The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-12-06

every Cornishman is finally buried with the
Church OF England servce-has been made
known far and near. Thousands of folk.
all in black, gather to escort the dead and
mourners. Here again the importance of
the undertakeris observed. He has selected
voluntary choir from the crowd He ap-
points
THE EIGHT 'BIERERs" OR BEARERS
He brings two chairs from the house and
sets them in the highway. The coffin is de-
"berers" and the curious 'coffin- tackle"
This consists of two polished hectagon
sticks, four feet long, and round at the
ends; and four stout linen ma pkins," two
these are passed through the rope handles,
one at each cOffin-end, knotted. and the
sticks arc passed through these knots, pro-
viding supporting handles for "bierers''-
two at the head ard two at the foot. Four
other 'biercrs"-two on each side-assist
in carrying the coffin, by passing two nap
kins under the coffin, and the ends up
through the side handles; for it should be
remembered that the burden must literally
be carried often for many miles, and never
once set upon the ground, although, from
another ancient custom. chairs will be seen
set outside every house along the funeral
way.
dirge is sung while the mourners are be-
ing disposed in due order. Then the under
taker reads the first two lines of that most
hymns
whcre'er we go, where'er be,
We're marching TO the gravel
Which is the signal for wailing on the part
OF the mourners, weird and plaintive chant
ing by the choir. though no others are
allowed to lift their voices, and for the
slow and measured departure Of the doleful
cortege.
All along the way the undertaken is
proudly conducting his functions. He Sc
1act whn rpliaya rHGular
"biereIs," though the latter must always
bs in their places when passing village.
And it would not be a Cornish funeral If
he did not command the choir to sing
"Where'er We Go, as every hamlet or
little collection of houses was approached;
if every person overtsken upon the way
did not Join the cortege and accompany
it for some distance; If any one coming
toward the procession did not instantly
turn backward on its discovery; If the
choir did not use its utmost powers as the
parish church was finally reached; If the
cortege failed to halt a respectful distance
from the church door until the "passon'
and sexton had made their appearance,
wholly outside the entrance, to receive 1t;
if all the women did not wall and weep
during the entire service; if the ''passon,"
sexton and undertaken were not paid for
their services at the grave in coin In the
presence of the entire multitude; II hun
dreds of cousin Jacks" and Cousin
JlnnleS ola not return 10 inc DefeaVeu
home to participate in sympathetic remi-
niscence, saffron-cake, beer and liquor; aud
IL the departed's 'pairdners" and cronies.
including the undertaken with his "hepers"
and "berers," did not repair to the public
house to indulge in toddy, boiled beer. or
"shneagrum"-a Cornish drink of beer.
brandy. sugar and lemon-and dur
ing the eventful night ten thou
sand times praise their late comrade with
the highest eulogy one Cornish man can
bestOw upon another:
"Ah, Coden Jacks gone. you. All, ee
knowed tin, did Coden Jackr'
'copyrioht 1891 EDGAR L. wAKENAN.