enough for her.
The idea that the lady was seeking
coffin for her own body had not oc-
Cured to McFarlane. He told her in
half doubling way that he thought it
was large enough, but that if it was not
there were larger ones in stock.
"Whose remains were buried in the
last casket such as that?" she asked.
THAT is identical with the casket in
which reposes the body of the unfortun.
ate woman 'Mignon,' who was shot and
killed not long since by Major Barnett"
was the reply.
The woman stepped forward and
crossed her hands upon the top of the
coffin and burst into tears. She ap-
peared to be deeply affected by what che
had heard, but in reply to question as
to whether she knew the unfortunate
May Sidney, replied: "No, no; but she
was an Englishwoman too"
Then che selected for herself casket
of Spanish cedar, and ordered that the
outside should be covered with white
silk plush and single handles on each
side, running the full length.
The inside trimmings she ordered OF
the most elaborate white silk and satin,
and gave minute directions as to how i6
structions for her burial robe. This is
of white satin silk plush, trimmed with
Chinese figured gruze silk. Although
nothing but simple robe, it cost $3.50,
the casket costing $3.50.
Since this purchase was made the lady
has paid many visits to the undertaking
parlors. She always seems much de-
pressed in spirits when she arrives and
sits for hours beside her coffin, big tears
falling from her eyes. Then she will
walk slowly around the room and critic
ally inspect other coffins and their trim
mings, and when she speaks it is always
in the same sad way and of something
which has no meaning to any one but
herself.
She never visits the parlors but she
asks to be allowed to see any corpse
that may be there awaiting burial Ii
this favor is granted she will stand be-
side the body for an hour. necessarily
etroking the lifeless hand or carefully
laying aside the hair from the brow that
she may lay the pain of her ungloved
hand upon the cold forehead.
1t is always in the evening when she
calls. She comes on foot down Geary
street, and when she leaves returns by
the same way. She does not say that
she expects to die soon, nor does she in
dicate that she intends to destroy her.
SELF But she says that when she dies
letter will be found among her papers
telling those who will attend to her
burial where the robe and casket may
be found.