The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1895-01-25
CHOOSING THEIR CASKETS.
People Often Express Their Preferences b
the Matter of Style.

People Often Express Their Preferences In
the Matter of Style.
Inever actually knew anybody who
kept his coffin in his house, said an I'M
dertaker, but [ have read of ouch
things, and 1 Lave no doubt they are
true, just as l believe the stories of
some women keeping in the bottom of
bureau drawers their own grave clothes
which they made themselves. But
men sometimes choose, if not the par
ticular casket in which they want to
be buried, the style of coffin that they
prefer. and l knew of one man who
drew the plans for the casket in which
he was buried. He had his own ideas
of what was most suitable, and we
made a casket in accordance with the
drawings which he furnished, and then
boxed it up and stored it for him. He
was a man advanced in years. It is in.
teresting to note that the casket so
planned had square ends and perfectly
straight sides and ends; in fact, in
shape it was precisely the same as
the present most advanced style of
modern burial casket, which was not
introduced until some years afterward.
1t is not at all unusual for men to
look at caskets, express admiration of
some of them and say they would like
to be buried in such or such style.
These men might be simply friends
who had come to see me, or they might
be here on business, but not with re-
gard to funeral. Some of the modern
burial caskets are very costly and
beautiful and as unlike the old-fash-
Toned coffin as could be imagined. 1t
Is no wonder that men should admire
them, but it doesn't follow at all that
they expect soon to need one.
A few months ago there came in a
man and his wife, people of
perhaps fifty years, and l should
say well to do, who wanted to look at
the caskets, or rather he did. They
came to a very beautiful casket of ma
hogany, one of modern style with
square ends and straight sides and
ends. and carved little, but not over
elabora tely. Evidently he had heard
of such a casket before or had seen
one, and so was familiar with it, and
he admired it greatly.
There" he said to his wife, calling
her by name, That is the kind of cask-
ct that would like to be buried in:''
and it was clear that ii seemed to him
very beautiful, as it certainly was.
But, bless US, he is like every body else
almost; have no doubt he expects to
live hundred years. l saw him at the
theater the other nirht with his wife.
I.
were in the fullest enjoyment of life;
and fancy that it will be many years
before either Of them comes to the end
Of life: but / venture TO say that II he
dies first his wife will faithfully see
that he is buried in mahogany casket
UGH as he admired.-N. Y. Sun.
stunning IN the Ola Days m Maryland.
From October TO April those easy-go
ing gentry turned their backs on til.
iage, and found all their JOY in hunting
and cunning. By the single-harreled
fint-locks hung on wooden hooks IL
the walls of the hall or the dining
room. one might tell off the men and
bows in family. while the fox-hounds
water-dogs and pointers that rompe6
in the courtyard were 10 be reckonec
with the horses and the guns. WheI
the young master mounted his nag ano
called his dogs for week sport in the
woods or along the water-courses, he
took but little thought for the root
that should lodge him at nightfan. o,
the supper that might be spread for ne
knew there was light in the window
for him in every house in the county
Twickenham-We're gong To nave
some amateur theatrickls at my house
next week and a big supper after
wards. Can you be there?
Dashaway-ru come, old man, but l
may be iate.-N. Y. World.