The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-03-08
ROUND ABOUT GOTHAM.
A CHEERFUL SUBJECT DISCUSSED
BYoUR CORRESPONDENT.
All About Cofins and Funcrals-Latest Styles
and Cost-Gold and Silver Piates-Fashions
Fancies-For the Iadies-week's Metropoll-
tan Gossip.
NEw YORK BURrAU,
RICHMOND DAILY TIMFs.
Mnrrh Z 1901

l.OnU ago NlhflldhtlH liht' "a N+'N'-
collins. As a rule they were all practical caoi-
net makers. Now the collins are made IN
factory A few big concerns have pracuca
monopoly of the business. Undertakes buy
from them at wholesale rates, and the arrange
rnept is profitable one for both sides
The firms are represented by agents.
who carry with them book OF
DESIGNS This arrangement, though, does
NOT reduce the cost Of burial flhe
timber is becoming scarcer every year, ana rs
long as people insist on using WOODEN colins
funeral will increase instead OF decrease III
cost The earth TO earth casket docs hoI m
crease in popularity. This casket is made u
rouph rattan, through the open meshes OF
which the air has, free access 70 the remains
causinc speedy dissolution. This casket costs
from $50 up, according 10 the trimmings
1sed, and though II disappears quickly Whch
out under the ground, 1t Is strong ana
answers every practical purpose, twenty
i've years ago mahogany cothn cost only
ET2 now il is worth 500 The cheapest
funeral. that of an infant, costs -. but any
amount that Is wished can be expended,
General Grants funeral, for instance, cost
tl4,000.
One Of the most expensive features of fu-
neral is the music; even an ordinary quartette
costs 800. The Old-fashOned lce-box Is pc
inc rapidly displaced by embalming. ms
modern process is q great improvement over
the old-fashioned way Of preserving the BODY
and the expense Is very htte more.
ITndertakers often experience considerable
troublo in collecting their bills Some mem,
Der of the family engages an undertaKer ana
tells him to do everything III the best Slyie'
and when the undertaken presents his DlH ne
IS accused of swindlng, and payment Is re-
fused Sometimes the bill can he collected
from the estate. but often It is "a dead loss.
Ono WAY of making the money sure Is 70 re-
tain the burial permit until the blll is paid'
Asa class undcrtakers are very charitable,
and many a distressed family gets relief out OF
the undertaker's pocket.
The appearance OF CONN Is conslucIaDlY
affected hv the design OF the handle. There
are at least D. 900 different designs, some OF the
handles being covered with cloth or plush.
Caekcts covered with cloth or plush are more
generally used now than rosewood. The cas-
kets are make Of pine ana ebony, ana i"r
young people are covered with llght-colored
cloth or delicate shades of plush. Black is
used for elderly people, and the Inning is also
black, generally satin. Metallic collins are
yurelv used except when death has been
caused by "a contagious disease, or the demise
occurs III a warm climate
GOLD AND sILvE PLATE.
The most remarkable feature this season in
society dinners Is the display of old gold and
silver plate. Mrs. William Aston set tho fash
ion, and now every one that has an old-time
bowl or goblet, or any antique piece OF plate,
puts il on the tabletO hold flowers; or, If prac-
ticable. an entree. Some OF Mrs. AstOr's Old
plate are. of course, heirlooms, but she has
added many pieces TO her collection, which IS
now one of the finest in the city.
A PLETHORA or OFFICERS.
The great plenty Of officers left over after
the late 'onpleasantnessn IS wonder of the
metropolis. AprOpOs of this 1t is related that
member of the Produce Exchange paid a
visit some time ago TO the seaboard cities OF
the Southern Atlantic coast. lie Is broker
in turDentine and naval stores, and made the
trip partly for business, but chiefly for pleas
IRE He was everywhere warmly received by
his fellOw-craftsmen, and was entertained III
many places at the local club houses But he
was never known as Mr. from the time he
left Baltimore Wherever he was received,
introduced or entertained he was invariably
addressed rs Colonel -" Now. the title
was not conferred from any desire 10 regard
him as IA military man. II was substitute
for our Mr. =" and as such il has grown TO be
the conventional thing III the region he visit
ed The Joke of his experience Is that ever
since he came back to New York he has been
called Colonel by everybody who has heard OF
his promotion Yet he never heard a gun
fired III anger in all his busy life.
ADVERTISING AS AN ART.
Advertising has become a fine art Of late
years in more ways than one. Literature and
painting have been called IN to reinforce the
enterprise Of the advertiser. In this city alone
there are hundreds Of writers, some of whom
have won fame IN journalism and fiction, en-
plOvcd to supply advertisers with their
printed matter This kind Of advertising
came into vogue about ten years ago, and
since then has increased with wonderful
rapidity. II used TO be the custom with most
firms to trust the advertisements TO the junior
partner or to confidential clerk. Now tins
is all changed. The leading dry goods trms
have in their employ an advertising man. who
does no other work than that of seeing that
the goods of the firm are brought III the most
attractive form before the public.
The salaries paid for TINS work range from a
few hundred to thousands of dollars. The
man who attends TO this business for one large
firm receives 5000 a year. Some other firms
pay about the same. Originality and variety
of expression are the great things demanded
of TIE writer, together with the lnack of at
tracing the reader An original thought Ii
often the making of firm.
ONE OF The LATEST PADS.
The metropolis is essentially city Of fads
And foibles. and the newest of them all is for
young women to present their husbands and
sweethearts with plaster casts OF their hands
and arms. An Italian in Grand street neal
Broadway, Is doing a big business in taking
casts from fashionable women who have
adopted tins new form of gifts The great
secret of this new freak Is that the hand pre-
Sented Is not theirs. II Is IN reality the hand
of model a young woman VINO has had q
hard time to get along IN the art world and
who has herself q perfect hand She sat fol
some of the finest pictures painted IN this
city, and conceived tho idea herself of making
hand casts. The little Italian merchant and
herself have entered into business together
and, from all appearances, their profits arr
more than ordinary.
MODERN ANCIENT CLOCKS.
Old fashioned clocks are multiplying.
When you hear one OF these ancient-appear
ing time pieces slowly striking the hour. You
are apt 10 say. There's an heirloom" hut
ten 10 one YOU VIII be in error The funi'ui,
manufacturers are producing clocks night
along now which can be made TO appear an,
age desired. Some wears ago there We,
people who would have given their very eve
teeth for an Old-taShoncd clock. Now the,
can be accommodated OF course, IN,
ancient time-pieceS which are produced by III,
dealers are not really old. but they appear SO
and that satisfies some people.
Butter picks. chese-scOOps, asparagUs-fOrk
and tongS. fruit and cake sliceIs, hot milk
pots, sauce bottle stands crab and Lobster
picks, mineral bottle cases and condense,
mllk-lars, are some OF the novelties III silye
tableware.
ToR THE LADIES.
As a rule the spring round skirt has few
ornaments. and when made Of plain fabric,
none whatever are used. What variety i.