Year: 1874

LFrom letter from the Paris correspondent Of the


New York Tmss.l


The best mode of disposing Of our dead
is once more under discussion here, aud
cremation seems to be making some prog
ress. A number of men have come out in
favor Of burning our dead, and when peo-
PIE show no fear of discussing a new theory
there is every reason to count upon its
progress. Recognizing, however, that the
prejudice in favor of our present mode OF
burial is very old and very deeply rooted,
no one expecls TO sec cremation adopted at
once. Alphonse Karr proposes that the
municipal authorities should furnish the
means for incneration in each great ceme-
terry for the use of those who favor the idea,
aud he thinks II would soon cease TO shock
the public, and even become popular when
few rich and noble families have public
ly burned their dead with all due solom-
nifty, and paced their ashes in elegant
funeral urns. Inscriptions could then be
placed upon them and the urns ranged on
shelves in the family tomb. But whether
or not this plan be adopted, We have reach
ed point when wo are obliged to ask our
selves what shall be done with the dead.
Our larger cemeteries are full. a portion
of them is parceed out and sold 10 parties
perpetuite, but for those who are unable
to pay the price thelimit is five years, and
although the dead may be left little long
er, they are soon driven out, the ground is
overturned, and room is made for others.
The bones of all the poor who died ten years
1; 10 Ia, ham and
more the cemeteries are filed. But tue
soil refuses TO do its work any longer. 1t
has become saturated, and will no longer
absorb. The graves are now dug in mass
of putrelaotion, and exhalations are con-
stantly rising to poison the living. Only
thin layer Of earth separates the graves, and
few days ago young and beautiful girl,
the idol Of her home, was lowered into Il
grave which filled the minds of every as
sistant with horror. A stream of liquified
putrid matter was running in from the
grave beside it. Two grave-diggers recent
ly struck too near when opening a grave,
broke open coffin, aud died in a few
hours from the poisonous exhalatious.
Great precautions have TO be taken in dig
| ging ordinary graves, for, as / have pre-
viously stated the ground is thoroughly
saturated, and can absorb no longer. The
condition of the atmosphere and of the wa
ter in this vicinity is something horrible to
think about, and it is not astonishing that
the sckly quarters of the city should be
near these great cemeteries.


But what is 10 he done? The time has
come for another removal Of the dead, and
many lives must be sacrificed in the work.
Five years ago the Emperor was much
moved by report embracing what l have
said above, and his remedy was the open
ing of a large cemetery at Mery-Sur Disc.
! \ railroad was TO be constructed thither,
and all funeral conveys, with as many
friends as the parties wished, transported
free of cost. a bill was brought before the
Municipal Council at his request, but il en-
couutered great opposition from the Radi
Gals. They said that it was an attempt tC
prevent the poor from paying tribute &c
their cherished dead, that the sight of the
fuuera! conveys Of the poor disturbed the
rich in the midst of their luxury and theil
brilliant fetes. The Emperor was mucl
touched by these sncers, and renouncec
the subject. But no sooner was he deaC
than the question was revived by his form


er opponents. NJ. Thiers wanted 10 carry
the project out, but fell before he could dc
it.