The Anaconda standard., 1897-12-22
WANTS a BOON IN DEATHS.
Editor OF the Casket Desires Undertaken
to Prosper.

to Prosper.
The publishers of that cheerful
monthly, the Casket, have extended the
metaphorical glad hand to their thous-
ands of readers and patrons, wishing
each an especially merry Christmas and
holding out hopes for prosperous and
happy New Year. While all this may
be the proper thing at this festive sea-
son of the year, the fact that the Cask-
ct is the organ of the undertakers de-
tracts trifie from the enthusiasm with
which the layman outside of the trade
might concur in its holiday greetings.
A prosperous year for the gentleman
of casketS and shrouds is not exactly
what the rest of the folks are praying
for, and most people are glad to echo
the motto of the Casket, which is kept
standing at the head of the editorial
column: We're alive"
This is the way that gleeful journal
begins its leading editorial In the issue
for December:
"The holiday season is again at hand
and the Casket extends to its thousands
of readers and patrons a hearty greet
ing and the best wishes for merry
Christmas and a happy New Year.
There are a number OF reasons why
calling which this journal represents
have reason to rejoice over the fruits
of the year which has passed"
The editor sees many reasons for re-
joicing over the fruits of the year
which has passed" That he has a
denied, but it is feared that no niceties
of speech will serve to commend the
sentiment to the general public.
Having thus paved the way for what
he really had in mind, the editor dips
his pen still more deeply in blood or
whatever it is undertakers use when
writing about the fruits of the year,
and goes to remark:
1T has been time when the busl-
ness conditions of our country nave
assumed much more favorable aspect
The gloom and depression Of the last
few years have been largely dissipated
and while there has been no great boom
the general tendency is toward better
prices for our products and much more
secure conditions in the commerc1al
world. The funeral directors of the
country cannot fail to participate in
this general revival of trade, and We
trust that many who have found 1t oil
ficult to barely meet expenses VIII now
be able to add handsome balance to
their profit account
If there is anything which may be re-
garded as the particular long suit OF
the undertaken 1t is diSSipatlng gloom
and depression.
But when the editor has these un-
pleasant commodities well dissipated
and the bright sun of promise is shining
in the business sky he remarks PAINT
lively:
while there has been no great
BOOM
There is a man who looks upon
yellow fever epidemic as boom he
sees in cholera epidemic much more
secure conditions in the commercial
world He is against boards of health
and vaccination, probably because they
interfere with booms. He goes to felicl-
tate his happy little band of undertak-
ers on 1.-The general revival of trade.
While that is what many people have
been shouting for it is easy to imagine
that few will join with the Casket IN
it's joyful celebration, nor does that
journal find a host in accord with Its
peroration which announces:
THE manufacturers will have every
reason to rejoice over the revival of
| trade which is bound to come"
| This gives rise to the horrible suspi-
| cion that the Casket has some inside
! tips on war, pestilence or famine in the
near future, else why should that jour-
nal speak so hopefully of the revival
| Of trade which is bound to conner? 1t
! is evident that the Casket. which Is
published at Rochester. N. Y, does not
! know of DIR. Reilly of carbolized rose
| water. of anti-toxin and other things
| which the Chicago health department
/ boasts Of or it would not be so cock
| sure about a revival of trade" II
| NAV be that the Caslket will yet change
| it's motto and after hauling down Its
! present slogan, We're Alive" will nail
| to the masthead:
Down With Reilly! Long Live the
| Microbe!"