Middletown transcript., 1895-04-27

several women undertakers who sell
coffins, provide shrouds and attend to
other details of their gloomy calling.
These last are not necessarily embalm-
ers, and are in most Instances the
widows of undertakes, carrying on the
business which their husbands estab-
lished. They assume charge of a dead
body prepare it for bu rial, but invar-
iably call on some friendly man under
taker to conduct. the funeral, and osten-
sibly appear in charge. Brooklyn
boasts of woman who is not only an
undertaken, but the sexton of church
as well, successfully discharging all the
duties that pertain to both callings,
except the personal conduct of pub
lie funeral.
mo woman has ever yet under
taken to walk up a church aisle at the
head of funeral procession, said the
secretary of the Undertakers' Associa-
tion. "She would appear extremely
out of place, and nobody would have
her. Public sentiment demands
man for that dignified office. Wo-
men can have an undertaker's shop
and sell goods, and they can be en-
balmers and tend to the dressing of
a body, but when it comes to the
funeral arrangements they have to
call in a man."
This is the opinion Of the trade,
sustained by many voices, but a new
conner in the ranks of Brooklyn un-
dertakers is woman of marked in
dividuality and keen BUSINESS in
tuition, who, it is predicted, is not
likely to permit either popular preju-
dice, or conventionality to interfere
with what she elects to do. Her
business was not left to her by any
relative, nor did she stumble into it
by accident. She deliberately chose
it, and is probably the only young
unmarried woman in the country
pursuing that calling. There would
be nothing incongruous in the spec
tacle of this young woman ushering a
funeral procession up an aisle or
otherwise being associated with the
trappings of woe. The habitual ex-
preston of her face is severe and
austere. She is tall, slight and very
erect. Arrayed in the plain tailor
made suit of black which she invari-
ably wears, her masculine appearance
is striking to a degree. No puffed
sleeves, fluffy hair, wells or superfiuous
drapery characterize her attire. Her
skirts are as plain and scant as skirts
can be, her hair is put plainly away
under an Alpine hat, and she always
wears the stiff collar, cuffs and formal
tie that distinguished the apparel of a
man. Those familiar with this unique
specimen of the woman up to date
assert that she is seldom seen to smile
and is never known to speak to any
one except on business, using few
superfluous words even then. In addi-
ton to her calling of undertaken this
young woman lends money to a large
number of people and takes mort
cages on their personal effects as
security. She has been singularly
successful in this business, and is
considered by her neighbors to be
well-to-do. She is honest and up
right in all her dealings, and has been
known to be lenient in more than one
instance when she thought circum-
stances justified mild treatment.
This unusual woman is not product
of Brooklyn life and institutions, hav-
ing been transplanted thither from a
town in Western New York.
&*x
SPRING SALAD.
What is more charming than crisp
fresh salad of the hearts of the lettuce
leaves, covered with creamy velvety
sauce and garnished with the rich
hued nasturtium blossoms? The salad
dressing should be prepared as fol-
lows:
Beat the yolks of the eggs light. 1t
you desire mustard, mix with the egg,
either the dry mustard or made thick.
Then drop the fresh olive oil, at first