The Savannah morning news., 1900-06-30
FUNERAL FADs OF DYING PEOPLE.
Singular Notions MortaIs Have
About the Disposition of Their
Bodies.
From the London Express.


From the London Express.
A recent telegram from New York states
that Mrs. George Norton, a wealthy resi-
dent of Pawling. was buried sitting in the
very self-same arm chair in which, as an
invalid, she spent the last three years of
her life This curious form of interment
was directed by her will, and the detailed
instructions were faithfully carried out.
The body and chair were inclosed in
huge case and the grave contain ng them
was walled in with brick and surmdunted
by a heavy marble slab.
Not long ago there died in a North Lon
don suburg lady who wished 10 be bur
led in the bedstead in which she had la
continuously for nearly a quarter of CEN
fury prior to her decease, and 10 insure,
as she thought, her wishes being respect
ed she left plump contingent legacy to
a relative. As the bedstead in question,
however, was of the old -four post" va
riety, and an unusually massive specimen
a that, the cemetery authorities objected.
Eventually a compromise was effected.
The bedstead was taken 10 peces and
from the timber so obtained a sort of box
coffin was constructed for the reception OF
the remains
1t is, however. among the mining popu-
lation that instances of funeral eccen re
ity are most common. Jack Hustler
coal newer of Tong, near Leeds, who die
the other day at the age Of 81, was buried
in coffin constructed TO his own specif-
cation twenty years ago. II was made o
pitch pine, with silver handles, and the
lid was hinged at one end The deceased
was buried with a lump of coal, which lie
had carefully preserved for years. 1t
served as his pillow. and his tobacco aud
pipe also found a place beside him. This
latter custom is said 10 be very prevl-
lent among the coal miners. The tin min
ers of Cornwall almost invariably include
an umbrella among the coffin furniture.
1t would be interesting to learn The ori-
gin and significance of this strange use.
Some years ago an old and wealthy Der
bvshire farmer expressed wish to be en-
balmed the body, after being so treoted,
TO be sunk in one of the lime-impreSnat-
ed subterranean springs 50 c-mnon in the
peak district The old chaps last wishes
were faithfully carried out and after three
years the corpse was found 10 be com
pletey incased in a hlamentay shro1id o
pure white limestone. For some time it
remained on show. but eventually The au-
thorities interfered and the CHASTITY relic
was inferred in the ordinary way.
Brooches, rings. medallion portraits ana
other similar articles, mostly valued Tor
old associations sake, are constantly be-
ing consigned 10 tle grave SNSu sii'o4s
the poorer classes of the community. IN
deed in a large east end cemetery. not
long ago, a body was buried with large
sum-several hundred pounds-in Bank Of
England notes, the valuable roll bei g
placed inside the little hollow wooden pill
low which supported the head. II Is
dificult to surmise the object of tn s
strange proceeding. as the only result
would be, of course. TO present the ms l.
tuition in question with the value of the
notes. 1t may have been, however thai
the intention was 10 try and disappoint
some expectant heir-at-law' species or
ostentatious postmortem spite which Is
far more common than most people sup
pose.