Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-12-05

/ person of the ''pairdner," who as cautiously
! admits certain comparisons regarding his
! own stuture and that of "un" who was
smashed all to seats.
Then the sleepy ''prentice" is bundled out
Of bed and hurried off to Praze, Helston or
| Penzance for the coffin-handles and plate,
! the latter always being a huge enameled at
fair more than foot square. The Lad, shiv-
ering with fright first proceeds to the house
J for the requisite lettering. Then the
dreariest trip on earth is taken by this Cor
nish boy. 1t is often from 10 to 20 miles
! and return. Nine times out of 10,
| his route is across bowling moors,
! over dangerous paths that literally
wind about pitfalls. or through six
foot lanes where the thorn trees prod
and lance him savagely. Dark and drear is
this trip for any human. Grewsomely dark
and drear it always is for this Cornish
prentice, for it always rains in Cornwall,
and the wind forever RACES over the rock
strewn peninsula so iercely that even the
gravestones are anchored and propped that
the sign-posts of the dead may not be blown
away. Inexpressibly dark and drear is it
to this Cornish lad with the wrath of the
smashed un'' for his only company.
The country undertaken will complete his
''box" by the next evening. 1t is always
the same in Cornwall-of pine, stained
rich, dark cherry, with two heavy handles
on each side, the huge enameled plate on
top, upholstered with carpenters shavings
and cheap white muslin, and provided with
a stout rope handle, like that on an emi-
grant chest, at the head and foot. There
are no hearses in this land. No carts,
wagons or carriages are ever seen here at
funeral, unless it be at one Of some member
of noble family.
Much Mystery and Difficulty.
The delivery of the coffin for 'layin' out"
has therefore been for generations q matter
of importance and rude ceremony, and al
ways by hand. From the universal dread
of these people to come in any manner of
contact with anything pertaining to the
dead, ''carryin' the box" is attended with
some mystery and more difficulty. Usual
ly the undertaker's old cronies, who know
that liquor and perhaps shilling besides,
is at the end Of the journey, are engaged.
These, four in number, with the ''box" on
timbers between, and with the joiner at
their head, set out on their lugubrious jour
new, which is often one of many miles.
On arrival at the place of destination the
''box" is set down some distance from the
house. In accordance with long custom he
enters alone and announces his mission.
Through Just as old a custom short period
of wailing is then the rule. This ceases as
abruptly as it began; when the undertaken
always asks of the widow, We'll, jimmy,
hast ee got anv Ticker? The chaps out theirs
little 'fraid.' She will invariably reply,
'sYes, my son, plenty, plenty" He then
repairs to the thirsty helpers, with the re-
mark, ''No fear boys, long O. Jack. Jinny's
got plenty licker;" and they will as cheerily
reply: "All roight, Tommy, we can stand
un now!''
Lots of Oficious Measurement
These matters, essential from time i'm
memorial, being once adjusted, they are
followed by great amount of officious
measurement; for from first to last every
possible opportunity for simple impressive
ness and effect is made most OF. Some
times the heading of the little stairway
is removed Perhaps the ''boI" must go in
through the second story window. But
nothing more terrible could happen than to
have the "bo1" come into the house in any
other way that 'feet first. - That would be |
an unqualified and absolute presage of |
further death in the same family, or to |
neighbors who were watching" with the |
family
In Cornwall, watching" with the dead |
is universally called "settin' oop with Co. |
den Jack. =" Friends and relatives always |
go to the house of mourning and enliven |
the family with memories of other similar
occasions; of the most marked character
istics of the deceased; and, all else failing, |
revive the countless uncanny death legends
and superstitions of Cornwall These gath
erings, however, are never held in the room
with the dead. The single living room of |
the Cornish household is utilized, and it |
would not be Cornish home if the funeral
f'saffron cake" and an abundance of liquor
were not provided.
EDGAR L. WAKEMAN.