The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1894-07-12
Experiences OF unDeRrAkERs.
While Preparing People For tho Grave
They Sec Amusing Incidents.

While Preparing People For tho Grave
They Sec Amusing Incidents
A young man who sat down to ban
ouct that was spread ON tho tops of several
coffins tells a Chicago Herald reporter
how he passed the time:
''This banquet was given by undertak-
ers of the upper crust. There was nothing
gYewsome in the surroundings, save that
the viands were eaten from dainty ware
on snowy linen which was spread over q
number of collins. As these cofiins had
never been used, and never would be, for
they were sample cofins, there was moth
ing Objectionable In the idea. And it was
that which brought out fact that was
interesting to me and Is not at oil harrow
ing. I asked the man who was at the
helm what he meant by sample cofjins.
"He said that in nrst class establish
ments, such as his, 10 was always custom
airy to keep number Of ready made cas-
kets, differently trimmed and mounted, to
show to patrons. The prices of such coffins
range from $3.50 to 81, 900. 1t seems from
what he said that . man never orders q
coffin until no has felt Of tho sample.
Now, I'm the course Of a few months in .
big establishment like tho one In mind
hundreds of people call to select, and as
each one rubs his hand over the cover OF
the caslet you can readily eco that such
repeated handling would make the coffin
shop worn. So in time the casket Is taken
to the factory and destroyed. A sample
coffin is never sold or used by q first class
undertaken. It's time Is from to II
months in the shop. Ny friend would not
admit that he did not sell or uso samples
coffins from any idea of superstition, but
rather suspect there Is something OF the
sort governing him.
Later in the evening the assembled
undertakers and their friends began to
throw of some Of tho conventioDalities
that had been noticeable when they first
sat down. One man was called up by the
tonstmastcr, who had the appearance Of a
pallbcarer I lave forgotten what they
called him, but IL was his business to dress
the corpses that were brought to bis estab-
lishment. He was a funny looking duck,
and sat where / could take notes OF his
speech without violating any OF the pro
prieties. He said he had funny expert
ence once. Hc explained that In putting {
coat on q corpse the coat was always slit II
the back That obviated turning tho body
On the night Of which be spoke he said HI
saw the clothing on a chair. The evening
was warm, and tho dresser threw of hi
own coat, and while making garrangement
TO dress the corpse he began to talk to th'
| man in the casket, as he said he alway'
did while ne worked, ~ 1t kept him from
thinking. W
"Tho speaker told all this In tho mos
solemn manner. He proceeded to say tina
no dressed the corpse in approved manne
and went away. When no got home, h
discovered he had ripped up his own Goa
and put IL on the corpse and had put ol
that which had been placed on tho chair
But he said the mistake could not be rectI
fed Ever thereafter in attending to hi
business no said no always hung his Goa
ON peg by itself, saying to the dead man
You can't have this coat. One Of you fcl
lows wore ono Of mino away once, an
you can't do 1t again.
"Thc guests around the table seemed Z
think 1t was one of the best stories of tn
| night"