The Waterbury Democrat., 1944-03-11
No o'FIippery'
 At Funeral
tContinued from Page D


 Cobb wouldn't have liked that, The Prophet of Paducah, where parks and public works have been named after him, three months ago, when Illness pressed heavily, wrote his old friend, Edwin J. Paxton, Sr,, local editor and publisher, and asked that the letter be opened after his death.
 Cobb'S Wishes
 "In death I desire" the letter said, that no one shall look upon my face and once more charge my family. as already and repeatedly I have done, that they shall put on none of the bogus hahilimentS of the so-called mourning, Folds Of black crepe never Yninistered to the memory of the departed; they only make the wearer unhappy and self conscious"
 Cobb said that he wanted no frills attached to his final rites.
 "If anybody tries to insert one of those dismal numbers run up by the | NlhlNtGA tuhCA0 VI ~HlNhAAk NVHaAk nent, I'll come back and ha'nt en-" he said,
 The humorlSt asked that his ashes be lald nt the roots of Q dogwood tree in PAducah tat tho proper planting season. Should the tree live, that wall me monument enough to me"
 Paxton said that Cobb's wishes will be carried out, Nc Flowers
 we won't hold 0 celebration be- cause Bill Co youthful nickname for Cobb didn't mean exactly that There will be no tube roses or lilies,
 Cobb suggested that if someone felt moved to say few words, that would be all right and he suggested for the Job-"well, say, Tom Wal Ter"
 Waller, a lifetime friend of the humorist, will speak. He said he will describe Cobb as he knew him when the two were barefoot kids together and tipped over outhouses and fish, cd in the streams.
 Also scheduled to speak are Jack Fisher, Jim Wheeler and Roy Shel. bourne, all suggested by Cohb-all old friends, They will heed his re. quest to make 1t Snappy,"
 Paxton said the memorial serv- Ices will be cheerful and we hope nobody VIII cry"
 The elderly editor paused. and added:
 That's going to be hard though Paducah loved Bill Cobb"
 Irwin Shrewsbury Cobb was au- thor, humorist, lecturer and news paper man. He started as a cub re- porter on his hometown paper, and while young man moved to New York and became one of Americas most beloved humorists.
 Cobb's letter specifically request cd that the Christian burial service which in view of the language en- ployed in 1t I regard as one of the most cruel and paganlsh things in- herited by our forebears from ouI remote Pagan ancentorS." he avoid cd In any services for him.
 He asked, however, that "in jus. tice of the faith of our dear mother, perhaps the current pastor of the First Presbyterian church would consent to read the 23rd Psalm, which was her favorite passage in the scripture, and Is mine since 1t contains no charnal, nor morbid mouthing about corruption and dc. cay, and being inerciful without creed or dogma carries no threat of eternal hell-fire for those parties we do not like. no direct promise of q heaven, which, if one may judge by the people who are sureSt of going there, must be 6 powerfully dull place
 Hell may have the worst climate, but undoubtedly the country is sprightller."
 And over the simple plaque on which provided 1t doesn't cost too much" Cobb asked that Robert Louis Stevenson's own epltaph be inscribed, Thank You" the humor- iSt wrote, mo flowers cover the spot with leaveS-Christma Der. ries from the dat-lands and cedar from the friendly low McCracken county ridges if 1t be winter, and leafy bows from native pickery or hackberries or wild crab.apples If 1t be in other season."