Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-07-28
FUNERALS IN HOLLAND
POETIC CUSTOMS OBSERVED IN
THE Low COUNTRIES.
Undertakers Not Allowed to Touch the
Bodies of Wives OF
Mothers.

From the New York Tribune.
A woman who has enjoyed a long resi-
dence in Holland tells various interesting
things of the funeral customs of that coun-
try.
When 'mevrouw,' the faithful wife and
mother. is called away" she says. no pn-
feeling undertaken will touch that precious
body-with the sweetest attention they Will
care for her, and leave her lying quietly in
her own bed. the very bed upon which she
first saw the light of earth, dressed in
simple nightgown, with the national flower.
the pure white hyacinth. or possibly the
lily, upon her breast.
Meanwhile the Aanspreken' goes about
from house to house. leaving at each for
midable looking card with a heavy black
border, announcing the death and giving
the date Of the funeral In some towns
when the door is opened the man steps in
side and reads the announcement in q SOL
emn toned voice.
Calls of Sympathy.
Friends and relatives call during the sad
days that precede the funeral, and the FAM
fly must receive them; on this most trying
occasion duty again upholds them. 1 knew
of an acquaintance who had lost mis- dearly
loved wife, and who stood all one afternoon
with his two children beside MIN, and re-
ceived over seven hundred people.
Without any divine service, the friends
come together on the day Of the funeral
and start for the cemetery. Out Of respect
every neighbor has lowered his shad IS;
thus the street presents a most sombre
aspect
In front of the door stands the 1ijk
koets' (hearse) and 1 shudder now as I
think of that funeral carriage. Open upon
all Sides In each corner a post that sup
ports square canopy. and in the middle
raised platform upon which rests the coffin
all is heavily shrouded in black, with a
full fringe edging its borders. Even the
wheels are lost to view; only the eyes Of
the horses look through round openings cut
for the purpose. Frequently there are four
horses and sometimes six of these heavily
draped animals walking with measured
tread, past the house where 'mevrouw' was
born, past the dear old church, through the
market place, where the women from the
provinces are selling their wares.
Flowers Cover Coffin.
THE coffin Is always OF solid oak pol
ished, at least one and half inches thick,
lined with white muslin. and closed with
screws. Wreaths of black and white beads
or Of ivy, and sometimes flowers. are hung
upon the hearse, and cover the coffin. BY
the side of the hearse walk from eight to
Twelve men, carriers, dressed in black. with
long, circular coats, a crepe band about
their three-cornered hats. and flowing from
the back a streamer of the same material.
->'e ~ manly years ago d man walked IN
front Of the procession sympatheticativ
Wiping his eyes, assuming woe he did not
feel.
Il am sorry to say that many times I
have seen these 'dragers' carriers, on their
return from the cemetery, sitting on the
edge OF the hearse, their long legs dangling
from beneath the curtain of black that has
neen let down, under an influence that was
spiritual. If not heavenly. In some cities a
enid Is hearse consists of a coach with the
"heeis removed. wooden runners taking
their place on the front little keg of wa
ter, which Is allowed to drip slowly upon
the runners to facilitate easy transit
over the cobbled streets. AS a rule the wo-
men DO not go to the cemetery, only the
men OF the family. Once there, a friend of
iong acquaintance will make speech ex-
tolllng the virtues Of the deceased and COM
iortlng the mourners. When the body has
been placed In the vault, the last word said,
| a BRASS box Is passed around, that the poor
may not be forgotten, then the friends re-
turn to the house, where a luncheon is
served" "