The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-02-26


tomb was the means edopted By orr fore
fathers. who found solemn consolation
in obituary verse and stately epitaphs. The
modern trend has been in favor Of e-en,a-
ton and memorial urrs. which Is revival,
on an improved plan, of the old eastern
system CT burning the dead Still there
are many who find grim solsce in the cid
graveyard. and wish their bones 10 reposs
under the shade OF weeping willows and
dropping views, while the process OF EN-
balming has numerous sdherents among
the wealthy who want 10 insure their Inca
ments against decay.
The art Of preserving tire body after
death was brought to great perfection By
the ancient Egyptians. Their methods
varied according TO circumstances aud no
tions of the operators. Some of the ghost
ly relics OF the cataoombs give evidence Of
having been dried By vegetable and bal
samic substances, others have defied the
worm and natural corruption by the aid OF
salt or natron. Aromatic gums or asphalt
I'm were used for the first class o. mum
mics, which have been found in a good
state Of preservation Those prepared wth
salt and natrol have a hard, black and
smooth appearance; they attract moisture
on being exposed to the air and become
covered with q saline substance. 1'he
bodies were rolled up in bandages OF silk
and linen, which were sometimes loo
yards in length. The collins were usually
of sycamore. cedar or pasteboard; the case
was covered within and without by paint
ings of funeral scenes and other subjects;
the cover was ornamented in the same
manner, and bora also the painted and
often gilded face of the deceased in relief.
Not only were human corpses preserved in
this fashion but all animals held sacred by
the Egyptian religion were mummified.
But Egypt was not the only country N
which embalrning was prscticed success
fully. II appears to have been a dogma
among several other ancient nations, in-
culcated by their religion, that the soul
continued in the body after death. They
looked upon il as duty, therefore, 10 keep
the tabernacle OF the soul intact and hold
sacred the resting place of the dead. In
some countries corpses were exposed 70 the
air a certain period and became nummies
by the operation of natural causes. Pecul-
lar conditions OF the soil and atmosphere
rapidly dried the animal tissues and pre-
vented putrefaction- 4 large number OF
Durango. Mexico They were in a sitting
posture, but had the same Kind OF wrap
pings, bands and ornaments as tie Egyp-
tiau. The modern system OF embasming
fellows the same general plan of that OF
the ancients, consisting of filling the place
of the intestines with odoriferous and des-
iccative drugs and spices, but It Is not ex-
pected that bodies treated nowadays viii
defy the ravages of time as long "a the
mummies of Egypt. Thoroughness was
pronounced characteristic OF the Egyp-
tians- They embalmed as they bniit-for
all time The thousands OF small band
ages which inclosed the body formed
part Of their system, and the whole treat
ment must have taken great deal more
time than our undertakers are allowed TO
prepare n corpse for burial.
Always foremost in grim and fantastic
notions, the French are engaged In discuss
ing a new method Of preserving the dead
which has many marked advantages over
that Of the Egyptians. Our museums have
familiarized Us with mummies- They are
shriveled, uusightly czdayers, and emit a
sickly, nasty odor. The American climate
seems 10 have bad effect upon them, for
mummies that have brayed the WORMS Of
Egypt for thousands Of years have crum-
bled into dust upon the removal OF their
wraps in the United States. All the dis
agreeable features OF the old time mummy
are avoided by the French plan No wrsps
or desiccating drugs are needed; there -
10 danger of the preserved body dropping
10 pieces in any climate On the contrary,
the French mummy may be made orns-
mental. If not useful, and threatens ID
cause revolution In the art Of sculpture
1t viii be neither more nor Tess than an
eIectroplated corpse coatei with gold, sal
yer, nickel or brass, according % the taste
and fortune of the be-eavefi.
DR.. yariot, one Of the foremost practi
TONERS in the Paris hospitals, Is the author
OF the system. whose resals has been