The sun., 1899-10-22
WHERE IT rs 4 CREDIT TO BE DEAD.
High Plano of the Funeral Directors Art
as Practiced in San Frnncisco.

The senior partner had been absent several
days from the establishment where you can be
cmbalmed at any hour OF the day or night There
had been convention Of some sort which had
attracted funeral directors from all over this land
10 compare notes. The convention had been
good thing for the senior partner. II had fresh
ened him up TO meet the leading lights Of the pro
fesson, and he had returned refreshed and ready
10 do his part toward the elevation OF his art
This is not exactly a sociable place. he said,
shortly after his temperance in the famlier
scenes Somehow. people don't naturally in
cline TO drop in here for chat In fact. I've known
some 10 be a little squeamish about using our
telephone. They seemed whaI you might call
solemn. IL ought 10 be different and IL can be
made just look at San Francisco. Why,
from what hear it's positive luxury TO be dead
out there Anything would be better than living
in that climate, you say Well. don't know.
never was there. All know is what heard at
our late National Con vention from the San Fran
cisco directors who were delegates. II seems
that the profession out there has come 10 occupy
the most sympathetic relation to the family We
must elevate the profession here To the same high
plane.
THE first thing to do Is 10 foster refined public
sentiment against both domestic funerals and
church obseauies. The one is as bad as the other.
In the house there is never enough room. In
the church there are never enough moltlers and
sympat thizing friends for the room. No. don't
think such elevation Of the art would ever work
in Brooklyn. You see Brooklyn rallies around
the church and the home. I've watched friends
who have moved over here. They begin in
fiat all right enough and il they would stick TO
that there would I've some hope for them. They'd
move back again in time But they get nibbling
house where the rent OF the top story pays the
interest OH the mortgage. You ought to become
millionaire at that by owning enough Of the
two-fa mily houses and letting them work while
you sleep. But what's the advantage OF being
Brooklyn millionaire unless you live in your
own home and have stepping block with your
initials on IT, So the next thing you buy house
out in Flatbush or FIatlands or some other sim.
ilarly appropriate place That's your finish.
You put in the rest Of your life scrambling along
wood No indeed; Brooklyn is no place for the
eleya tiOn Of the grave.
Il have hopes of New York. Really. there is
no reason why it should not have the same high
class OF professional work "a San Francisco, and
| am sure il will before very much longer. leisure
you II was really inspiring To hear the reports 1
convention To the practice OF the art in San
Francisco. Nobody ever thinks OF having
funeral III his own parors, and the churches are
used only for State obseques Out there every
lishment a nortuary chapel. stationary pews,
pipe organ, stained glass windows, permanent
catafalaue and plumcd badachin. Polite atten.
tiOn and Rentlemanly ushers. Clergyman Of all
facility afforded for the conduct Of the ritual Of
the order. Friends requested Ia leave the matter
Of floral tributes to the good taste of the director
lnernent private at the convenience Of the family.
There you have the whole story as il is in San
Francisco. II it were only done on that system
here in New York il would not only be a credit
TO bc dead but II woud also be a positive pleasure
to Oficiate at such a function"