Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1898-09-10
MINGLE JOY WITH soRpo,,,
strange Funeral Customs 30
Italians in New Yo-,. 'he

X.
one OF the most remarkable Of f,,r..
al customs, according to Amor, ier
ideas, is one that has grown nm =
Italian quarter in New York M ,ls
900 or more Italians in the citv e.. ~
separate community in the booa.
the metropolis and occupy the ~, :"
about the historic Mulber,o sIOl
They are mostly bootblacks. nusb u
men or day laborers; nearly All If ~
are poor, but when one of their nv.
Der dies he is apt TO receive fun
that is more elaborate than most -
residents of 9th avenue have 7,
unusual thing TO see a funeral ~.
sion of twenty-five to thirty carrioas.
starting from one of the crowdod -
ments of the Italian quarter pok1,
the hearse, which is sometimes dro
by four horses, comes an omen car.,a
filled with flowers. There are nillo@,
and crosses and Wreaths that foin,.
overflow the sides of the carriooa ~
the flowers that do duty at the fnnora,
are conveyed to the burial ground on5
they are arranged to make as bravo
display as possible
After the leaders comes a motIov 49,
cession of vehicles, rusty-lookipr bonts
drawn by skeletonized horses and
cupied by persons of all ages VII,
laugh and chat and gaze about .,
though they were having the pleasant
est kind Of time imaginable In foot
the rear of an Italian funeral nrooo,
sion in New York might easily be mis
taken for a picnic party. Sometime.
the cortege is headed by brass hand
but this Is not always the case Thu
idea of hiring brass band to nav ra
spect to corpse is one that will not
appeal to one brought up with Amori
can notions on this subject, but ths
band. as a part Of the funeral process.
sion, is a sight too common IN New
York to attract special attention.
The uninitiated person who view,
this strange cayalcade of fruit and n4a
nut vendors doubtless believes that
some person of note in the Italian col
ony is dead. Inquiry often reveals The
fact, however. that it Is only some Door
bootblack or street laborer. Now, II il
a fact that bootblacks and laborers axe
not ordinarily burdened with wealth
1t is equally true carriages. flowers and
brass bands, even the variety to be
found on the Bowery and Mulberry
street cost money. SO the Italian FIJI.
neral remained a mystery until it was
explained by the undertaken himself.
The undertaken is a person of stand.
ing In the Italian colony To the dole.
full Importance which ordinarily attach.
es to his office he adds weight of so.
cial influence which cannot be claimed
by any of his fellows.
ut is the custom among my people
when a person dies" said the under +
taker ito send out an announcement Of +
the fact and invitations to the funeral
If the death occurs la a family of posi- 1
ton they prepare the invitation list and /
! send out the cards; II 1t is man D z
poorer circumstances | make out the
list myself. Each person who receives
a card understands that if he comes to +
the funeral he is expected to pay 81 iOf
the privilege, and it is considered al
honor to be invited
Like it is to be of what you call the
400" explained the undertakers a.
sistant
All the actions of men are explain
ed by the circumstances that SURROUND
them" says a modern philosopher 20
IL Is with the Italian funeral. \ dollar
means a pleasant ride through uf
greenery of the Long Island fields ou'
more pleasant than the days enJo'
ment Is the feeling Of the guests ina
they are assisting at functlon-Iol d"
Italian funeral, viewed in the only coF
rect light. is IA social function. Ana 'as
bereaved family and friends. NO douO'
their grief Is sincere enough, pul p"
hapS it Is rendered less poignant ny 'H
knowledge of the long procession an,
the silver handles on the cofnh'
system really rests upon the unuel'a@
er, and it pays him well. so he ""
scarcely be the one to change I"
Washington Star.