The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-10-18
THEIR FINAL ADDRESS.
Some own fheir. Collins and Are
Registered at Undertakers' Rooms.

Registered at Undertakers' Rooms.
From the San Francisco Call.
There are at least 200 people walking the
streets of San Francisco, in good health
and likely to i've many years, who have
already arranged the details of their funer-
ais They have selected the collins in
which they will be buried and paid cash
for the same, as well as for the burial
plot, hearse, etc. Nearly every under
taker in the city has several contracts
of this kind, all of them made by people
who are supposed to be in rational frames
of mind
Age seems 10 cut no figure. for some of
the contracts are signed by men in the
prime of life, who are noted for their
cheerfulness and good dispositions. They
have simply provided for their funerals
to assure themselves that they will have
decent intermcnt. The undertakers think
it nothing oUt of the way, but look upon
it as sensible forethought and, according
to stories told, it has proved so in many
cases. Men without families have drop
ped dead on the street, and, had 1t not
been for their arrangements with the UNI
dertakers, hey would have been buried
in the Potte-'s field. Some people have
tails of their funerals. even to the adver-
tisements in the newspapers. There are
few people who have not been content
with selestlng their collins, but have had
them sent 10 their homes. Such cases are
rare, however,
Yves, / have a good many contracts of
that kind" said Undertaken Metzler, when
speaking Of the matter land in a great
many cases they have proved to be good
things. 1t is a sensible thing for anybody
to do VINO has not family to look after
him when he is gone.
II have collins In those cases there"
said he, pointing, that were contracted
for at least six years ago. and paid for
| at the time 1t may be six years or six
| teen years before they are wanted, but,
when the owners need them they win be
| ready, and l will fulfill every part of
! the contract. 1t IL not so long ago that
| | fulfilled a contract of this kind after
| had the contract several years. When
! the man made it, he looked ready TO die,
| and no doubt thought he would live only
| a few months. In this case the casket
was fine one, and he paid cash for It,
| He also made arrangements for the grave
hearse carriages, shroud and every little
! detail. He left letters saying that would
| be his undertaken. and. of course, l was
| notified at once, and did all l agreed to-
but there are cases where / have to
! find out about the persons death my
| self. | always keep watcn OF those events
| of course and as soon as / know of a
| case | have been paid for / go at once
and attend to 1t. In more than one case
| came as a surprise to poor relatives,
who were almost crazy wondering how
| they we're going to bury their dead. All
kinds of people make these contracts
| rich and poor. sick and well. Some think
| that they are going to die soon, and some
are preparing for a thing long way
Off Sometimes both are right, and some
! times just the reverse happens. You cam
not tell anything about IT, If man is
! going to die. on certain day he is going
| to die, and If he isn't. why. he won't That,
I think. Is the reason that many people
want to be prepared for death when it
! does come"