New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-11-20
FROM GRAVE TO GAY.
Humorous Side of Cemetery Scenes
Some WOmen'S Whims.

NOOHbC ~ OHLCH ~ HtHJS.
Chicago, Nov. Is (SpeciaD.-The comparatively
low death rate Of Chicago has recently been a sub
ject Of much comment among local newspaper
contributors, and residents of the city have in
dulged in a great deal Of cougratulation upon the
sanitary conditions prevailing here and upon the
extraordinary heaIthfulness of the climate. While
all the claims made may be true and the statistics
given may afford occasion for much serious
study on the part of sober minded people. the
subject has its humorous side like all others which
touch upon the affairs OF humanity. To those who
argue that the city beside Lake Michigan enjoys
unusual advantages in the way of climate and
hygianc regulations which minimize the death
rate the answer is often made in these DAYS that
times are too hard for people indulge extensively
IN the luxury of dying. 1t is said to be well
thentcated fact that during periods of general
business depression the undertaker's trade suffers
in common with all others but whether this is
due to a desire the part of mortals to avoid
the expense of a funeral is n result of a
tailment of the excuses which invite disease and
bring death must be left to the decision Of those
whose nature it is rather to deve for causes than
TO entertain themselves with the contemplation OF
superficial effects
To the average person death is ever solemn and
mysterious thing, associated it generally is with
the thought of beloved relatives and dear friends
whom it has claimed. To many the sight of
cemetery occasions sal TecOlectons II it does not
awaken grewsome terrors. but visit 10 any Of the
spacious and handsomely adorned burial grounds
which among the most important accessories
to great centres of population and an hours con-
verse with the sexton and his corps of gravedig-
gers will convince any possessing a philOsophi-
cal and healthy mind that here, as in all places
where human beings congregate. eladuess turks
where often comes. that laughter often
rings out where tears lately poured. that
humor and pathos may meet the brink of the
grave.
In shakespeare's greatest tragedy the solemn
visaged gravedigger sings his song and cracks his
skull of poor Yorick." And why should he not
sing? 1t is his daily task and he brings TO 1t a
light heart albeit his labor typiies to persons in
other walks of life the heaviest of woes. Familiar
ity with death may not beget contempt for # in
the mind of the gravedigger, but his natural dread
the fell destroyer is certainly minmized. if not
entirely eradlcated. by years OF daily and hourly
contact
The stories told by superintendent and caretak-
ers of cemeteries are as rule. far from par
taking of the nature of ghost stories, for they
late almost entirely to the living. While other
persons often exclaim In the midst OF life
in DEATH" 1t is more appropriate for the grave
yard man to calculate TN the midst of death we
are in life for the little occurrences falling under
his observation In connection with his work make
such revelations OF human life and character as
not to be met with under any other circum-
stances. \ recital of some of the odd incidents
CLEANED among the employees Of Chicago cemeteries
Will serve TO Illustrate and it will be noted that
women afford the most amusing and surprising I'm
stances OF tnexplicabIe whims and fancies
The superintendent Of Calvary Cemetery was re-
Gently approached by a woman whose husband had
been dead two years with the request that the
grave be opened and the body exhumed That Off
ciaI informed her that. unless some good and
sufficient reason was forthcoming. her request could
not be granted lie pointed out the various OBJ
jections made by the authorities to the reopen.us
Of graves so recently occupied but the woman in
sisted that her reason was a good one, although
she hestated about stating il. Seeing that the SUI
perintendent was memorable, she at last took him
apart and in a low tone informed him that she had
placed her photograph in the inside pocket of her
husbands coat at the time OF his death. and that
she had since been told that as long as IL re-
manned there she could never be married again.
The benevolent superintendent. Mr.. Kinsella. sup
pressed his amused feelings and promptly acceded
to the determined widows desire She reioiced
in the possession of her buried photograph which
may or may not have aided her in her quest for
second husband
Thomas Wallis. superintendent of RosehilI Gene
terry relates the story of woman who berated
him solndly because ne had allowed her husbands
grave 10 be dug too close TO that OF a former wife
Mr. Wallis. who has been in the business long
enough 10 enable him quickly 20 seize the ludicrous
side OF such matter ventured the opinion that
the dead man would not be likely to cause any
trouble by being his first wife but wife No.
insisted and stormed Finally Mr.. Wallis told her
that, the lot being small one, room would be
left for herself should the husbands grave be
further removed. whereupon she declared that she
had no intention of being buried there at all and
gave this as the chief reason for wishing that a
wider space should be left between the dead man
and that other woman" she called her pred
ecessor.
Some time aso the mother of several grown sons
and daughters was being buried at Mount Green
wood Cemetery. in the southwestern suburbs. When
the coffin had been lowered into the grave one
of the sons suddenly Ieaped in 6nG Frustrated him
self at full length upon the Nd Il the incIosius
wooden box Go ahead" he shouted cover
up I want to so aIons with mother" The grave
digEers stood around irresolutely and doubt
less as much amused inwardly as they appeared
outwardly astonished while the members OF the
bereaved family endeaVored TO persuade the young
tc out of the grave tie persisted. how
ever, and commanded the shovel men cover him
up An right" said the foreman. go ahead. boys.
shovel in the dirt. Fill up. can't fool around
here all day" The men grnned and the clods OF
earth had soon half hidden the live occupant Of the
grave from view. when he suddenly relnqu.shed
his desire to go along with mother" and hastily
clambered out.
The vagaries of a womans mind are at times alb
solutely inscrutable and astounding. as will be
ticed in the following incident. the truth Of which
vouched for. The family OF a certain man decided
after his death 10 purchase larger lot IN one OF
the most beautiful burying grounds In the vicinity
of Chicago, and had his body removed from the
original lot. which they deemed too small This
latter was aferward offered for sale. The foreman
OF the cemetery explained that burial had once
been made therein but that the body had been re-
moved. The woman who buying the lot in
quircd earnestly whether tho occupant of the grave
had been man or a woman When assured that a
man had lain there she expressed her Willingness To