Akron daily Democrat. [volume] (Akron, Ohio) 1892-1902, 1900-03-01

NO SuuuHy uOurb.
sistapts for from three TO five days,
the cnsket and the box with more or
less ornamentation, including an on
graved plate on the former, the pre-
pnration of the grave, the hearsc aud
carriages for every member of tho
family including small children, for
all the relatives, all the neghbors, who
would feel ngrieved if they were not
given II free ride the bearers and the
minister. Even under the greatest
economy, here is a list that aggrc-
gates heavy expense to the stricken
family. And so often this occurs in
families having nothing laid by to meet
the burial expenses, or IL met by the
little surplus earnings or by the lodge,
tho dcHth of the breadwinner has
stopped the income for the future
maintenance.
Possibly, another death comes in a
short time when the church or the
charity organizations must assist IN
the second service of expense, aud the
butcher, broker, grocer, merchant and
landlord must join hands with the
undertaken IN patient waiting, or by
making themselves good in over
charging those who pay their bills
promptly. The undertaking business
is toward the head of the list I am
told of businesses of slow pay aud
frequent losses. However, we feel
that we nre slaves 10 tyrnnnical
custom of cxorbitant and unneces'
sary expense that is burdensome and
dcmoralizing to say the least.
SUGGESTIONS OF REFORM,
First. Could we not lessen the eS-
pcnse by shortening the interval be-
tween death and burial and thus dinin.
ish the attendance and obyiating the
cost of embalmlng:
Second Could we not lessen the
expense by the use of less expensive
: cotiins with less ornamentation?
Third. Indulge In less street parade
in advertising, by dispensing with the
hearsc where possible and Use a bier,
owned by the church and CARVED by
friends, also by furnishing carriages
enough 10 cnry only the immediate
family and officials necessary for the
short and simple intcrnent or crema
tated and health he guarded especially
! In inclemcnt weather by performing
tho commitial service before leaving
: tho house or church, 4 short process
I sion on foot or IN Il requisite number
! Of carriages with n reduction Of unncc
: eGary expense Ton pomp in procession
= Is more appropriate TO genuine grief
+ aud more honorable to the industriou,
Q living.
y Fourth. All the 'trnppings and sult'
u of woe rs Shakespeare calls them
@ might wisely be omitted Why hid,
and dsiigurc the manly or womanly
@ graces, or decorate them irrespective o.
T. complexion, temperament climate o
o utility, by the unartlstic and mhygen
II ic Grape? Why go 10 the expense nnt
y Inconvenience Of putting black bor
u dor on our note paper and GALLUP
q cards, and gradually Diminishing tn
e width OF the border TO indicate th
J. approaching cnd of our term of grief
II All this may be good for the statlonci
O. dressmakcr, and mlllincr, but not hon
u orng to the dend, nor helpful to th
living. Better honor the dead an,
S' show sincere grief Of bereavement
by reducing the burial expense 10 III
II respectable point OF prompt paymen
le and 10 the economic basis Of an honol
T. able maintenance Of the living. 'Heav
es BLACK is the emblem Of sin, gloon
40 hopeless death, and black despair; br
e. we are the children of light, who's
ig Lord and Master has overcome deaf
OF aud opened The gates OF eyerlastln
nd life, and has given us the Garments ,
n praise for the Spirit of heaviuess.'
cn FLOWERS.
lS- "WhIte and fr,pru nj tio,yers ure ni