The times., 1901-04-21

the Designs for Handles. the Kinds
of Lining. and OrnnmentntiOn-The
Use of Aluminium Proves Expensive
do you know that styles change in our
business Just as they do in other lines OF
trade nowadays" said Washington un-
dertaker today as he laid down cata-
Iogue profusely illustrated with cuts OF
silver coffin handles, nameplates, etc.
well. they do, and we are kept on the
oui vive quite as much as merchants IN
other lines in our endeavOrs to properly
anticipate the wants Of a changeable-
minded public The hue of the lining, the
shane. the size, the weight, the quality
and durability OF the wood used in collins
and caskets, are all details that attract
more attention than one would imagine
from the people who have TO deal with
US. OF course, we don't have spring and
summer STYLES like the milliners, and the
chances are that you would be buried IN
the same shape coffin six months from
now as you would if you died today. But
when one looks back over several years
it's easy enough TO see the changes.
Il am not so old in the business, but
there have been radical changes
since first entered an under
taking school in Chicago. At that
time the cofiins were very large. They
were widest just about the point where
the shoulders Of a weIl-proportioned
body would rest. Then the sides mar
rowed rapidly toward the head and foot
That style is away off now Why, II a
man with shoulders wide enough 20 MI
the broad place were 70 be put in a casket
like that the chances are that he could
-far o.
times in order to dispose of the coffin
at all. we had TO cross the legs Of the
corpse. We never made that public, how
ever There are tricks in every trade, and
tricks are generally wiuked at
"Of course, a change was bound to
come. but when it did it was almost as
bad. Coflns were then made so narrow
that we had to slip a big body in side
ways. Then there was a lot Of tedious
arranging In order 10 adjust the clothes,
SO that the body would appear straight.
There's another Of those tricks ] spoke
about Then followed lot more changes,
but none Of them were so pronounced as
the two ] spoke of. At present the style
IS right sensible, and almost any corpse
can be properly accommodated. But the
changes go on just the same They are
generally confined TO details other than
shape. however.
Several years ago when aluminium was
ae.tated as a substitute FOR every kind
of metal, aluminium coffins. were, Of
course, experimental with. Air-tight cas-
lzets, which were claimed indestructi5le
and waterproof. were given trial. They
were expensive, however and the prices
which the manufacturers charged for
them was probably the most potent pre-
ventive Of their popularity. ] had one
iu my place several months. il was an
object of much curiosity. Many people
came in and looked IL over. They agreed
with me on all points in its favor about
which ] talked myself Llue IN the face,
ard generally departed remarking that
when they died they would surely be
buried in an aluminium coffin But I nev-
er had an order for one and eventually
sent my sample back 10 the factory from
which il came. ] was out good bit foI
freight.
"one change that is gaining ground
steadily is going 10 give great relief 10 su-
perstitious people. 1t ism much Of an in
novation. ana wonder IL has not been
tried before il simply consists Of 9
small clamp, attached 10 q blunt hook, o.
which the streamers of crepe, the sym
bols Of death. may be hung on the front
door At present the favorite point e
hang the crepe appears 10 be the dool