The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1894-10-17
4 COUNTRY FUNERAL.
From the Pittsbuys Dispatch.

would shock the community. Little
lads have been handed down from one
| generation to another, and rarely IS
the person found who is courageous
| enough to break over the prescribed
rules Folks might talk" is the ex-
cuse invariably given if any objections
are made to following out the immemo-
| rial laws. While often it seems almost
heartless to infict the grief-stricken
| family with all the little unnecessary
customs, still an almost forlorn pleasure
seems to possess the afflicted ones, and
/ the long-estab iished practices must be
carried out to the last letter Not but
what the sorrow is as sincere, but
| country community is apt to be more
! critical than elsewhere to any who de-
| vlate from the accustomed rule.
| Nothing brings out the kindly per-
| sonal traits like funeral in the coun-
| try. People flock to the house of
| mourning. not from any curiosity, as
some think. but TO express their sym
/ pathy and good viii TO their friends.
| All sorts of generous acts are done
| which would otherwise not be con-
| sidered. A numbe of women will be
! In one room making a shroud. Others
Will be constructing mourning gar
ments for the family. Still others will
be cooking and doing all the house
work TO spare the bereaved ones the
trial Of the everyday tasks. There are
always many volunteers to sit up"
with the corpse. One would imagine il
was high privilege instead of sort
of heroism to pass the uncanny hours
of night in room probably next to
where the dead body is placed, fight
ing sleep, talking in su bdued tone on
solemn subjects and dampening the
cloths which cover the face of the
corpse when occasion demands.
Another noticea bic feature of neigh
borly kindness is the willingness to
loan wearing apparel. If death enters
household suddenly the inmates are
often found unprepared with the nee
essary garb of woe. Or, as is often the
case, the family can not afford extern
sive mourning. So the community is
ransaclled for black dresses, bonnets
and wells, which are loaned with a
readiness which displays the perfect
fellow-feeling with one another. Ere
quently bonnet or Grape veil goes the
entire round of the neighborhood, and
answers the purpose of mourning garb
for several years. Nothing is too good
to loan or give. The few choice BIOS
SONS which are the housewives pride
are cheerfully picked and woven into
wreaths and knots to adorn the coffin
of the departed friend. The men offer
their teams and carriages to convey the
funeral party to the cemetery free of
charge. The idea of hiring convey
ances is unheard of in the country.
Grief is apt to strike any household,
and no one knows how soon these
services may be required of others.
As general thing the inhabitants OF
a little country village like to have
funeral held on Sunday. Why in par
ticular is not known, or at least is not
expressed in words But Sunday is
day when all the public in general can
attend, and everyone likes a large fu-
neral. 1t shows how thoroughly the
departed one was appreciated. n fu-
neral held in a church is also regarded
favorably in the country. 1t adds so
see the solemn pageant slowly vending
its way to the little village church: to
hear the sad tolling of the familiar
bell; to witness the sober care of the
pall-bearers as they bring their pre-
cious burden of lifeless clay up the
aisle and rest it on the little stands in
front; to feel the heart throb with
painful sympathy as the blackrobed
mournerS file in after the coffin and
take the places reserved for them in
the front row of seats: and to listen to
the village choir singing with little
culver in their subdued voices. Near
er, My God. TO Thee" asleep in Je-
sus, Rest for the Weary" and other
old hymns, which have grown trite
with common usage as funeral hymns. /
The sermon which the minister
preachss is very impressive as he de- !
scribes the virtues of the deceased and !
the touching death-bed scenes, to- |
gether with the bright hopes of i'm |
mortality in the world beyond. The |
services ended. the congregation wish |
ing to view the remains pass, at the |
request of the undertaken, up one /
aisle and down the other" and out the !
door where the procession is again 4
formed to proceed TO the cemetery. 1t |
is soon all over there. After a prayer !
by the minister the final earth TO |
earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust" has |
been said, and with the sound Of the /
heavy clOds falling on the coffin OF the /
beloved dead, the friends return TO the I
home where kindly hands have been 4
endeavoring to regain the former home /
like look to the house. and prepare a 1
ctp of cheer for those whose hearts /
have been wrung TO the utmost with I
sorrow and affection.
Death strikes terror and sadness I
wherever it goes: but only IN the coun- /
try IS TO be found the keen compassion /
of the whole community. No matter 1
how humble in station person may be /
he is sublimated To sort of heroism 4
when he Is dead. Only the good traits I
are remembered, while the imperfec- /
tons are ALWAYS inferred with the I
bones" And the tie which binds the 4
neighbors together in one common fel-
lowship OF devotion 10 one another .
when life goes out from their midst .
is so sincere and heartfelt that death .
can scarcely be looked upon a. a
calamity. but instead as II 1t were the .
Divine finger pointing out the way .
which unites the inha bitants Of the .
rural districts in : close bond Of loving
humanity