The Roanoke daily times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1895-1897, 1895-12-10
THE ROANOKE TINES TUESDAY, DECEMBER 10. 1895
AN URN AND A NICHE.
FACTS ABOUT CREMATION FURNISH
ED BY A CREMATORY AGENT.

GU by ~ ChGMA ORY AGENT.
Economy and Cleanliness Among It's GLAZING.
Ashes May he Left In tho Crematory, but
Often DIourners Carry Them Away and
Keep Them Always Near.
"CrematiCn this afternoon ut g."
These words arc lettered on small sign
that swings i'll shop window on Hous-
ton street, where several curious urns
gro displayed. This is the New York
Office of q suburban cemetery, where
aro crematod the bodies of those who
prefer that their remains shall be con-
sumed by flame rather than to let ma
turo take its course in coffin six feet
under tho sod.
A World reporter dropped into tho
ofiico and had talk with tho young
man i'll charge. 1t was too late Oh that
afternoon to witness Il cremation, but
ordinarily the crematory people are glad
10 have spectators when the interesting
process is going on.
Economy is always considered by
most people, and cremation is cheap. 1t
is also clean, and what is cleaner for q
last resting place than q white metal
vase?
"You know how much you would
have TO pay FOR Il plot at Greenwood"
said the young man. "At our crematory
$50 will buy 4 niche i'll which you may
place al urn large enough to hold tho
ashes of an entire family
There is something sentimental in tho
ashes OF 1.-TWO souls with but Il single
thought" being put together. There are
no rules against buying Il row OF inches
This, however, is moro expensive, and
the line of names Oh the separate urns
suggests the search for 4 name on the
bells of q flathousc. Yet there arc often
as many as IL inches bought in row.
Each niche il decorated by tho crema-
ton company every Memorial day. 1t
Is Oh this occasion that the crematory
has its greatest number Of visitors
When tho young man was asked what
class Of people favored cremation, he re-
piled: ono particular class of people,
In New York the Germans perhaps are
the most numerous advocates of it, 1t
appeals alike to the poor and the
wealthy. The cost to cremate an adult
is $50 and $40 for child. An urn large
enough TO contain tho ashes of one per-
con can he bought for sc, and this, with
tho price of q niche, does not bring Gre
nation beyond tho reach of the poor
man.
'What arc the urns made Of? Mostly
of bronze and white metal Hero is a
beauty of serpentine stone The
beauty" was only 20 inches high, but
ii cost $40. There are about dozen diff
ferent designs i'll urns.
Often q dead person s relatives may
desire to keep the ashes i'll a parlor vase.
Tho young man was asked if all the
ashes of those crcmated wcro kept Mt the
cemetery. Just about one half are, {"
he answered. "Somo arc taken away
and placed in safety vaults, and somo
arc always kept near tho person who
most loved the deceased in life. I know
of ono lady who always carries the ashes
Of her husband wherever she goes They
have been to Europe and back several
times, and have had many trips to the
6caShOre and mountains.
mo one but myself ever handles tho
ashes after they leave tho fireman. They
arc sent to mo from there, and seal
each jar and keep them here until they
arc sent for or until have too many on
hand. In that case notify tho relatives.
II they want them transferred to an urn,
/ do it by means of this great glass fun
mel. Do they all pass through the same
funnel? OF course. What's the differ
ence? l clean it after each separate lot
Of ashes. -
He then Went over TO tho big cflicC
safe, AID, fixing the combination lock
opened thoiron door. There was exposed
row of black jars about tho size of or
binary tomato cans. Each jar was sealed
with black WAX and tape, and pasted c,
the front WAS a label. Tho young mar
took OFT ono of the jars and set it on Tho
hand Of Il woman who Wore numEcl
livc glove. She held it easily and rcaj
tho label. Inside Ct the jar Was all tha
remained OF a largo sized man who hat
been cremated three weeks before
NcW York World.