Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1907-07-24

led in. young people, sometimes,
though those making such selection
would more likely be old.
There came TO us once, with no
thought of death. a oun man who
selected n casket such as he would like
to be buried In. II he should die ne
did die, not many months after, ana
his relatives buried him in a easket
such as he had selected.
Some years ago we had a visit
from a man of not much, If any, more
than middle age, and of good health,
who selected the style of casket that
satisfied him. We told him politely
and cheerfully that he had no need
for a casket, and didn't appear likely
to need one for a good many years 10
come. but he chose. nevertheless, not
despondingly at all, but because he
wanted to, the sort of casket that ne
preferred. and told us that he should
make provision for its supply ana
where the papers providing for X
would be found when It should be re-
quired. We have not yet been called
upon to furnish his casket and SO we
have no doubt he is still living.
Provided I'm the VIII.
while, as | have said. II would he
most likely older people who actually
made selection of their burial Baskets,
and these might not be numerous, II q
not unusual for persons dying to make
provision i'm their wills for heir funer-
ais. and while these might not select
the casket in which they desired to be
buried, yet they might prescribe The
name of their burial.
And of course there are now many
thousands of people-there have al
ways. to be sure, been many such
who, though they may leave no prop
erty and make no will. do In 0ne way
ar a pnfhnp mako i'm lfn GnIt1hiR nTO-
vision for their funeral expenses. And
Il is a very common custom now for
the survivors of one dead to make
their selection Of the casket in which
the deceased is to be buried.
'In old days when everybody was
buried I'm a coffin, there was no such
choice: however much they might Diff
fer in the materials used in their con-
struction and in the quality of their
workmanship and finish, all collins
were alike In shape, and a mahogany
coffin for instance, was still simply a
mahogany coffin.
But now three-fourths or more of
all the people dying, in the large ON
munities, at least, are buried In cas-
kets. which are very different in d.
sign and appearance from the old-timc
coffin and which are produced in very
great variety as 70 their actual styles
to the materials used in them, as TO
n"oulIlcatlOnS Oh StdIei anu as " tiicil
cost.
Selection by Catalogue.
"And now 1t IS a very common
thing, If o indeed the prevailing
practice. for the survivors Of the de-
ceased to make a selection of the cas-
in which the lea shall be buried.
Such a selection Is often made from
the illustrated catalogues of the cas-
manufacturers, or 1t may be made
from among actual Baskets displayed
in his establishment by h under
or II may he that the underta-
ker will take those making such seIec-
ton to the warerooms of the casket
manufacturer. Here Baskets may be
In very great variety, but present
ing to the eye an appearance different
indeed from hat which would he pre-
by a narraY Of an equal number
Of the old-time collins; for many or
these Baskets are of fine and costly ana
materials. as they may be
also elaborate in workmanship, while
they are all as far removed, as II Is
possible to make them from the old
coffin in form.