The sun., 1898-12-04
FUNERAL CARES ASSUMED.
an UP-To-DATE EsTABLISRlEENT FoB
THE "TRANSIENT DEAD"

SHOW rooms and trimmings upstairs. Elec-
trio elevators. telephones, every latest conven-
ience for luxury and economy"
So reads the sign to the left as one enters the
main, ground floor room OF q snowy fronted.
seven-story building uptown on the west side.
building more imposing than any other on the
block and that draws attention by sheer out
lay OF broad -glnssed windows and glitter OF new
paint and varnlsh. To all intents and appear
ances It might be a department store or an up-
to-date millinery. tailoring. hair bleaching or
manicurlng establishment, or an office build
ing for formal and meaningful deals In stocks
and bonds The outside Is non n-committal, En-
trance is gained by one OF those revolving all
o-the-samesway doors that are traps 10 the
unwary and then the cat ia out OF the bag,
or rather out OF the casket for q gorgeous and
impressive bier. lavish with quilted satin and
expensive velvet, oil plumed and lit by five
blazing electric lights. stands midway in the
floor. typical OF the essentially mortal and NOR
tally essential nature OF the plant.
The place Is big. cooperative, general utili-
ty. undertaking and burial establishment-a
plant hailed by the hotel keepers and boarding
and lodging house masters and mistresses Of
the city MS filling q longtime need. and also
having the unqualified approval Of advanced
thinkers of the Edward -Belamy- Looking
Backward type. who regard It as the entering
wedge In the great millennium scheme for CO.
operative adjustment OF life's problems. Up to
now people so inconsiderate as to die in rented
lodgings or apartments In New York, or In any
big. busy city. have been ranked as sheer i'm
posters. selHshly regardless OF and Indifferent
to the trouble they make. and very obviously in
the way. The landlord In every such case
seems to assume. and perhaps justifably, that
the said person had hired those especial prem
ises to die in. With the opening and operation
of the funeral plant in question the innkeeper
and boarding master. the fat house janitor and
apartment owner may breathe free. Just
message on the nearest telephone to the plant
authorities and the entire responsibility is lift
ed once and for all from their shoulders and
premises.
In case OF a sudden or SUSPICIOUS death In
well regulated household nowadays there need
be no protracted, tedious waiting for delayed
Coroner. with the house and its inmates upset
meanwhile There need be no hurrying Off
after physicians certificate. or a minister's
services. or the bother and detail of telegraph
ing over the country to the dead mans friends.
All that individual and enforced solicitude is
now done away with. for the stranger. and the
practically homeless dead folk are the especial
care OF the new plant. and no stone Is left un-
turned to do the proper thing under the cir
cumstance to the best Of the management's
ability. The joint-stock funeral parlors Just
below the show and trimming rooms " in the
new and complete building give evidence OF
frequent use. No charge is made for the bene-
fits of these funeral parors. The person whose
means will only afford a $40 burial-everything
included-may repose in state for days there.
IA well as the wealthy incum bent whose income
warrants q 81 1000 casket and appointments and
cemetery lot
Every comfort afforded the bereaved' is a
main boast of the plant. and a factor In this is
ed%Ps 6 wa Il
wherein and whereby the relatives who have
been summoned to the place from distance;
or lodging bills while in pursuance Of the duty.
Convenient to the folding beds are electric but;
f9rethought or trouble, ofttimes whole fam
rarily in the funeral parlors and such frequent
use are the accommodations put to that the
% %managesment s Is arrnnging % M t2r and md e4pipping
spacious, enough to hold 800 people and pro-
vided. with the same, comfort and facilities,
just OIL the fun neral parlor where the minister
and music for the obsequies are provided free
of charge. are rooms for the daily and nightly
ants. Bodies are removed to the Parlors tal-
ways spelled with capital Pl day or night
flats, hospitals morgues, &c. and the offeials
must be on the spot TO answer calls and re-
espond promptly to telephone messages These
and dining. bed making, and general hobnob;
bing within sound of the continuous funeral
homely grotesquenoss to the businesske un-
sdertaker atmosphere that pervades the estab
In the show rooms are grave clothes. shroud-
ings and mortuary accessories Of every known
cut and quality. Some are lace trimmed and
rch embroidery ryan and II sts some W are
GfE9I2i GehEe9n2i severely plain. pathetic with meekly
their Ghastly office The mems dress and ac-
coutrement look even more forlorn and appeal
collar, the rattly shirt front, the limp, black
flee sleeves and tic and shining studs that glare
pspecon NH that the emphasis n 1 ad Te5 On the term
Icasket." as distinct from coffin, has meaning.
narrow at the heels broad at the heart dwind-
ling at the head; for as little as $3.50 or as
shapeliness that allows room impartially to all
parts ofthe body, all the way from S25 well up
int hs The has
heraldic or enjoyment collins; that is. coffin
designs that any family may purchase outright
hers forever, sacred from outside infringement.
the plant ior mak king an especial % order % Of CONN
OF whatever wood. and with whatever shaping.
or nm be o se %
Browns may be introduced in solid gold or
metal handles and, for the casket Or on the orna
especial pattern OF the smith cofIln is slowed
away In the plant r safe and kept for that fam
lily alone. 1t is said that many S., 900 are paid
for this exclusive burial tribute.
People whose ideas concerning funerals run
more to coaches and numerous wheeled and
pumed procession than to expensive caskets.
are not likely to become patrons OF the new
plant. The company has big parade. q family
for it. which takes the place Of seven coaches
and carries the body, flowers, family, friends
and pallbearers all at the same time Four
horses are required M to draw this palace coach,
carriages and coaches kept for hire give the
thing wide berth and openly dsparage 1t as a
mock substitute for the time -honored cort6ge
In that especial branch 9fthe plants organism
afflicted are included reading room and
library, an employment bureau. safe deposit
and letter boxes. resident notary public. tele-
graph. telephone. and cable message attend
ns 6n the edd
pants Of the folding beds and patrons
OF the home restaurant are too aRitated |
and used up to write letters. or select music for
the funeral; often they have kn9tty points In
Sometimes they are sick physically as well as
needs Is forestalled In minutest detail Indeed, |