Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-08-18
FEAR OF DEATH.
Believed to Be Not So Great Now as In
the Past

Vu9 1aSt.
From the New York Times.
That people stand less in awe of death
than they did few years ago Is the BELIEF
of several undertakers Of this city. They
say that nowadays twice as many persons
make preparations for their own burial as
a generation ago. In accounting Tor TINS.
one OF them said:
1T is my opinion that the displacement
of the gruesome wooden coffin by the mod
ern burial casket, which is not offensive
to the eye. has done much to rob death
and interment of their horrors. Some peo-
pie. when they are sick and are fearful
that they will never regain their health.
sometimes call an undertaken. or his or
her friends do 1t for the i'll one, and make
all arrangements for the funeral. selecting
the casket and designating what kind OF
hearse Is preferred. 1t is the same with
some persons in advancing years. we'll
to-do man living in this neighborhood went
for a trip abroad last year. and before
going provided for any contingency that
might arise while he was on the voyage.
He is still abroad. and. peculiar as 1t may
seem, a few weeks ago / received letter
from him, dated at Amsterdam. telling me
that he was still alive. OF course. he did
not say it in those words. but, while he
wrote me about some trivial affair, l could
see plainly that it was simply a pretense
under which he informed me that he had
not died yet. When he shall die he is to
be taken to his native town, and there
buried in specified cemetery. and every
thing will be done in strict compliance
with his desires as he expressed them to
me.
Men who going into hospitals to
have serious operations performed fire.
Quently make arrangements with US for
their funeral and burial, should the oper-
alton terminate fatally. Such men seem to
approach the subject with entire calmness.
But it is different with the man who is in
perfect health. seemingly, at least, but
who wants to make arrangements for the
burial of his body after death. whenever
that shall occur, because he has no rela-
tves or near friends who he is certain will
look after all that is left of IT, or be-
cause he fears he might not have the
money at the end that he has at that time.
One day middle-aged man came into my
office and approached the subject with
manifest embarrassment. 1 understood
what he was driving at, and pulled from
my drawer score or more Of contracts
such as he wanted to make, and he, see
ing that he was not the first to think OF
such thing (although he probably thought
mind) seemed rea ssured. and We proceeded
with the business in a business-like man
ner.
Some of these contracts 1 have made
for certain number OF years. the amount
of money sufficient to cover the expenses
and the payment for my services being de-
posted. And it has happened that when
that period has expired the other party
to the contract has decided that he isn't
going to die, or that he needs the money
and he takes the prepayment and goes on
his way rejoicing. 1t is the same way
with those who go into hospitals to have
operations performed. OF course. If they
don't die the contract is null and void, and
the patients. regatntng their health seem
to forget 1t entirely as they go on their
busy way through life"