The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-04-21
MANY STYLES OF COFFINS
An Undertaken Points Ont Some
Fads in His Business.
Alterations in the shapes of Baskets,
the Designs for Handles. the Kinds
of Lining. and Ornamentation-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 a Washington I'M
dertaker today, as he laid down cata-
logue, profusely illustrated with cuts OF
silver coffin handles, municipalities, etc.
Well. they do, and we are kept on the
uui 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
shape, 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 collins were very large. They
were widest just about the point where
the shoulders Of a well-proportioned
rowed rapidly toward the head and foot
That style is away OFF now. Why, If a
man with shoulders wide enough to fill
the broad place were TO be put in caske'
like that the chances are that he could
get In but one foot at the bottom Some
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
frfe "a
tricks arc generally winked at
"of course a change was bound &c
come, but when it did it was almost az
bad. Collins were then made so narrow
that we had to slip a big body in side
ways. Then there was 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 a 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
aeitated as substitute for every kind
of metal, aluminium collins, were. of
course, experimental with. Air-tight cas-
l1ets, which were claimed understandable
and waterproof were given a 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
in my place several months. IT was an
object Of much curiosity. Many people
came in and looked it over. They agreed
with me on all points in it's favor about
which ! talked myself blue In the face
nrd generally departed rcmarking that
when they died they would surely be
buried I'm IN aluminium coffin. But | nev-
or had an order for one and eventually
sent my sample back 10 the factory from
which II came. ! was out a good bit foi
freight.
zone change that is gaining ground
steadily is going To give great relief TO gu
perstitious people. IL isn't much of an in.
novation, and J wonder IL has not beer
tried before. II simply consists Of &
small clamp, attached to blunt hook, OF
which the steamers Of crepe the sym
bols Of death. may be hung on the from
door At present the favorite point e
hang the crepe appears to be the door