The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1902-02-19
The Fashion In Burial.

much vigor as it has the social circle.
John Brown, Undertaken" " is rapidly
disappearing aud in its stead has come
John Brown, Funeral Director"
The change Of words has been accom-
panied with long list Of innovations
in the business, some trivial, others
important, but all designed to smooth
the sorrow that attends burial.
First Of all, fashion decreed that
the coffin had to go. The word was
distastefua to many and in its otead
has como the 'tcasket." In the high
est circles even this word has been re-
jected and "burial case" substituted.
Undertakers say the choice Of words
depends entirely upon the financial
standing Of the deceased. They use
the designation BETTING the case.
When funeral director is summon
ed to home he takes with him cata-
logue showing the various caskets,
plates, etc. A person no longer has
to promenade up and down tho under
takers shop to pick out "casket."
The gruesomeness Of the whole thing
is lessened by viewing the plates in
catalogue. Instead of the old screw
top, the work Of fastening, which usu-
ally grated on the nerves Of mourners
the "caskets" Of to-day have glass
slide, which exposes part of the body.
Then, too, the ''hearse" is no longer
80 called, but is designated the STUN
eral car"
The old-timer attending funeral
nowadays would hardly, it is said, ze-
cognize the vocabulary Of the modern
funeral director. The deceased is no
longer encased in q "shroud" or
''robe." It is called the wrapper
Nor is "crepe" hung on the outer door
casing. Instead, the funeral director
puts out the sdoor badge" The
preacher, too, is not known by that
name. He is the religious director
or minister" Nor is he assigned in
these days to the oarriege with the
principal mourners to assuage their
grief, but is furnished either with o
private carriage, or rides in front of
the procession" with the funeral
director.
Ofttimes poverty, it is said, pre-
cludes the engagement Of minister
to go to the cemetery. His place is
then taken by the funeral director,
few of whom, it is said, are not capa-
BILE of pronouncing the solemn words
that accompany the resoun6ing echoes
of the first earth thrown upon the
"casket."
For those who can afford it shelter
at the grave for the mourners is also
furnished by the funeral director. It
is light wooden frame work, covered
on top and on three sides, and is
erected to the windward Of the grave
to protect during inclement weather
those who listen to the service. A
plank flooring also is provided and
canvas strips or planks laid from the
carriages to the grave.
1t has become customary; too, to
hide with evergreen boughs the ugly
heaps of earth, which were 80 sugges-
! tive and distressing sight to mourn
ers. These boughs are placed in the
grave after the coffin is lowered into
it, and 30 soften the sound Of falling
earth that was another repellant fea-
-ture to sensitive persons.
The method of preparing body for
burial also has changed considerably.
The old-time "freezer," OF "ice box"
is relegated to the past. and embalm-
ing is generally adopted. The injec-
tion of formaldehyde into the arteries
of the body is the chief method en-
ployed. This process, it is claimed,
will preserve the body for q long time.
When the corpse is taken to church
before burial another. innovation has
been adopted Of late years. The fun
eral director furnishes sort Of car
riage upon which to roll the "casket'
to the altar rail, instead of having the
pallbearers to carry it.
The best of undertaking establish
mepts in these days also are provided
with an ambulance. Sentiment alone
has been responsible for this introduc-
tion. Ofttimes person dies away
from home and the relatives object to
the removal Of the body in the ''dead
wagon" The use Of an ambulance, it
is said, smoothes somewhat the repel-
liant suggestiveness Of "dead wagon"
The average funeral director, while
he carries about with him sad and
woful face. feels inwardlv little of the