The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-02-20
SOME ITALIAN FUNERALS
AN UNDERTAKER's SHOP WHERE
GLOOM HAS NO PLACE.

SociabIe Gath erings to BE Found
There-Art as Practiced by the
PrOprietor,s ilrother-in-Layv in
His Leisure MOments-Funeral
Customs of ItaIians-BuriaIs of the
Very Poor.
From the New York Sun.
Mulberry street undertaker's shop is
surely an odd place. The ordinary under
takers shop in an ordinary locality in
spires the desire to cross to the other side
of the way and be rid of untoward impress
sions as soon as possible. The undertaken
of the Italian quarter puts different face
on the matter His place of business is
made resort of transcendent interest in
the neighborhood--the headquarters, in
fact, for sociabilty and an airing of in
terests, ailments and desires. Neither
paint nor varnish nor artistic endeavor is
spared in making things bright and attrac-
tive, and a parlor stove filed to the full
with burning Goals adds not a little to the
general cheer. Even when "It'-they al
ways speak of a consignment as 'it'-
rests solemniy beneath the lighted candles
the fire burns invitingly only a few feet
away, and, on cold or muggy afternoon,
this mitigates the gloom and sends a glow
of comfort to the hearts and limbs of the
neighbors gathered about. Even the rel
atives-the undertaken calls them "re-la-
tives," with a stress on the "Ia"-obliged
TO look rueful even unto the third and
fourth stage of cousinship take heart and
IA fAaDlA in MN do, er,tr
There are friends and neighbors about
the store all the day preceding a funeral,
and despite the holy images and reminders
of a dire state sprinkled freely about, the
occasion is not one of entire constraint or
doleful musings. Sometimes the ghost
of laugh struggles out when the warmth
from the fire penetrates sufficiently and
somebody says something cheerful
on, those shrined saints and images on
the walls of the undertakers shop! The
like of them does not exist outside of Null
berry street, and the pen that would give
any idea of them at all must be dipped
in colored ink and not be sparing in the
use of 1t.
The most interesting figure in the place
Is the white-aproned laborer responsible
for the mural decorations that now OBJ
tain and commissioned to add more to
the number. He is a whitewasher bv
ents variously. week ago he was put
ting the finishing touches to a new crea-
ton on the ceiling. representing a lost
soul in purgatory clinging to the Masters
garments
Are the undertakers' shops in Italy fit
ted up in this fine fashion," you ask as
the waves Of a tempestuous and dark blue
sea are being slapped on with broad, Wig
orous strokes of the brush.
Not So" is the answer. '"There are
no undertakers' shops in Italy. The gov
eminent sees 10 the funerals, and most of
the common people are taken away at
night. In all New York, maybe. there is
no undertaken who takes the pains with
his shop that my brother-in-law does.
He paints up regular whenever the place
gets shabby, and that's why the people
think so much of him and like to come
here"
1t is the brother-in-law's sister-in-!aw
who speaks. She is cashier and general
assistant to the firm. and has a coy Of
Gee, well-caged in from the populous pas