New-York tribune., 1907-06-09

7oo oftsn Uhen death comes suddenly 10
household there is absolute lack Of knowledge
as 10 the Immediate requirements and necessary
preparat tons for the funeral. and consequent
worry and confusion added 10 the heart break
ing grief that the loss of a near relative brings
In many instances the members or the 1amHE
are prostrated. and one or two friends take upon
themselves the burden of all the details that are
not in the province OF the undertaken. The
house at once takes on the outward semblance of
respect 10 the dead. All the shades are pulled
down, the bell is mufied and servant is sta
toned in the front hall open the door In I'M
mediate response TO callers, receiving and an
svering messages admitting callers. takins
cards and otherwise helping TO preserve order
and silence and 10 avert unnecessary interviews
II this servant is a man he wears a black livery
while maid servant wears black gown,
plain white collar and cuffs and a white apron
and cap, the latter with black ribbons.
BARRING THE CURIOUS.
The Grape at the door has tied in with it either
vioets, nlies-of-the-valley or some other white
or purple flower in long. loose sprays or shower
effects The stiff arrangements are no longer
used. and Grape by itself is only adhered 20
when the person deceased is of great age. Among
the conservative members of society private fu-
nerals from the house are preferred. Unless the
dead man has had wide public interests or has
held some signally honored position OF trust the
last rites are sacredly guarded from outsiders
who so often go from funeral 10 funeral upon the
slightest pretence Of acquaintance with the fam
ily purely from morbid curiosity and the de-
sire 10 report TO friends equally curious but less
energetic whom they and how the soTrowing
relatives conducted themselves
If there is no male relative capable Of meeting
satisfactorily the many demands that arise in
,5e ll,
have volunteered TO render all the aid in their
power 10 the bereaved family attend TO the
sending Of teiegrams 10 absent relatives and an
nouncements in the papers. They make the ar
rangements with the sexton and confer with the
clergyman. deciding after conversation with the
family upon all the details of the service. They
also confer with the undertaken in order that
he may make no mistake. however trivial, thai
would give annoyance 10 the family.
The decorations whether the funeral is to be
from the house from the church, given
into the charge of q florist, who in these days
completely transforms either the church Chancel
or the in the home where the funeral Is
10 be held by exquisite arrangements of palms
and growing flowers. These lend dignity to
the surroundings. and at the same time soften
the hard bare look that either church or home
seems 10 have at such 4 time. and that natur-
ally would always he associated afterward
with the memory Of the occasion by those most
nearly concerned The flowers, ordered in
Wreaths other forms by the nearest of kin,
are those that the dead loved best in life, and
placed upon the coffin grouped about the
base Of the rests upon which the coffin stands.
IEeSe are. arranged by loving hands when the
funeral is at the house, and at the church they
are brought n by the undertaken and his as
sistants and similarly placed They accompany
the coffin TO the grave, where they are placed
upon the last resting place TO hide the fresh
earth The flowers sent by friends, which come
even when the announcement reads 1T is
kindly requested that no flowers be sent" par
ticularly il young person has died, sent
later TO various hospitals for distribution, the
pieces being taken apart and Tearranged by the
nurses. Every remembrance in flowers must be
acknowledged by j personal note sooner or
later and in response 10 the letters of con-
elolence and cards engraved replies of the fol-
lowing form used: Mrs. SO-and-So CRATE
fully acknowledges your kind expression OF
sympathy These are sent 70 all but intimate
friends. With them note is obligatory
SERVICES AT THE HOUSE.
The rooms in which services are to be held no
longer have the chairs arranged in stiff rows
but instead are kept in their ordinary places as
far as possible. The reason is that if many
people attend enough chairs could not be placed
without much waste Of room and If the funeral
Is private there is necessity for general dis
turbance of the furniture. : carriage Is sent IN
rectory after the interment. II surpltced choir
IS in attendance they also are called for at the
their part is done. At a house funeral the
FAMILY remain upstairs behind a curtaine1
doorway the clergyman reading the service
IRON position where his voice may be heard
by them Those not going to the grave quietly |
leave the house and carriages are In waiting for
the relatives and nearest friends occasionally
only the men Of the family attending the inter
rnert.
AS soon as the corteEe has left the house the |
servants set about restoring the rooms to their !
normal appearance as quickly as possible The
blinds are raised, the Grape is removed from the
door all outward signs Of mourning effaced and |
q luncheon or substantial tea is prepared 10 |
greet the mourners on their Homecoming when !
they will be faint and weary from bodily fatigue
and excess Of grief.
A CHURCH FUNERAL.
For church funeral the preparations are /
more complicated, as pallbearers who are al /
ways selected from the intimate friends of the |
deceased, are asked TO assemble at the housa |
driving thence in carriages, which follow di-
rectly behind the hearse. After them come the