The sun., 1896-10-25
MANY BODIES CREMATED.
THE NUMBER OF NOMINATIONS
INCREASIAG YEARLY.

The United States at ths Head OF the List
or Countries Where It IL Prnetised md
New York the Foremost City - Expe-
risnoes at the Fresh Pond Cren,ntory.
In the number of cremations the United
States are first among countries and New York
leads the list of cities. Next to this country
come Germany. Italy, France, England. Switzer-
land. After New York, among cities. comes
Gotha, where the practice was begun In 1878.
Cremation was unknown In New York until
1886. Since that time there has been q steady
increase in the annual number of cases, the
ratio being about 20 per cent. year. This
method Of disposing Of the dead Is most popular
in this country among the Germans. who out
rank other nationaiities four to one
The New York office of the Fresh Pond Gre
metory is at 62 Houston street, where there are
q number Of interesting things to bo seen.
Among these arc elk or eight reproductions OF
French photographs. You are not compelled to
look at these. but they have what women and
novelists describe as "a horrible fascination"
Several years ago number Of partially decayed
collins wero removed from the Cemetery of st,
Lazare at Paris to make room for others. The
lids Of the cofnns were removed and tho con-
tents photographed, 1t may have been done
from tho French love Of the growsome; It may
have been as q favor to come writer who wanted
q bit Of realism In that line. But, for whatever
reason It was done, II makes knock down ar
rument for tho cremn ntionists. Also II 10 q
source Of economy-it takes away your appetite
for lunch
Some of r. other interesting things Of which
you may possibly have q glimpse at the crcma-
tory office are inbout q dozen black tin can
listers. which arc kept In tho big iron safe.
These canisters are tied with black ribbon and
sealed with q heavy black seal. Each one is
labelled "Ashes Of -" and is signed by
the person who deposited them there. You will
find out about tho tin canisters and various
other things II you will take the trouble to read
this list of questions and answers which Is an
other interesting possession OF the Office and 10
called a cremation catechism:
Q.-what Is cremation? A.-The reduction
OF a human body to bone ash by direct fre in
Q.-What Is incineration1 The reduction of
the human body to bone ash by extreme heat
Q.-What difference is there between the two
processes as TO tho anal RESULT An 2A.None one
incineration Is preferred by some for senti-
mental reasons.
Pdhd oi wsEs in
forated fre-clay retort.
Q.-Why perforated A.-Io allow FOR escape
o.-Do these gases escape directly into tho
bustion chamber above the retort, where they
are burned and purified before entering the
fues.
Q.-what is tho actual time of complete in
cineratiou OF a bodyY A.-From one to three
hours, according to condition, age. and structure
o.NWhat ashes result? A.--From children,
one half pound to adults ave pounds per body,
Q.-How are they gathered at Fresh Pond
ASWith steel tools from tho bottom OF the re-
tort; then tho ash from the clothing is famed
the clean bone ash securely placed in BLACK
tin canister and sealed: "
They arc kept sealed and locked up at the COM
pany s ofioe until the family selects an urn and
niche and deposits them at the columbarium,
Q.-How about .uneral services? :? A.-The new
Urn Hall makes the impressi on OF o chapel any
kind Of funeral service may be held there with
out extra charge Clergymen. as a rule, officiate
at the house. occasionally at the crematory;
masonic services take place quite often; some.
vided At Fresh Pond with every incineratiCn;.,
inSi aSens at Fresh sPP Pond The Be body. T Until
it enters the crematory. is treated exactly as II
for earth burial. The undertaken, who had
the retort encloses It The wrapping in an
alum-sosked muslin sheet serves only to pro-
the moment Of introduction into the retort.
Otherwise the clothing remains untouched.
country? Alt is up to the present Epide,n-
les may compel tho authorities to mako 1t COM
o.NNhere is it compulsory Ain Paris.
for instance. whore in the furnaces erected by
the city on Pere-Lachaise this city finds 1t to
her interest to burn all unclaimed hospital lead
and remains from dissecting tables. For all
these bodies cremation Is made compulsory to
relieve the crowded metropolitan cemeteries.
an example which 1t will benefit the city OF
New York to follow.
This sounds a good deal Ike tho Easy Les
sons for Young BeRinners." but 1t answers o
good many questions which the uninitiated
would like to ask.
Another interesting thing at tho Houston
street office is a list Of people who have declared
themselves In favor of cremation. 1t is the sort
toh Ia Ia.N had
sentative: millionaires and minister's philan-
thropists and poets OF passion aud otherwise.
authors and actors. theosophists and cotton
merchants. fighters and thinkers. Here is the
list: