The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-09-10
NO LITTLE UNDERTAKING
Is Implied In Mrs. Heatou Darts Strange
Choice OF Occupation.

Il Implied In Mrs. Heaton Darts Strange
Choice OF Occupation.
Mrs. Heaton Dart enjoys the distinction
and rare one it is nowadays-of being almost
the only woman in her particular field OF
labor. And yet, withal. Mrs. Dart is an unas-
Stunning person. She gives herself no airs. She
does not act the Pharisee toward the women
who do not possess her knowledge. No. she
doesn't look down on them at all.
1t may be- that one reason for this modest at
ttude is that not one of the millions Of women
who don't know how to do what Mrs. Heaton
Dart does envies her her knowledge. For the
fact is Mrs. Dart is an embamer She and
her niece are the only women in New York
State who are professional embalmers. and
there seems to be no disposition to rob them
Of their laurels.
SIrs. Dart lives in a pretty fiat near Central
Park. She has an attractive face distinguished
by a peculiarly strong mouth. An observer
would at once put her down as woman OF in
telligence and REIN ement. n womanly woman
and a plucky woman. but without tho almost
brutal Indifference which often asserts itself
in men who become familiar with trying ex-
periences Mrs. Dart looks as II she could
make success Of almost anything. That does
not lessen ones curiosity as to why she chose
to make success OF embalming. But she 10
quite ready to give tho reason.
Seven years ago" says this woman OF the
ton. Pa. when sister-in-law Of mine died. 1
needn't tell you the whole story. but will say
that the experience We then had with an en-
balmer. SO called. was 10 terrible that my
brother asked me to learn the business my
family. l was a widow and needed some oc-
cupation. 80 took n course at the College OF
Embalming. and became so enthusiastic over
practised the profession for five years.
Il met with the most violent opposition
sand Of them in their association. and they put
every possible obstruction in my way. Why2
oh. they said that they had men wnom they
paid regularly. and that if l came in to attend
to special cases these men had to sit around
idle. You see. any one would rather have
woman or child embalmed by woman than
by q man. l have often been asked by families
for whom have worked to embalm the body
of man. l always refus because IL say
that only women embalmers should care for
the bodies of women | must be consistent. and
see that the rule works both ways.
THE undertakers NAL he 1t hard for M in an
other way: too They give me the very worst
cases: suicides and people who have been
ence but. for all that love my work."
Mrs. Dart got out her instruments. which
she carries in a Notwithstanding music
s sion work: She talks OF the forty funer-
ais u month. following the forty embalm-
ings. of.which she has charge. There. again.
her femin inc tact and taste are highly
appreciated. There are fashions even IN fu-
neral robes. and it takes a woman properly to
adjust a big sleeve or to loop tho rareries
with yioets. this latter being quite a fashion
able funeral fad. The demands for Mrs. Darts
services have become so numerous that she
has trained her niece to be her assistant, and
the two women are very proud OF the profess
sion they have SO strangely chosen.