Year: 1876

Both III America and in Europe there
has been in the last year an unusual out
break of trouble over the graves Of dead
men. 1t would be reasonable to expect
that the conflicts of life would end With
life itself, and that our fellows who are
sleeping their last sleep would not be de-
MED the charity of bed to sleep in; but
It seems difficult for some of US to secure
an undisturbed resting place in the bosom
of our common mother. The remains of
Joseph Guibord have been six years in
Montreal awaiting interment, and to get
him placed in his own lot, purchased
With his own money, has required the ex-
ercise of the supreme power of the Brit
ish government. In the city of Phila-
delphia the body of acolored man a short
time since was taken to a cemetery, in
which he had, while living, purchased
lot, and interment was refused. His
right of burial was denied on account of
his color. The owners of the cemetery
announce that they will not themselves
sell lots to colored persons, and that they
will not recognize the transfer of burial
lots from white persons to colored. a
suit has grown out of this case which will
in time come before the courts. No physi-
ologist has vet discovered that the dust
of one human being differs in hue from
that of another; but it seems that the
color line is sometimes bar of exclusion
from those precincts where rich and poor,
high and low, great and small, are brought
down to the same level. 1t seems pity
that it should be true; but true, neVerthe-
less, it is.


In England the troubles over the graves
of the dead put on something of a ludi-
crous aspect. One rector will not permit
tombstone to be set up because the in
scription fails to please him; another be-
cause the stone is not of the correct
shape, according to his standard of judg-
ment. In a parish near London it had
been the practice to inter dissenters and
churchmen in the same enclosure, a broad
gravel path separating the two classes.
This was not enough for the rector who
substituted for the path a wall, which he
built of his own motion.


These are indeed fantastic tricks, -
but fortunately they do not disturb the
dead very much. In reading of them we
are reminded of the fine humanity OF
Thaddeus Stevens, who, when asked in
the last year of bis life why he had pur-
chased space in Lancaster cemetery for
two graves, replied that perhaps after he
was gone some poor fellow might come
along who had no resting-place, and
might not be unwilling to turn in with
him.


The extravaganza of funeral ceremoni.
ais has increased to such degree in this
country and in England as to become q
serious burden to the living, and to lead
to the formation of funeral reform socie-
ties. The movement has made greater
advance in Great Britain than in the
United States, but it will unquestionably
grow into favor here. The rural deaner-
les of England have talked up the sub
ject with earnestness, and have substan-
tally reached three conclusions: 1. That
greater simplicity in funerals is desirable;
2. That when it is possible the friends in
attendance should walk to the grave;
8. That hatbands, scarfs, and. gloves
should no longer be given to the otficist-
ing clergyman. An association recently
formed in London has for its object the
discouragement of the use of mourning
apparel. 1t proposes to substitute q
simple band or trimming of black on the
.-person. This reform will find favor with
persons who believe that the sombre col
ors which we use SO profusely on funer-
al occasions are out Of keeping with the
Christian ideas of death and immortality.


At the Carlisle Diocesan Conference,
England, held recently, a paper was read
on the funeral customs Of Cumberland
and WestmOreland which showed the ta-
nacity with which some customs are re-
tanned even when the reason for them has
passed away. One of these is the distri-
button Of dole of six-pence to every per-
son visiting the house between the death
and the burial; another, the distribution
of funeral cakes to the guests at the
house; another, the placing of table be-
fore the door of the house covered with
sprigs of box and rosemary, Of which each
guest takes one. The practice of drink
ing, feasting and smoking is described a,
obtaining ''in almost all places" Some
of these practices obtained in New York
and its vicinity during the last century
they have been discontinued, but only tc
make way for profusion and excess in
other appointments on funeral occasions


In the effort to return to simplicity, il
is the first step that costs. We are graft
fed to observe, therefore, that in tn,
burial of one of our best known journal
lists there was an absence of display
Display, in the presence of death, is
ghastly caricature, good sense as well a
good taste commends an transformation
exit from this earthly scene.-N. 7. Even