St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1904-01-23
BURIAL CUSTOMS CHANGE.
The Gloom of Funerals Has Been Re-
lieved to- q Degree In
Later Yenra.

ut used to be thought almost Sacrlleg-
ious to attempt in any way to dispel the
suggestion of death and gloom at fun
eral, and every cortege, no matter what
the social or financial condition Of the
people, had to have its sombre hearse,
coal black horses and general atmos-
phere of Grape and black bordered hand
kerchiefs," said an undertaken the other
day, to New York Tribune man.
Fifteen years sgo such sight as
funeral party dressed in bright colors
accompanying body being borne to its
last resting place in blue and silver
hearse, as was the case in London re-
Gently, would have Mortified staid Amer
icans,' he continued. To-day, al
though they frown upon such an open
lack of respect to the dead, the people
here are gradually working up to con-
dition where such sights will be viewed
with perfect equanimity, and it can be
said with truth that the old fashioned
funeral is thing of the past
1.-THE absence OF that depressing atmos-
phere and general suggestion OF the
tomb is nowhere more noticeable than In
the house of death itself. Formerly 1t
was the undertaker's duty to repair to
the house few hours before the time set
for the funeral and drape everything In
the room where the body lay-mirrors,
pictures, mantel, windows and the bier
with black Grape. Daylight was al
most wholly excluded, and the entire
place wore such doleful appearance
that a person of any imagination and
susceptibility could not remain IN the
house long without having a touch OF
the blues.
To-day almost no Grape is displayed
at the better class of funerals. Even the
old-time insignia of death at the front
door is replaced in most cases with
wreath of flowers or ivy, while the In
terror Of the house or church Is made
bright and attractive by the use OF flow
ers, greens, ETC. The immediate family
of the dead may wear mourning. at the
funeral, but black or sombre colOrs are
no more in evidence than on other oc-
casions.
1.-The color of collins. too, has under
gone a change Plumes are relegated
to the country districts. Hearses now
have several sets of hangings-blackt to
go with black cofi1ns, gray for collins OF
that color, and white for small children.
Very often black horses are used when
the coffin is black, but gray horses are
seen as often as black ones.
ITO my mind the most important
innovation is noticeable at the ceme-
teries. Formerly funeral party had to
stand about the grave, no matter how in
clement the weather, unprotected from
the elements, and often bareheaded. Now
things are different. Recently tents
have been introduced, and these are
spread over the grave and coed size
plot of ground surrounding it. Being en-
closed on all four sides, those within
are protected from the weather as we'll
as from the eyes of the curious.
Mating is spread on the ground and
delicate women can alight from the car
riages at the entrance to the tent and
enter the vehicles again after the service
is over without having touched their feet
to the ground. Again, flowers and greens
have ben called into play, and now the
grave itself, the earth that is thrown out
and the masonry are covered with ever
greens or flowers"