The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1917-04-19
Death de Luxe
BY Frederick J. Haskin

By Frederick J. Haskin
PHILADELPHIA, Pa, April 13 -Phila-
delphia is noted for many things-a
certain cracked bell, a famous restau-
rant, an infamous street car service, an
Independent spirit, muddy drinking
water, favorlte American cereal, a
unique undertaking establishment.
Philadelphians never have occasion to
worry about what is going to become
Of them when they die. They pay so
much week to the undertaken, and
when they die, they are buried royalty.
They have as the Philadelphian himself
would say, "a swell funeral, purchased
on the installment plan.
This establishment which takes the
sting out of death in the City of Broth
erly Love is fve-story building sup
ported on narrow pillars, suggesting
the eighteenth century French style of
architecture. For the first time since
the days of the Egyptians, art is as
sociated with the undertaking business.
You enter a tall cool white marble foyer
on the ground floor, az the back Of
which are wide white marble staircases
leading to the floor above The floor is
covered with thick Oriental rugs that
muffle the sound of footsteps; the furni-
ture is Of the best Louis XIV style, and
life size bronze Joan;of Arc, with sta
tues of Diana and Apollo in the distance,
lead you to suspect that you've hap
pened in on the wrong concern. 1t looks
more like wealthy Masonic temple, or
an exclusive club.
The second floor, like Cinderella s
second dress. is even more beautiful.
1t consists Of four large parlors, fur
nished sumptuously in the style of Louis
XIV and XVI, and separated only by
heavy brocaded portiers, so that the
rooms may be used individually or all
together. In the center of this group
of parlors is large assembly hall,
where against one side of the wall the
pipes Of a big electric organ stretch
away to the ceiling. This organ is
equipped with the latest mechanical
and electric devices for the manipula-
ton of the stops and pedals, it possess
es three banks of keys, three octaves
of foot pedals, complete set of chimes
and is supposed to be one Of the finest
organs in Philadelphia where there
are many of them.
In this second floor suit OF parlors
some of the most elaborate funerals of
the city have been held, and also some
of the poorest. Wealthy people who
1--we IN hotel apartments having no
facilities for funeral receptions; peo-
pie IN moderate circumstances who
hive IN apartments and boarding
houses, where funerals are also diff
cult, and people of the poorer classes,
also with no facilities for funerals but
with fancy for large receptions that
has led them to pay fifty cents a week
regularly for many wears for the
privilege of being buried here, all lie
in state in this Louis XVI splendor.
For no extra charge is made for the
use of the rooms, this being covered
by the ordinary price OF the funeral.
Not long ago, famous musician was
buried from this establishment. His
whole orchestra had to be seated in the
assembly hall, so that they could play
In respect to their former comrade.
This was done without any difficulty.
however, and the whole four parlors
were thrown open to accommodate the
thousands of guests who came to the
funeral. The next day, in the same
place where had lain the renowned
there was the small grey
casket of a little twenty-year-o
factory girl VINO had tound the making
of buttons too much for her.
The selection of casket is one of
the most important features OF every
funeral, and the whole third floor of
this establishment is devoted to cas-
kets, mahogany baskets and teakwood
caskets, couch Baskets and brocaded
Baskets, and red satin one, which no
one has ever wanted. Some of them
are really beautiful and few Of them
produce that vague sensation of horror
occasiOned by most material things as
ISOLATED with the dead. In gazing at
these delicate-hued, satin lined biers
you feel that death is a dramatic and
artistic thing not half enough appreciat-