THE MODERN CEMETERY. 
143 
Foreign Funeral Customs. 
Funerals in Europe differ from those in this country as wide- 
ly as can be imagined. In France a funeral custom in vogue at 
present is for the mourners at the obsequies of some person of 
limited means to follow the hearse in an omnibus. This convey 
ance, which is black, has the words “Omnibus Funerane,” in- 
scribed in silver letters on either side, so that the careless out- 
sider should not bounce into the midst of a mourning multitude. 
While the Parisians are looked upon as a gay and frivolous peo- 
ple, their respect for the dead is unequaled by any other city in 
the world. Whenever a hearse appears along the streets, all 
noise seems to cease, and one would think that animation had 
suddenly become suspended. Rich or poor, young or old, the 
lifeless form that two days ago might have passed along unheed- 
ed is treated with the utmost respect. The flying vehicles that 
during his life would have run over him in their rapid course now 
stopped suddenly; the men take off their hats and bow their 
heads until the rear of the cortege has passed, and the women 
stop and express their conventional sorrow by courtesying. A 
most painful custom at French funerals is the posting at the 
exit door of the church wherein the ceremonies take place, of the 
male head of the deceased person’s family, whose duty it is to 
shake hands with every person who has been present at the ob- 
sequies. ^n impressive adjunct to an aristocratic official funeral 
is the presence in the procession of the coupe of the deceased, the 
animals led by the grooms in mourning livery. The effect is 
sombre and picturesque. 
In Germany the hearses used in funerals are peculiar, and 
consist of a sort of combination hearse and hack. In the for- 
ward part is a place constructed for the casket, while in the rear 
are seats for the near relatives. Another style there consists of a 
low wagon, long and with squatty wheels, something like a flat 
car. 
In England to a remarkable extent the old Lutheran custom 
prevails. Sometimes a hearse is used to carry the casket, and 
the mourners walk in the street behind, and sometimes the body 
is carried on the shoulders of bearers through the streets. Next to 
the manner of laying out the dead and preparing them for their 
eternal sleep comes the idea of perpetuating their memory. This 
is usually done in the way of an elaborate monument, and in this 
respect considerable advancement has been made during the last 
50 years. The demand half a century ago was for simple designs, 
in tomljstones and monuments, and even 25 years ago anything 
like ostentatious display or adornment was regarded as bad form. 
The fashion has, however, greatly changed, and it is now consid- 
ered the correct thing to have a monument very elaborate as a 
token of respect for the departed relatives 
^I©orre^poiTelence.l^ 
Editor Modern Cemetery. 
The original of the accompanying communica- 
tion was written at the request of the editor of the 
Casket who wished my opinion on a newspaper ar- 
ticle in which it was stated that bodies invariably 
turned over in their coffins. The idea is so absurd 
that to write seriously on it was out of the ques- 
tion. Some of the Modern Cemetery readers 
may wish to express themselves on the subject. 
Charles Nichols. 
We have carefully read the article on “Corpses 
turning over in graves,’’ and conclude that the the- 
ory advanced by the Herald correspondent, ( Bath’ 
England), is a ridiculous misconception. 
The writer of the silly article must have been 
either non compos mentis, or was endeavoring to 
create a sensation — if the former he cannot be bla- 
med, if the latter he has lamentably failed to carry 
his point, or to convince even the most credulous. 
He assures us that in Cochin China, Siam, and sev- 
eral of the Oriental countries, they bury with the 
face downward, so that in thus burying the “corpse 
will right itself by turning over.’’ — We have had 
charge of Fairmount Cemetery going on 24 years, 
and during that period have made about 1800 re- 
movals of bodies from one part to another of the 
cemetery, also of bodies that were removed to, and 
from the cemetery, and have always found on ex- 
amination that the faces were upturned, same as 
when they were buried. When there was nothing 
left but the bones, they occupied a position show- 
ing that they proved our assertion. Let us hope 
and pray that this man at Bath, Engdand, will pre- 
vious to his decease either request, or direct his rel- 
atives and friends to strap him down securely in his 
coffin right side up, With Care, so that he will not 
be able to turn over in his grave. 
Chas. Nichols. 
* * * 
Baltimore, Feb. i2th. 1894. 
Editor Modern Cemetery: 
If I were to meet some of our brother superin- 
tendents in conversation I might interest them, fail- 
ing to meet them I will try to write something. 
My text is ’’Limit and Eliminate,” foot stones, 
name (or step) stones and boundary posts. Not in 
an arbitrary or dictatorial manner, but quietly, de- 
terminedly, with constant iteration and reiteration. 
They are obstructions to the lawn mower. 
Some of our lot holders have consented to the lev- 
eling of graves and the removal of foot stones and 
others have permitted the head stones, (slabs) that 
will not stay perpendicular, to be laid horizontal. 
They become object lessons to point the way for 
others. Two hundred lot enclosures have been re- 
moved, viz. iron railings, bars, chains, hedges and 
marble curbing. 
Some lot holders have removed all the stones 
from their lot, putting one stone in the center. 
For boundary markers I have suggested a three 
cornered stone with lettering on top. The advan- 
tages are, that it gives to every lot holder four 
stones. The angles show clearly the location of 
the lot and where two or four stones come together 
they are not objectionable. 
C. W. Hamill. 
Mount OKvct Cemetery. 
[Mr. Ham.ill is to be congratulated on what he 
has accomplished with his lot owners. — Edl\ 
