St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1894-08-26
provided for the discharge of the last

III was estimated tnat the cost or single
sepucherS would probably range from
$40 to 500, with family compartments
from 5000 to $4,000. Burial plots in
cliss range from s4O0 to $1,000 for space
to alley six grayes, to which must be
added the cost OF haads,Qne, MONUMENT,
statuary, Enclosure and caft. 1t Was
proposed to build the mapsoleum Of
concrete. Research, ancient aud modern,
establishes the quality of the material
for impenetra3ility, insolubility and
consequent permalience. even an earth
quake being poweress to destroy build
iugs made of it. For some reason or
other this plan was never carried out.
1t is still among the possibilities, how
ever, for those who initiated 1t are still
full of enthusiasm over ii, and believe
that in very short time they will see
their way clear to practical demon
stration of the value of this method OF
dlspoSing of the dead.
A Western man has come forward
with novel proposition. lie is silver
platter, aud several years ago he began
series OF experiments in the line OF
his trade which were highly successful,
and have opened UP a most astonishing
possibility-the embalming of the de al
III casts Of nickel, silver or gold, accord
ing to the purse and artistic desires of
Tic Survivors OF the deceased.
The inventor may have heard Of the
Madagascar monarch who, DESTROYS of
making an impression upon a British
ambassador, appeared Oh the day of the
royal audience reSplendent in a close
lifting suit of gold dust Oh foundation
OF palm oil. The magniticence of the
monarch was, however, fatal, and he
fell victim to his ambition 10 appear
before the representative of her
majesty in state OF unparalleled splen-
dor. The coating of gold dust
closed the royal pores. and the
epldermiS, deprived of the air which it
takes through its many million mouths,
brought about the disorder which speed
ny ended the unfortunate rulers life.
lie was buried in this. his best suit of
clothes. len years later his body was
taken from lis tomb to be placed in
more imposing quarters. when, to the
surprise of the train which had come to
remove the royal lemainS, the body was
found to be intact-a golden statue.
This incident may have suggested the
experiments which the silver platter un-
dertook. For many years silver could
only be electro plated on a copper sur
face. Then some one discovered that
surface of plumbagO, which is readily
applied to anything, would take on the
electroplate. his Investigator, with
this suggestion in mind, has discovered
way of Silver-plating the head of
cane direct OIL the wood.
One day he took a fresh egg, and.
after proper preparation, threw it into
the silver bath and turned on the bat
Terry. he result was what appeared to
be delicate work of aria silver egg,
Whlch, under strong glass, showed all
the minute pores of the shell. The egg
was exhibited for over year, and not
one person in hundred would believe
that 1t was anything but cunning
specimen Of the silversmith's art.
10 settle discussion which ran
high one day the man seized
sharp, heavy knife, cut the silver
egg IN twain, and it was found to be as
fresh and sweet as the day it was electro
plated. The egg had been Theoretically
sealed. The next experiment of note
was the plating of piece of cheese.
he dlfhcutles of the oily surface yield
Ell readily 10 the process, and the piece
OF cheese was kept sound and whole.
some for year, when 1t was cut to
satisfy doubter Of the hermetical ma
ture OF the process. A roast of beef.
from which the blood had been allowed
10 drain; peaches, bananas, bunch of
grapes and other perishable articles
were also successfully experimental on.
Discussion regarding the possibility
OF introducing the process in the en-
Oalming of the dead has already arisen.
On this point the silver platter says:
such method of emDalming would
never become popular, Oh the score of
expense alone, although it is perfectly
t6dSlhlp hQ
provement upon any modern plan
of embalming. The body would
have to be prepared in the usual
manner by the removal of the viscera,
and the substitution for the blood in
the veins of some preventative liz uid
such as is used now. Thus prepared.
the body could be placed in the nickel,
silver or gold bath, and treated as any
other article that is to be electrO-plated.
The result would be coating of nickel,
slIyer or gold that would Theoretically
seal the pores OF the body, and it would
keep for ages.
My friends often twit me about this
matter, and get off little jokes about the
grief of the relatives or survivors being
measured by the thickness and grade of
the metal employed. An ancestor who
died. leaving one snug fortune, would
be entitled 10 quadruple gold plate,
or at least triple silver plate. Men
of means would provide In their wills
for the style OF plating. They also IN
dulge III little pleasantries about setting
up the siiver-plated ancestors on
pedestals in sort of family gallery of
statuary. But do not suppose that
any one will ever try this plan of en-
banning, unless it be some crank who
leaves directions for such treatment Of
his body III his will. 1t could be done,
however, but L would have nothing to
do with such job
Cremation seems to have passed be-
You'd the stage of experiment and doubt
although its growth i'll popularity has
been and is even now very slow. and the
pruportion!of incineratlons to interments
is almost indnitesimal. Still this method
of disp0Sing Of the dead can count many
strong adherents. and the recent con-
domination of it by the pope shows that
it has at least attained to the dignity
OF being considered a dangerous
innovation. The papal decision
was in an official communica-
ton to the chief pastor of the Catholic
community in Freiburg, Germany, in
answer to questions concerning the atti-