The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-01-20
THE PAID PALLBEARER
An Occupation in Which Many Men
Find Employment.
The Custom of Hiring Them snid to
lie becoming More General In
Washington - Advantages Possess
ed by Those Who Make IL
business of Serving at Funerals.

In spite of the fact that the oecupa-
| ton is hardly an attractive one there
are large number OF men in Washing
| ton who make living, and a good liv-
| ing. too, by daily carrying to the grave
caskets containing the remains of some
| person whom they never knew in life.
Few people realize perhaps how many
funerals are conducted in Washington
with the assistance of paid pallbearers.
The advantages of experienced assist
ants is point advanced by many funeral
directors.
The professionals are always self-pos-
sessed. They work in sextets and al
ways do the correct thing at the right
| time. No first class professional pail
bearer was ever known to lift his side
| of the casket before the others were
| ready and the six can invariably get the
largest easket through the doors and
| Railways without delay or confusion.
The Idea recalls the custom now obso-
lete, in this country, but which still pre-
walls in Europe, OF employing paid mourn
ers to add by their tears TO the general
grief at the obsequies. In those days
mourning was a profession and the fol-
lowers took great pride in their work.
The most sought after man was the ona
with a sactimonous cast of countenance
and generous and ready supply of osten-
taticus grief. The mourners cultivated
assidlously a mournfri and resigned mien.
In order to acquire a thoroughly doleful
aspect they are said to have lived often
times in the back rooms of coffin max
ers' shops.
In England poor divinity students work
ing their way through the theological
seminaries in large cities often added to
their income by acting as mourners in
their spare time. In this manner they
served two purposes. acquiring the man.
ner supposed to beft a clergyman and at
the same time adding to their exchequer.
The professional nallbearer OF today is,
however. a mucn different person from
the hired mourner of years gone by. He
is oitentimes an enIploye of an undertaken,
or as he is more elegantly termed some
times. a funeral director" He is draft
ed into service often when the undertake
er is short Of pallbearers. Others follow
the business Of paIlbearing exclusively.
frst-elass pallbearer can make a very
good salary. He is generally acquainted
with a large number of undertakers who
keep his address. When in need CT
pallebearer they send him word and at the
appointed time he puts in an appear nee
dressed IN black. Some OF the larger IN
dertaking establishments Ut lie their en-
ployes for pallbesrers. When there are
a number of funerals to direct at the same
time, however, they are often obliged to
call upon the outsiders
Nearly all undertakers keep a supply of
black clothing on hand. Often the paid
pallbearer gets notice that his services
are needed Immediately. In that case he
Will divest himself of loud plaids or
stripes, and dons one of the undertaker's
emergency suits. and assist at the fune-
raj. Doubtless many of the friends who are
gathered at the last services over the
body of a friend think that the ministe-
rial looking gentlemen who so deity
handle the casket are acquaintance from
''out of the city"
In many cases relatives of person who
has recently died ask the undertaken 10
provide them with pallbearers. Friends
who otherwise would act as pallbearers
are then designated as honorary pail
bearers, and walk two abreast behind he
casket as it is borne to the hearse The
innovation is regarded as a sensible one
by many. Carrying the remains CT a friend
is seldom a pleasant task or an easy enc.
Consequently. while he thought OF pay
ing persons to act as pallbearers, post
of honor usually accorded to old and dear
associates. is repugnant to many. the
fashion is. nevertheless, steadily gaining
ground