The Washington times., 1895-05-26

I To cremate corpse, the furnace is put at
white heat and Uie body, which has been
covered with sheet wet with alum, is
thrust into the oven. In half an hour it
is incinerated but it can not be touched for
at least twenty-four hours, for the oven
must be allowed to cool. Then the ashes,
Which have been kept from blowIng away
by the alum sheet, as it preserves its shape
even when reduced to cinders, are collected.
In appearance, the ashes OF body are
like small pieces of shipped slateefock, and
man who weighs about. 22o pounds VIII
make only about five to seven pounds of
ashes.
The embalming process is O dangero
one to the undertaken for the least poison in
a scratch in his hand will inevitably result
i'll death. In the case OF some diseases, il
is very hard to get the fluid to act and in
such cases the charge is as high as $50.
The commouest aud most sensible way
of preparing the dead for burial is to cIotbe
them in some neat, dark gown which they
have worn in life, but occasionally
womans wedding dress is used as her
shroud. Among society people il s very
frequently the case that the meu are
dressed III sWai ailuw- tails aud white crayat
in the regulation dress suit" which is
worn at fashionable functions. One old
lady iu town, who was buried last week,
was robed in a new black gown which
she bad worn only once ancS had put away,
as she said, ''to be buried i'm In cases
at the undertaker's are a display OF white
robes and dress suits, which can he pgr-
CHASED for the body ir desired.
In no city have more famous funerals
taken place than at the capital, III, ugh
New York has seen some imposing scenes
about the corteges or the celebrated dead.
The silver handles on the coffin of Grant
cost the neat little sum of fifteen hun
dTed dollars, but there are few orders
for s uch goods.
Admiral PUrter's casket cost about seven
hundred aud was of cedar, lined with
copper, the outsid ebeiug covered with
rich purple plush
Sheridan had black casket but it was
not furnished in town as at the time of his
| death the general was not in Washington.
Blaine was in death, as in life, very simple
in his ways. and his coffin was OF cedar
| covered with black cloth, with silver
| trimmings and his name on a silver plate.
| His daughter and his son were buried with
corresponding simplicity.
MANY PLAIN CASKETs.
Gen. W H F. Lee, OF Virginia, had a
simple black cedar casket, with silver
handles.
Mrs. Tracy, the wife of ex-secretary
Tracy, who was burned in her home in
town. on / street, was buried from the
East Room in the White House and the
procession was one of unusual sadness from
the fact that the services over both bodies
took place at the same time. The coffins
were metallic, being on the interior OF
| copper and on the outside of plain black.
Some years ago young japanese, who
wasOne Of the royal family in his ownland,
died in Washington while attending school
and his body was shipped to san Francisco
and there taken by man-of-war to his
country This was made easy by the en-
Iain ylrp which hiaS
to be sent all over the land with perfect
safety
Gen. Joseph E. johnson, the great Con
| federate leader, who died about five
! years ago. had a plain black casket with
| oxidized silver trimmings.
| W. W CoCoran, the phiianthrepist, had
a plain black coffin, but the interior was
lined with the softcst eiderdown, So fine and
| delicate that the least breath made deut
/ in is surface.
! Gen. Beaie, the father of young TniNton
Beale who married Hattie, the daughter
! Of Blaine, was not inferred, but preferred
To be- iucinerated. so his body was ere
mated
! Mrs Herbert, the wife of the Secretary
| Of the Navy died while her husband was
/ member of Congress. and was buried in a
very plain black casket.
| While high rates are charged, there is
| a good deal of loss in the undertaking bus
iness, for many people refuse 10 pay the
| funeral expenses, and the man who has CON
Quoted it all must foot the loss. Iu fact,
some meu get married before they have fin
ished paying for the burial OF the first wife,
and there is foreigner in town who goes
by noble title, and who lives in a fash
/ ionable quarter near GeoTgetown, who was
/ recently married to a young wife, his third,
| and the bill for the funeral of tls second
wife, who has been dead about two years,
is yet uupaid.