Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1892-06-10
DANGEROUS ETlQUET TIE.
A Custom That Is Fraught With Great
Danger.

1t is not unusual, in speaking Of the
death of some man prominent in his
community, to hear the remark made
that he took heavy cold at the funeral
of his friend, where he stood for some
time with tare head ut the open grave.
1t seems almost uncharitable and un.
kind to criticise a custom which shows
respect to the dead, but it is ncvcrthe-
less true that many man has returned
from the burial of friend or associate
with the seeds of death in his system.
1t is certainly most remarkable
usage which forces men to risk their
lives to show customary respect for the
departed but there are in funeral ar
engagements many things which amount
exactly to this.
Not long since, the death of man of
eminence in his profession, and one
greatly respected in the community in
which he lived, furnished a most apt
and melancholy illustration of the lack
of wisdom which ordinarily character
ICES the management of such matters.
A lifelong friend of the deceased, a
man who had been his intimate friend
and associate for more than half a CEN
tury was invited to act as one of the
bearers. In spite of the fact that he
had but just recovered from a severe
illness, he went to the house, and re-
NAMED at the service of the family I'M
til the last tokens of respect were
shown and all arrangements were COM
pleted.
The deceased was somewhat- stout,
and it SO happened that number of the
bearers were rather slight of figure.
Each man felt his strength taxed to its
utmost, and while carrying the casliet
into the church, they were compelled to
| ask assistance from the bystanders.
Arrived at the grave, they found it
necessary to walk several rods, and
were, of course, very warm and tired,
and several were almost exhausted.
Then, standing with uncovered heads,
| they waited until the services were fin
| ishcd. Two of the men were kept in
| doors for weeks with very severe colds.
| the third died two weeks after the, to
him, sad and unfortunate day. There
should be certain rules of common
sense governing all of the affairs of life,
and in nothing is it more needed than
in regulating the customs which at
tend the burial of the dead. No man
should be required to do for politeness
or courtesy's sake anything which puts
his health or life in peril. TO remove
the hat while heated from exercise is
very injurious, OftcntmeS almost dead
| ly, and should never be expected. 1t
never will be by people of common
sense, and for others ono need not care.
There is another practice which is
open to criticism, and that is the habit
many gentlemen indulge in of remov-
| ing the hat in an elevator when ladies
are present. An ordinary passenger
elevator in a public building is a public
remove his hat any more than he would
in a strcct-car or stage. The air fire.
quently rushes through the shaft with
such force that ladies are often glad to
draw their wraps closer around them;
how unnecessary and foolish, then, to
require on permit man to uncover his
head when he can scarcely avoid taking
cold by so doing.
In the elevators of hotels, where Ia.
dies are in drcsSy costumes and without
hats, the case is different. Here the
laws of common-sCnsc and good breed
ing alike require that this courtesy be
shown.
A consideratc woman will protest
against acts of politencss which would
result disastrousIy to any individual; and
if well-bred men, who are willing to oh
serve every requirement, could under
stand that they are not expected tc
ieopardizc their health for politcncsS
sake, and that sensible women do not
expect it, some uncasinCss might bt
avoided on both sides. A lady does mo-
like to request a strange gentleman tC
replace his hat upon his head as she
fears he may take cold. although, nj
doubt, she would often like to do so
rather than feel that to his desire Il
show his respect for her he may possibly
owe severe cold or dangerous illness
There is little enough of politcucss il
the ordinary ranks of life, and it is no
well to discourage or frown upon any
demonstration of it; but there are occa
sions when persons of considcratc dis
position and genuine dclicacy and re
tnement may feel uncomfortable, anC
even distressed, when it is evident tina
courtesy shown by one stranger to an
other results in injury to the consider
ate party. Education and custom maxi
it almost out of the question for a lad,
to express her sentiments at the tim
and in the place where their utteranc
would avail anything, If she be o
mature years, she may, and posSbl,
will, do so; but the younger ones keeI
silent, even while they are sensible o
the discomforts and risks which this ac
~ ,No1ttopnSc nDtoiIc N V oIrar