New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-01-27
AN UNDERTAKINGS TRIALS.
HE Is ALWAYS AN UNWELCOME "CE l.
DEALING WITH THE pOoR-LAWS WHICH AN
NoY HiM-REFORMs INTRODUCED BY


One avenue Of trade has not yet been invaded by
women nor are they likely ever to ihVaoe ~. i,".
Is the business OF buryng the dead Inc ia!
r,ilI never oue when a funeral will be conducteh
nv a woman" prophesies prominent New iO'N
undertaken "'Ts something Ike tHe iha""ee'''
Of martial affairs: peoples sense OF 'he h'nesS u
things will always Aoui the idea o. pe,''o"'s -,
the head Of an impressive procession "0' VIZ
he efficient employees however" he goes Oh 10 say.
81, fact ,hero are many o. them In the ranks OF
amba,mers now as the list o. pupils at the schooi
NJ cmbalning will show. and several s'ann hish III
,ha ,-ofess,on There is much In our business
that they could help about. but the personal con-
duct Of a public funeral they VII never assume
Irnder,akers. like other business men. have their
annovances and perpleXties. 'What can 40 put
ogreo IN give the .unora! when poor woman comes
- ,ora and cries and means about her dead mother
or sister or husband, or workinsmah ANS nv ~
bury his chid?" explains an f-ast sue "''ue'
taker IN one OF the poorer districts. iu'"'Sn
,ho cofn and get the carriages and attend to all
things even when | know may get no pay TOT
my outlay Then maybe. get s. or SD ana 'hey
rro,rise n nav the rest, so much every month";
ga ,ba, ia tho last | see Of them. near people
sav the undertakers extortionatc ana tha'
they coin money out OF the poor me "e"Hp'Pe'''
too are always drubbin6 at us, Dul 'he'e a'c '."
large profits in my trade If they did Out hno" !"
Ga many OF the working people out OF employment
want finer funerals than they can pa! LOT 'e"
=, IN them not 10 get so fine collin ana NOT 10
have but few carriages. but they are not sa"sneu'
and II a man were to leave the mouse WITTY ''''o
was a body he asked to bury Oh a00o"''' ~
finding out there was to be no pay '"e'e "
be the biggest hue and cry and his business "o"''
ho ru,ned because they would say he was so heart
l,ss a man. In any other business II ,ne se',e'
enas ont that the other party is not solvent. ne
ro,,ses ~ let him have the goods, but III our pus
ness we have no such liberty
There Is a melancholy difference In the appear
ance OF shops and Offices In various poru VI 'o
city Those In the poorer districts mahe no d"
tempt 10 veil the grewsome Character VI ''e'
wares or impart other than spectral air 70 their
.,rro,ndnge The sable collins In tiers one upon
the other look stark and bare ana a"luHy sub-
eestiye OF the numerous occupants ior WHICH '"eS
will be needed There Is only the most ineasre ar
rancements made for the transaction OF the neces-
sary business On the other hahd' eh'e'i"s an
undertakers shop in a fashionable quarter OF the
city one sees no slightest object to remind MIN OF
,,a nronrietor's calling The room is lignt ana
airy Rich CARPETS mat the floor There are PAINS
and exotcs growing In great Jars ABOUT 'ie P'"e''
and tasteful engravinGs adorn the "a"S' i"c u''
initiated may admire the handsome mirrors ""."
paneI one side OF the apartment ana 'hen "e
secret is out The proprietor touches ce''"'"
snring and one Of those long. slender mirrors
comes down htting way out into the middle OF
tho floor The mirror forms the bottom OF a stahn
upon which is displayed a handsome cashet COST
ing 900 or $500 covered externally with elegant sape
plush and lined with the richest quilted IVORY sa'l.
81 always le. my customers pick out the KIND o.
casko, ,hov want" says this caterer to the rich
'.and tell them exactly what II is gong 10 Cost
so that there can be no misunderstanding oc'
cas,onaIlv | meet the grief-strickcn who profess
themselves shocked that | should mention money
matters at such a time but | tell them that IL y
n matter OF business with me and that mean no
offence and generally have no trouble
"When I undertook the business he resumed.
81 used to be very easy with everybody. but soon
,orrd that that sort OF thing wouldn't do. Now
can hold my own even with military companies
and ministers who like to dictate TO the uhner-
taker and interfere with his plans hah inc oon'
duct OF a big public funeral not long ago ne con
tinucd THE funeral Of "A man whon every one
delighted TO honor and which was particularly
anxious should 20 of without any hitch AFTER al
my ARRANGEMENTS at the house were completed.
sent TO the military 10 know what their plans were
In order that they might coincide WIN mime o'
mine with theirs Their reply TO my poll'e f'Fl"'S.
was that their plans were their own business
sent hack word that unless received DEFINITE ana
timely Information TO the programme th"y IN
tended to pursue I should have nothing iur'her 10
do with the funeral arrangements. military
friend OF the dead man who was Vlsitlng inc fanny
at the time learned OF my position ana 'e'es''Pn''
the Governor asking him TO instruct IN" "'h'Ars
that the funeral under my management an"
that they must communicate their plans 10 me III
order tina, matters might be properly adjusted
The military authorities. on hearing from 'o'c'hoI
E,owcr sent an aid up here to confer with me.
and the result was that all the pomp ana circnm-
stance OF n great mans funeral passed on WIN
order and precision. something that docsh oi''h
happen 7 attended both General Grants ana
General sncrmans funerals and they were both
bun linz
this reluctance OF the military powers TO conhhc
,helr nreparatons and purposes to the under
taker in charge
A glimpse into the cabinet which an undef'akcr
takes with him when he goes 10 perform INV
solemn offices OF his calling Is revelation 10 ono
who bestows little thought on such matters FIRST
and foremost there are the two immense glass Jars
OF huid stun which Is injected i"'o '"e ''''' W.
embalming the body.
NO one Is put on ice now. explains inc uhoef-
taker "Embaming Is so much more convenient
The old ice-boxes clumsy and troublesome
and when It came to getting them up into narrow
fats they were "A nuisance. Chemists Keep on I'M
proving the fluid for embalmin9' ana no" 'hes
have got II just about perfect
Resides the Jars OF fluid necessary. pipes, pumps
etc there are velvet-lined cases OF delicate anu
costly instruments seemingly as many, as minute
and as varied the implements OF surgeon or
dentist These are for taking up arteries. making
fncisions. cutting the tissues that lie peIo" inc
skin which would oppose the current OF the hu'h'
Tbore are rolls OF linen ontments to be used Tor
discoIorations and bruises. and soaps OF rare
virtue that will prevent the undertakers expert
cncing mishaps n he have upon finger or hand a
cut or bruise likely be inoculated with Injurious
matter There Is fine white spool SILK Tor Tying
| arteries, minute yet convenient SHAVING APP
paratus. all put up IN the shaiicsl 'o"'p"'' 'o'
sible.
The undertaken like the doctor. learns many
secrets In his profession IL can tel from the APP
pearance and condition OF a corpse the KIND OF
| life the man or woman led he afirms The
veins of high Ivers of those addicted TO continu-
| ous wine drinking. are surcharged with peculiar
| Kind OF blood or fluid which has to be pumped ont
h,oro tho embalming process can be successful. -
"Wbat do YOU consider the essential requisites
| for the business Of undertaken
Tact a certain dignity. Integrity. business adj
10, and ahove ALL education, was the answer. I'VE