The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1922-01-08

CHEMISTS have been investigating
mans fear Of the dead and have come
to the conclusion that II IL On In
heritance from . prehistoric age when
primitive men believed that the dead be-
came evil spirits.
Why, indeed, should we fear the dead?
What harm can they do asf What h the
which is well-nigh universal. but b per.
ticularly strong among rough and print.
tive people!
A thoughtiess person might say that We
fear the dead because We are thinking Of
the terrors of death. OF the suffering con-
nected with It and OF the fate that must
happen to us all. But II we consider We
shall see that that Is NO reason for fear.
ing the dead. but rather for. regarding them
with pity and tenderness.
Then, again. It may be said that We
fear the dead because death 10 associated
with decomposition. but that does not ex.
plain the kind OF fear that 10 shown. The
mere state of lifelessness In an animal
excites little or no Fear. Indeed, . delicate
woman win express pleasure ct the sight
of dead leg OF lsmb or some other part
OF dead animal.
Perhaps the most remarkable evidence
Of ous fear of the dead lies In the affiiction
known as "undertakers' fever" For about
two years after taking up his trade tbs
young undertaken Is subject to this ell.
ment. II is mainly mental condition and
shows itself In tremors. Authorizations and
delirium after the undertaken has been In
contact with the dead.
During the two.year period the young
undertaken Is likely to break down at any
time from this trouble, and II 10 dangerous
for his health to leave him alone with
corpse.
An old undertaken relates that he was
forced to drive back to his establishment
through a lonely wood with corpse In an
open box. His young assistant sat back
in the wagon with the body.
During the drive the undertaken looked
back and found his assistant lying down
on his face almost dead with terror. He
asked him what was the trouble II was
several minutes before the man could speak.
At last he gasped:
THE body! II sat up and stared at me.
| could feel its breath on my face. Ughl"
The old undertaken saw at once that u
~
corpse had never moved. II was all Q hs,.
Inclination on the young fellows part. The
older man told him II was imagination and
urged him to cheer up. There Is no cure
for this affliction except long familiarity
with handling OF the dead.
There Is, OF course, some reason why
we should dislike q dead body. but there
is no reason why We should regard II with
fear amounting 10 dread. Even men who
IN n Honssuatva
sights, to the slaughter OF animals and the
toughest work show fear OF the dead In
an extreme degree.
Strange to say. those persons who have
been nearest and dearest to Us often be-
come sources OF terror to US after their
death. Most OF ms can remember q dear
old grandmother, who was regarded a. the
gentlest and most lovable OF human be-
ings as long a. there was any life IN her.
but as soon as she was dead she became .
source OF terror. Her loving children and
and some OF them would not dare to ap
proach the death chamber where she lay
in the dark.
The most peculiar manifestation Of fear
OF the dead IL exhibited IN connection with
churchyards and grsveyards. An enor.
nous number OF persons feel q sensation
Of uneasiness and timidity when passing
through an old grave-hiIed 'churchyard o.
any time, while at night this sensation be-
comes greatly increased. .'
Many OF us think we are free from an
cient superstitions, but how many are
there who can honestly say that they can
stand In an old graveyard on dark night
without tremor? II Is difficult to decide
just how many there are who feel this su-
perstitious terror OF the dead. but there is
evidence that Il d nearly universal Il IL