The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-12-16
CREMATION MORE POPULAR.
Prejudice Against Inciaeration Disap-
pearing-Cost of This Method.

| Cremation rs a means OF disposing of the
bodies of the dead, when first tried in New
York ate, on December T. 1885. attracted a
great deal OF attention, and there was also
nslderable discussion as TO the relative
merits OF the new. method as compared to
the usurl custom OF underground burial.
Many pc pie were superstitious regarding
incineration. People were mt first loath TO
give consent TO this disposition OF tho boiies
Of their friends and relatives. Those who
favored tho new method urged its adoption.
giving as their reason for the change that it
was cleaner, cheaper and did away with tho
necessity for elaborate funcrals. 1t was also
urged that the incinoration Of bodies of per-
sons who had died from contagious diseases
would lessen the dangers of contagion and
would be the safest way in which TO dispose
of such bodies. ON the other hand, the fear
of burial alive caused some strongly TO advo-
cate incinern ion.
Az an aid TO the adoption OF the new
method, endorsement. were secured from
ministers and from other, in which tn v
said there was nothing unscriptural in dispos-
ing OF the dead by means Of fire. and advo-
eating the method as more lqanly tlan
burial.
lhe first incineration in this State was n.
the w York FrrSfr Punri frurnutUry, on
Long Island, facing the Lutheran Cemetery
just north OF Fresh Pond station, ON the
Long IslanI Railroad. This was on Decem-
Der 4, 1855. Since that time, despite assertions
10 tho contrary, incineration has grown in
popularity, and IL il said that there Is an in.
crease OF 50 incinerations year. The num-
Dor of crcmations at Fresh Pond up TO the be-
ginning OF tn, pres mt year is given as 1881.
OF this number 1913 bodies wtrs those OF men,
aS of boys l0j of women and 70 were the
bodies of girls. Thirty y-hve dollars is charged
for the incarceration of body. This charge
is only for the mere consuming Of the body by
means OF heat, the body being placed in an
alright compartment OF an immens, furnace.
Enough ashes are left TO fill n srnall-sized urn.
l. takes several hours % dispose of body,
nftcr which the ashes are collected and placed
in an urn which has previously been pur-
chased. Often the ashes are taken away by
friends, and at other times they are dep sited
in alcoves in thu walls of the columbaiium
whore the body has been incinoraed BY the
request of friends endeavoring to carry out
the pecu lar wishes Of the departed, the ashes
are ten taken and thrown to the four winds.
There is n charge for the door which is
placed in front Of the niche. The urns may
b. ught for from So, 80 mp 10 S45, while the
niche in the wall costs from SIS s5, accord |
ing to its location in the wall. To the cost of
the incineration, which is $35, must be added |
The cost of the urn for the ashes and the niche |
'or the reception of the urn. When the body |
3 borne TO the oolumbarium in carriages there |
S extra charge, according to the number OF |
arriage, brought into service. With this |
method there is no necessity for the purchase |
II buri al lot, althou:h many people bury |
he ashes. The maximum cost for incinora- |
ion, including the purchase OF an urn, the |
easing Of niche to receive the urn, the door |
" the niche and all expenses not including
he hire of carriages need not exceed SIPS, or
$50 at most.-New York Tribune