The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1908-01-04
FIRST WOMAN EMeALMeR.
Dainty Orleanian Takes Up Profession
Novel for Her Sex.
Now orleans Picayune. J

ketS ana pots VI sis dHSiS 10
whose little front yard presents some
Of the most splendid varieties OF the
fern family probably in this city, lives
a little woman " no has come back home
from . recent course in training
school in Philadelphia, armed with a
diploma as professional and sclen-
fife embalmer. When Miss Viola Co
rinne Auburtin first took it into her
pretty head TO follow this, for woman,
unique profession, some. of the con-
servatiyes in the old French quarter
where Miss Auburtin has spent her
life volunteered the usual inform alton
that besets all pioneers in new field,
that sit would never do" Corlnne
Auburtin thought differently.
think" she says, "that there are GER
tain lines OF embalming that are par
ticularly a woman's work. | shall
make the treatment OF women and chill
dren speciality, and am sure there
are few men or women who will not
prefer to turn the care of their beloved
female dead over into the hands OF a
woman, who is especially trained and
equipped for the purpose, than to the
average male embalmer, however ex-
pert"
Miss Auburtin has just returned
with her diploma from Professor
Eckles' Philadelphia Training School
for Embalmers, and will start out
fully qualified to pursue her chosen
profession. According to Miss Au-
burtin's account of her methods so
much that was Objectionable in olden
times has been removed and the OPP
Grafton OF embalming is now, by the
most expert operators, carried on with
the utmost delieacy.
"How did you ever come to think of
this unique profession?" Miss Au-
burtin was asked.
81 think it must have come to me
through sick nursing, OF which | have
always been very fond, and of which
have done much voluntary work in an
unprofessiona way. In the course of
a great deal of sick nursing there came
times when I was called on to prepare
the dead for burial and I seemed to
have shown a special knack OF prepar-
ing the bodies. :"
This statement of Miss Auburtin IS
was borne out by friend, who told OF
the many softening details and the
peculiarly feminine touch that the
young girl always seemed to be able
to put upon the couch of death to
soften its harsh outlines. 81 grad
ually," Miss Auburtin said, "became
more and more convinced that this was
peculiarly woman's field, and de-
termiued to make a study of the work.
] met with some Encouragement, OF
course, but I kept right on. !"
In the school from which she has
just returned, Miss A uburtin says th at
the handling and treatment of the dead
are done with the most exquisite del
icacy and refinement of feeling. There
is nothing harsh or Objectionable, and
the demonstration have shown a rever-
ence and gentle touch OF the unfor-
tunate paupers who were the objects of
their operations as though they had
been born to the purple. The same
humane treatment was required by the
pupils of the subjects treated, and the
utmost reverence for the dead was OBJ
served by all.
Miss Auburtin graduated with per-
centage of 81 per cent and is said to be
noted for her delicacy OF touch and
her peculiar skill in raising arteries.
She will devote her work entirely to
women and children and expects to
carry on her work in conjunction with
the undertakers OF this city, many of
whom she has been assured will be re-
lieved TO turn over to her this feature
of their work, as there are many who,
because OF the want of a woman en-
balmer, have hitherto declined having
the bodies of their female dead en-
balmed. Miss Auburtin carries an
outfit OF the most up.to-date embalm-
ing instruments and fluids. She will
not contine herself to embalming alone,
in which she is particularly proficient,
having made thorough mastery of
the subject in the study Of morbid an
atomy, and in sanitary and hygienic
science, but she will devote much at
tention also to the robing and ar
rangement of the dead in all it's de-
tails, and in the decorations of the
canopies which have recently come in
vogue. In these matters her fine fem
mime taste has already been shown
upon more than one occasion in the
past, and with the special training she
has received, will make itself very ey-
ident.
II Miss Auburtin has taken up what
to many may seem gruesome occupa-
ton there is absolutely nothing NOR
bid about the little lady herself. She
is an attractive, refined and cultured
woman of charming personality, and
her association with, to the feminine
mind, iearsome subjects of death and
burial. has not spoiled her relish for
joke, or her love of wholesome fun.
La her little home at 1880 Columbus
street, her ferns and palms have been
the wonder of the neighborhood, and
her before mentioned front porch and
yard are the admiration OF every
passer-by. These plants are heres pecial
care, and she has been SO singularly sue
cessful in this plant raising, thathad she
not chosen this other profession, one
could easily see that she would not go
very far amiss in G gardening. Toherthe
human body, however, proved a more
interesting study than even her beloved
plants, and one can see that she is an
enthusiast in her profession, on which
she looks from a high scientific stand.
point. She has grit and pluck aud a