The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-09-25

| the Health Office notifies the asylum to
remove the body and give fl burial
! Under the new laws the unknown dead
are given burial without exception But
those who are known are held at the
morgue and their relatives notif11 II
the body is not claimed within a certain
time the Morguemaster. who is the
agent of the Anatomical Society. has the
right to turn it over to the medical col
leges as a subject for the dissecting ia
! bic or have it buried at his discretion
Anyone who can establish relationship
may require that burial be given More
than that, the dying person may request
that his body be buried and not delivered
20 the colleges. Such a request IS held
sacred.
End of Crave Robbing.
Since these laws have come into oper-
alton there has been an end TO grave
robbing. The colleges are no longer
obliged 10 employ ghouls TO furnish
necessary adjunct TO the instruction OF
anatomical science. At the same time
the restrictions and limitations have
been so carefully drawn that the hor-
nble necessity is satisfied without un
duly outraging the average conception
OF humanity
The life of the man who drives the
dead wagon is about as unpleasant as
any in the District service. In his daily
work he sees only the sad side OF life
and much that Is revolving. It is not for
him 10 think OF the pathos. and he must
steel his heart against the suffering and
misery constantly before his eyes. There
is frequently unfolded to him the worst
traits OF human nature, with but an oc-
casional redeeming incident OF a better
size. There is much that under different
circumstances would be most amusing.
Trip in Black Wagon.
A Times reporter recently made a trip
In the black wagon and conversed with
the driver on the subject Of his expe-
riences. Some Of the facts brought out
are. Of course. too gruesOme TO bear
repetition. There are many things in
life that are better left undiscussed and
the driver Of the dead wagon sees most
OF them
When ASKED what was the saddest
sight he had seen during his experience.
the man hesitated some time. He final
~ replied that though he had seen
much that was sad, he had schooIed
himself TO forget as soon as possible the
details Of his daily life. He had be-
CoiHe SO iar successful In this that fire.
quently he would go through with a
case" and on 20 the next without re-
Numbering any of the details. There
was one incident, however, that had iu-
pressed him deeply.
English Family's Dead.
An English family moved into Wash
ington last winter and found them |
selves in n strange country without
money or friends. The home they Sc
cured was the basement OF n house
which was I'm bad repair. The rooms
they lived and slept in were not heated !
and parts Of the floor were covered with
water that had backed in from the
sewer. AS was 10 be expected, the
children. three in all, soon became I'll.
The oldest. a boy of seven years, died |
first. There was no money to bury
him. so the doctor notified the Health |
Office and the wagon was called
The grief Of the parents impressed the /
driver, hardened as he had become |
Their greatest sorrow seemed 10 be |
that their hrst born was going 10 a |
grave in a foreign country. where they