The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1894-06-26
FUNERAL EXPENSES.
Undertakers Recommend Economy When
ever They Are Consulted.


ever They Are Consulted.
Especial Correspondence.l
Boston, June 21.-''It is a fact -
said an undertaken of this city to me
today, ''that the desire for costly funer-
ais is somewhat on the increase here,
Notwithstanding the hard times, and
suppose in every city in the country.
There are plenty of men who save and
skimp, both with regard to themselves
and the members of their families all
their lives, who are not at all econom-
ical when there is funeral in the fam
lily. This tendency is one which must
confess / do not understand, but at the
same time it is one which funeral direct
ors do not seek to discourage very
vehemently. On the other hand, we do
not urge excessive expenditure Of money
at funerals. 1t would be in the very
worst taste, and in the long run such
urging would undoubtedly damage the
business of any undertaken. A great
deal is left to our own discretion, of
course. The member of the family or
the friend to whom the duty of order
ing the casket and making mortuary ar
engagements generally is left is not apt
to try to bargain over the matter. More
often than otherwise our instructions
are simply to provide fttingly, accord
ing to the means of the family 1t is
very rare indeed that we get more def
mite instructions than not to go beyond
a certain figure, and the experienced
undertaken can generally gauge pretty
accurately the amount he should ex-
pend, even if a sum is not named, after
he has visited the house
''It is not at all unusual for the very
poor to go to an expense far beyond
their means in burying relations, to run
into debt which it will take years to
GQuidate in order to do the last thing
that can be done for the departed we'll,
and in more than one instance of this
sort which 1 remember in my own bust
ness have had to counsel greater econ
ony than was proposed. It does not
always do to counsel restriction of ex-
penses in such cases. for the people are
often very sensitive at such times. OF
late years some insurance companies
have introduced what may be called
funeral branch into their business-that
is, agreeing to furnish funeral that
shall cost a given sum for the payment
of a small weekly premium
1.-THE average cost of a funeral here
these days? 1 could not give an esti-
mate. I can get up a very respectable
funeral for $40 or $50. The casket
would be imitation rosewood, oak or
walnut; the body would be iced, some
thing of floral display could be made,
the burial lot bought, the grave dug
and one carriage furnished. Some un-
dertakers would charge more for the
same funeral Yes, there is some compe-
tition among undertakers, but of course
it must be decorous sort. There are
undertakers who pay doctors commits
sions for notifying them of approaching
deaths. and in many smaller cities I'M
dertakers and coroners make combina-
tons
There is tendency on the part of a
few of the more sensible persons to re-
duce some of the extravagances Of funer-
ais, and the evening funeral is much
more common than it was a few years
ago. 1t is for the sake of economy Of
time that this custom has been intro
duced, however, for it is much easier
for busy men to attend funeral in the
evening than in the daytime. -
s. L JOHNSON.