Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1898-08-31
srMoIs JOY WITH SORROW.
Strange Funerai Customs Of the
Italians In New York.

One Of the most remarkable Of funer-
al customs. according to American
Ideas. Is one that has grown up In the
italian quarter In New York. The TO-
0D0 OF moro italians In the city form .
separate community iu the heart Of
the metropolis and occupy the region
about the historic Mulberry Bend.
They are mostly bootblacks. pushcart
men or day laborers: nearly all Of them
are poor, but when one Of their num-
Der dies he rs apt to receive q funeral
that Is moro elaborate than most of the
residents Of 9th avenue have. 1t Is no
unusual thing to see q funeral process
sion os twenty Ave = thirty carriages
starting from one of the crowded tene-
ments 81 the italian quarter. Behind
the hearse, which Is sometimes drawn
w Your hSrses. comes an open carriags
aled with flowers. There are pillows
and crosses and wreaths that fairly
overflow the sides Of the carriage. All
the flowers that do duty at the funeral
IRE conveyed to the burial ground. and
tAey are arranged to make as brave o
display as possible.
Aftet the leaders comes a motley pro
ceseidh Of vehicles. rusty y-leeking hacks
drawn by skeletonized horses and oc
cttpied by persons OF all ages, who
laugh and chat and gaze about as
though they were having the pleasant
eat kind Of time Imaginable. In fact
the rear Of a1 Italian funeral process
eior, In isrh n-;l Ia r,tfu
tnken for . picnic party. Sometime,
the c0rteSS Is headed by a brass band
bat MS IL not always the case The
Nea Of hiring a brass band to pay re
spect to q corpse is one that will moi
appeal to one brought ep with Ameri
can notions on this subject, but tn,
hand, as q part Of the funeral process
sion. is a sight too common in New
York to attract special attention.
Tha untnitiated person who view,
this strange cavalcade of fruit and pea
nut venders doubtless believes tha
some person df note In the Italian col
pny is dead. Inquiry often reveals tn,
fact, however,. that 1t Is only some poo
bootblack OF street laberer. Now, 1t /:
a faet that taotblaeks and laborers ar,
not ordinarily burdesed with wealth
1T Is equally true carriages, flowers ans
brass kSnds. even the variety to b,
found on the Bawery and Mulberr!
street. cost money. So the Italian FIJI
neral reIfainsd . mystery until 1t Wa,
explained BY the undertaken himself.
The undertaken fs person Of stand
ing in the Italian colony. To the dole
full importance which ordinarily attach
es to his Office he adds a weight of 50
cial influence which cannot be claimed
by any Of his fellows.
1T Is the custom among my peopl,
when q person dies" said the under
taker, ito send out an announcement O
the fact and Invitations to the funeral
II the death occurs In family of posi-
ton they prepare the invitation list ant
l send out the cards; II II II man il
poorer circumstances make out th'
list myself. Each person who receives
a card understands that II he comes t,
the funeral he is expected to pay 81 fo
the privilege. and 1t is considered al
honor to be invited"
Like it is to be of what you call tn,
400," explained the undertaker's as
sistant.
"All the actions Of met are explain
ed by the circumstances that surround
them" says a modern philosopher. 81
1t is with the Italian funeral. A dollal
means a pleasant ride through til,
gneenery Of the Long Island fields, bu
mere pleasant than the days enjoy
ment is the feeling Of the guests tina
they are assisting at function-for Al
Italian funeral, viewed in the only cor
rect light, Is social function. And tn,
bereaved family and friends! No doub
their grief Is sincere enough, but Per
haps it is rendered less poignant by th'
knowledge of the long procession ant
the silver handles on the coffin. Thu
system really rests upon the undertak
er. and 1t pays him well. so he will
sca freely be the one to change IT.
" .,shington Star.