The Savannah morning news., 1900-06-13
FADs ABOUT FUNERALS.
Queer Wishes of the Dying as to
How They Shall BE Buried.
From the London Express.


A recent telegram from New York
states that Mrs. George Norton,
wealthy resident of Paving, was buried
sitting in the very self-same armchair
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 faith
fully carried out. The body ana chair
were inclosed in a huge case and the
grave containing them was walled in
with brick and surmOunted by a heavy
marble slab.
Not long ago there died in a North
London suburb lady who wished 10 be
buried in the bedstead in which she had
lain continuously for nearly quarter of
a century prior to her decease: and to in
sure, as she thought, her wishes being
respected, she left a plump contingent
legacy 10 a relative. As the bedstead
in question, however, was OF the old
'four-post" variety, ana an unusually
massive specimen at that, the cemetery
authorities objected Eventually com
promise was effected. The bedstead was
taken to pieces, and from the Climber so
obtained sort of box coffin was con-
structed for the reception of the re-
mans
1t is however among the mining popu-
laton that instances of funeral eccen-
tricity ere most common Jack Hustler
coal newer of Tong. near Leeds. who
died the other day at the age of 81, was
buried in coffin constructed 20 his own
specification twenty years ago. 1t was
made of pitch pine. with silver handles
and the lid was hinged al one end The
deceased was buried with lump of coal
which he had carefully preserved for
years. 1t served as his pillow. and his
tobacco mir a
side him. This latter custom IS said TO
be very prevalent among the coal miners.
The tin miners of Cornwall almost in
variably include an umbrella among the
coffin furniture"
1t would be interesting to learn the
origin and significance Of this strange use.
Some years ago an old and wealthy
Derbyshre farmer expressed a wish 10
be embalmed. the body. after being so
treated. to be sunk in one of the lime
impregna.cd subterranean springs so COM
mon in the Peak district. The old chaps
last wishes were faithfully carried out
and after three years, the CORPSE WAS
found to be completely incaeed in tila-
mentary shroud Of pure white limestone.
For some time il remained on show. but
eventually the authorities interfered and
the gastly relic was inferred in the or
binary way.
Brooches rings, medallion portraits. and
other Sinliar drucles, mostly valued for
old essocia TONS sake, are constantly be-
ing consigned 20 the grave even among
the poorer classes of the community In
deed, in large East-end cemetery. not
long ago, a body was buried with large
sum-severai hundred pounde-in Bank
OF England notes. the valuable roll be-
ing placed inside the little hollow wooden
pillow which supported the head II Is
difficult to surmise The object Of this
strange proceeding. as the only result
would be, of course, to present the intti-
tuition in question with the face value
of the notes. II mey have been. however.
that the intention was 20 try and disap-
point some expectant heir-et-law: a spe-
cies of ostentatious post-mortem spite
which is far more common than most peo-
pie suppose