Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1894-12-01
j. II. MILLER & SONS.
STRANGE FUNERAL CUSTOMS.
Points On tho Manner In Which Various
Countries observe Them.


Points on tho Manner In Which Various
Countries Observe Them.
Some singular customs in relation to
funerals not generally known among
English people prevail i'll other lands,
and many Of those with which travellers
have made Us familiar appear noycrthe-
less somewhat strange to US.
A recent resident in Valparaiso states
that tho ChiIeans make funny side
even to a funeral. The mere degraded
class look upon the death of q relative
as an excuse for wild orgies, and the
body, especially if it be that of Il child,
is kept i'll the house for festive purposes
for many days after death and some
times even lent to friends who are not
SO fortunate to possess q corpse of one
OF their own relatives.
On the continent we had q great va
ances. In Paris more outward manifes-
tations of respect are paid to the dead
than in any other CITY. When funeral
passes through the street, it is the GUS
tom for all men to take off their hats
and bow their heads until the cartege
has passed, women expressing their sor
rev by the conventional courtesy.
As q contrast to this funeral at st.
Petersburg is considered quite jolly
affair, outward expressions of sorrow,
erc., being delegated to professional
monrners, who abound in the city. The
employment of these pourners is gem
eral-tEe richer tie deceased the bigger
the funeral-and many of the inhabi-
tants gain a good living by simply
mourning fer other people. They are
expected to fill the church with hideous
means and yells, and at the grave they
must - and do scream and yell as
though suffering the widest paroxysm
of grief If their employer is satisfied
that these duties have been carried out
in an efficient and satisfactory manner,
the mourners-in addition to their re-
enumeration, which varies from | to S
silver roubles are entertained at a
banquet after the funeral is over
1t is in Italy, however, where many
Of the funeral customs have remained
unchanged from the middle ages to the
present time, that the poetry of burial
is brought out more fully than in any
part of the world Many of the Gus
toms, besides being picturesque and
beautiful, arc extremely touching. Even
so far back as the days Of the Roman
republic the mourning and sacrifcea
were continued for nine days, and, by
the women, mourning habiliinents were
worn for a year after the death of aEear
relative. The funeral procession was an
observance in which all connected with
the deceased took part. This procession
always took place at night and was
headed by men, who sang the funeral
song. Then the corpse, in the mouth
Of which coin was placed to pay his
ferriago ccross the Styx, was carried en-
a couch, generally by freedmen. The
family followed, the men with heads
uncovered, the women with hsheveled
hair, beating their breasts and tutoring
piercing cries. Finally the corpse was
placed on a funeral pyre, which the
nearest relative kihdled, and while it
was being consumed perfumes, Gil, food
and clothing Were thrown on the pyre.
Among many other old customs
which have survived till today is the
Misericordia confrateGlity at Florence
fer tho care Of people injured by acct
dent and their burial III the case of
death. The members Of the society are
never seen in public without wearing a
masking hood and habit, and while per-
forming their duties they defy individ-
ual Identification.
In Venice much ponp is displayed,
especially if the deceased was a noble
or high dignitary of state The gondola,
highly decorated, becomes perfect
blaze of lights and torches as it passes
through tho city to the metropolis. In
the case Of a young woman the eero-
mony of conveying the body to tie
grave is full Of poetry and grace. Re
clining on raised couch, covered with
flowers, the dead girl, floating on her
funeral bier" like Elaine, the maid Of
Astolat, is conveyed to an island, and
after the preliminary service the re-
quiem begins, and loving hands place
the body in its last resting place. Gas
sells Magazine.