Capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1893-1895, 1894-10-05
STRANGE FUNERAL CUSTOMS.
Points ON the Manner In which vsrIOus
Countries Observe Them.

countries ODaerFe Ihem.
Some singular customs in relation TO
funerals not generally known among
English people prevail in other lands,
and many of those with which travellers
have made us familiar appear neverthe-
less somewhat strange to u.s.
A recent resident in Valparaiso states
that the Chileans make a funny side
even to funeral. The more degraded
class look upon the death Of a relative
as an excuse for wild orgies, and the
body, especially il it be that Of child,
is kept in 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 great va
riety in funeral ceremonies and observ.
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 cortege
has passed, women expressing their sor-
row by the conventional courtesy.
As a contrast to this funeral at st.
Petersburg is considered quite jolly
affair, outward expressions of sorrow,
ETC., being delegated to professional
moprners, who abound in the city. The
employment of these mpurners is gem
eral-the richer the deceased the bigger
the funeral-and many Of the inhabi.
tants gain a good living by simply
mourning for 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 mourncrs--in addition to their re-
| muneration, which varies from l to B
silver roubles are entertained ut 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, are extremely touching. Even
so far back as the days of tho Roman
republic the moprning and sacrifices
were continued for nine days, and, by
the women, mourning habiliments were
worn for year after the death OF A near
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
ferriage across the Styx, WAS carried on
a couch, generally by freedmen. The
family followed, the men with heads
uncovered, the women with disheveled
hair, beating their breasts and uttering
piercing cries, Finally the corpse was
placed ON a funeral pyre. which the
nearest relative kindled, and while II
was being consumed perfumes, oil, food
and clothing were thrown on the pyre,
Among many other old customs
which have survived TIL today j. the
Misericordia confraternity at Florence
for the care of people injured by acci-
dent and theiF burial in the case OF
death The members Of the society are
never seen in public without wearing q
masking hood and habit and while per-
forming their duties they defy indiyid.
ual Identification.
In Venice much pomp is displayed,
especially If the deceased was noble
or high dignitary Of state. The gondola,
highly decorated, becomes a perfect
blaze of lights and torches as it passes
through the city to the metropolis. In
the case of young woman the cere-
mony Of conveying the body to the
grave is full Of poetry and grace. Re-
clining on q raised couch, covered with
flowers. the dead girl, floating on her
funeral bier" like Elaine, the maid Of
Astolat, is conveyed to Rp island, and
after the preliminary service the re.
QUEEN begins, and loving hands place
the body in its last resting place. Cas-
sells Magazine.