THE OMAHA DAILY BEE : SUND t MAY 27. 189J-TWENTY PAGES , 13
MISRULE OF GREAT CITIES
"Wadiingtoa Qlntldon Tells How Municipal
Eoform Can Be Achieved ,
SAYS WE DO NOT WANT IT BADLY ENOUG
lu the City Equivalent to Integrity
In the Individual Good ClUicnt
A moat ; the I'oor Tbe Rich
Mluorlly.
( Copyrighted. )
The profit em of bolter city government Is
perfectly simple and entirely practicable.
Any city In tills country can have it right
away. All that Is necessary U that tba po-
ple of the city the Intelligent and fairly
reputable people should deslra It more than
they desire money , or party success , or a
comfortable time ; and should make up their
minds to hare It , even though tlicy may get
a llttb less money , and lose sotna prestige
lor tholr party and put themselves to seme
Inconvenience and discomfort. That Is the
whole qutztlon In a nutshell. Tlia reason
why we hare had government' now ln most
of our cltlc * Is simply because the governors
don't and won t govern. The people with
whom the responsibility rests shirk it ; there
fore It falls Into the hands of those ho are
not fit for th ? duty.
The prob'.um Is just as simple as that of
Individual Integrity. Any man , who wants
character more than he wants riches , or
case or popularity or pleasure , will have
character ; "They that hunger and thirst
after righteousness shall be tilled. " And
the people of any city who desire good gov
ernment strongly and continuously will get
It. The fact that they Haven't got it proves
that they do not want it so much as they
want other and greatly Inferior things.
"But there are the great masses of Ignorant
foreigners , and the largo classes that get
their living by pandering to vice , " will be
cald , "Is it not these- elements which com
plicate the problem and make good govern
ment Impossible ? " No , I answer ; that is
not the chief cause. Doubtless these ele
ments increase the difficulty , but the dlfQ-
culty which they raise is not insurmountable.
At any rate we have no reason for thinking
so.Ve have never seen the people of a city
fall in any serious and sustained effort to
govern themselves. We have no experience
to Justify the belief that they would fall If
they should try. As to the people
who get their living by vice , they are really
a small , even an Insignificant minority. They
do not amount in any city to one-tenth of
the voting population. As lo the Ignorant
foreigners , they are not , as a rule , evil-dis
posed persona ; they are apt to be misled ;
they require a great amount of instruction
and guidance ; as a rule we leave all that
work to the people who are Interested in
blinding and misleading them , and suffer
the consequences. President Low had no
difficulty , when he wa& mayor of Brooklyn ,
In winning the confidence and support of
the people of some of the worst wards for
some of his wisest measures ; he went down
among them , hired a hall and talked the
matter out with them In a manly and
rational way. Ii. these very words his
vote -was considerably larger at his second
election than at hi * first. A great many
of these people are amenable to good In
fluence. Mr. Merwin , in that admirable
article on Tammany Hall In the February
Atlantic , tells us that "tho rank and file of
Tammany Hall , Including most of the office
holders , are sound , honest men. " They
are under vicious leadership , but they are
not Incorrigibly bad.
\VHO ARE THE "GOOD PEOPLE ? "
, U Is pretty hard to draw the line which
separates' the "good people" of the com
munity from the rest. My own opinion Is
that there is quite a number of good people
In the tenements intelligent , conscientious ,
patriotic citizens. But let us take a
wholly conventional standard. Let MS in
clude among the good people the mercantile
and the * professional classes and all the
members of our Protestant churches , most
of whom belong to the one or the other of
these classes. Now , I say that the fault
of our bad city government lies nt the
doors of these good people there and no
where else. I say that these good people
can have good government wherever they
\rant It and are willing to pay for It the
price which such a precious commodity will
always command.
It may bo said that these classes are In a
hopeless minority. I do not know about that.
I am rather Inclined to believe with Mr.
Franklin McVeagh that the good people are
in a "hopeless majority. " But without stop
ping to cbunt noses it Is perfectly safe to say
that If the classes which I have named will
put into their municipal problem the elements
of power which they possess and are re-
Eponsiblo for wielding , the municipal problem
will ba quickly solved. They may not be in
a numerical majority , but they have , in their
Intelligence , experience ana moral power , an
equipment which , if they would use it , would
enable tlfetn to be masters of the situation.
If they would descend from their lofty perch
and take off their gloves they could con
trol , to a large extent , the action of the "ig
norant masses. " This Involves , of course ,
some repression of a kind of contempt which
is cultivated by many well-to-do Americans ,
and a cordial willingness to understand and
co-operate with the people with whom they
are dealing ; It Involves , Intshort , that gen
uine good will on which democracy Is
founded , and without which no Intelligent
man ought to expect to see democracy main
tained.
I fear that some of the "good people who
have followed me up to this point will be in
clined to stop here and turn back. For any
such self-abnegation as this they are not
ready. Reasons , not unconnected with bad
grammar and worse odors , have already
suggested themselves. Such heroes as these
will never , I dare predict , give us good mu
nicipal government. And It is the presence
among our "good people" of a great deal of
this type of municipal government which we
are now enjoying. In truth. It may or will
ba understood that the governing of such
cities as we ore hurling together and heapIng -
Ing up on this continent Is not a nice and
easy Job. It takes work , and a great deal
of it ; It takes time , patience , courage , per
severance. I have not said that these people
can have good government without labor and
self-denial ; I do not know of any good thing
that can be honestly gotten without paying
this price for lu
Here and there some courageous experi
menter is ready to testify that there is very
little sense in this counsel. He knows , be
cause he has tried It. He has ventured
out some dark night to attend the primaries
and found the business all done before he
arrived done by persons whom he will
vividly describe to you. Possibly he has
cone BO tar as to secure an election to the
school board or the city council ; and , after
fighting with wild beasts for a few months ,
has permanently withdrawn from municipal
politics. He tells all who listen to his tulo
that the business is hop-less ; that we are in
the hands of the Philistines and cannot help
ourselves.
NEVER ENDING CONTEST FOH GOOD.
It is true that an occasional irruption of
this sort Into the camp of the enemy counts
for very little. Let no Individual be dis
suaded from undertaking It ; for It is only by
the multiplication of such experiments that
wo shall gather our forces ; nevertheless it is
true that what good government calls for is
not the advent of here and there a respecta
ble man In city politics but the enlistment of
the whole body of the intelligent and reputa
ble cltliens. Then good people must go Into
our city politics , they must all go in , and
they must go in to stay. No occasional spout
of civic patriotism , like that which rescued
New York from Tweed ring rule and Phila
delphia from Its gang and that which has
Just delivered Brooklyn , will servo the pur
pose ; the campaign la precis ly as continuous
at the struggle with selfishness in the human
heart. This Is the calling wherewith they
are called. This la the sovereignty to which
they art ordained. If Intelligence and ex-
perlenca have any place In a democracy
they are here to lead. What else , in
heaven's name , can they b here for ? And
when those elements to which leadership be
longs abdicate their function why should we
expect to escape from pandemonium T
Oar good people , then , must go Into poll-
tic * . They must frequent primaries , as
long a * the pruvmt party organizations are
inalctained. not her * and ther * a shame
faced Intruder , but In platoons. They must
meet the m-n where thry find ( hem , as one
man meets another , In frank and friendly
conference about the thlnps to be done.
They must not be too nlco to talk wttb
people who fmokc rllo cigars and talk had
grammar. Citizenship In this tree and inde
pendent republic tnc.ins something , and they
must find out .that U means. Thry must be
ready to lake Office \ihen It ls offered them
any office , no matter how humble which
tbry art qualified to fill. Thry must t *
renty , the bunlcit and the brainiest of them ,
to take positions on the school board and In
( he city council , and to give days and nights
of perplexing care and unrewarded labor to
the service of the city. Tnesc tfootl people
are not exempt from curli service as this.
Too busy ? A man might ns well say he U
lee bury to furnish food for his children or
to attend his mother's funeral. This Is one
of the primal , sacred. Inalienable obligations.
No man who has any Just ten to of what
citizenship in a republic means will ask to
be relieved of It. The mau who has the
ability to render intelligent and efficient
service to his fellow citizens as n member
of the city council , and who rcfu'cs such
service on the ground that his business
cares do not allow it , Is guilty of a bad
kind of treachery. He has no right to have
hutlr.esR carea which Interfere with the per
formance of bis highest duties. There can
be no business which has a higher claim on
him than the bnslncss of the city la which
he lives.
FOREIGN BRAINS NOT TOO BUSY.
In other lands the best citizens recognize
their pcrton.il obligation. Go Into the city
councils In European cities and you find
there the ablest , the best educated , the
most distinguished men. Lord Rotebery ,
the present prime minister of Eng
land , was the first chairman of the
London county council ; I bcllve that , with
all the weighty cares of the empire upon
him , lie still keeps his seat there. Sir John
Lubbock was his successor. The strongest
men In London are In that council.That is
why European cities are well governed. We
have men enough In our American cities
who are capable of giving us good govern-
enmt , but the great majority of them re
fuse to touch It with the tips of their fingers.
This , I say , is the one central and sufficient
reason for our bad city government.
Of course we need and must have , in mail1
places. Borne radical changes In our munici
pal machinery. Many of our political meth
ods are so bad that It is difficult for the
best men to do good work with them. They
were evidently conducted by the devil of
misrule. But afier all the one deepest need
is a revival of civic patriotism. There Is
one passage In Mr. Merwln's Atlantic article
that stings and * blisters. He is talking about
New York :
"The upper class at least the richer
class , the class chiefly talked about In the
papers is , with exception , of course , given
over to material luxury and ostentation. It
is without alms , without sympathy , without
civic pride or feeling. It has not even the
personal dignity of a real aristocracy. Its
sense of honor is very crude. And as this
class Is devoted to the selfish spending , so
the business class Is devoted to the remorse
less getting of money. A Wall street finan
cier would overreach his own lather In n
business transaction. To get the better of
the man with whom he is dealing has be
come a taw-of his nature , and It Is on that
plan that business In general is done. The
tone of Delmonico's. of the Union club , of
the Merchants' exchange , of the Stock
brokers' board , is no higher than the tone of
Tammany hall. It may be more reflncd , but
is probably less honest. A man of Mr.
Croker's origin , for example , commonly has
on Instinct of honesty. Just as he has an
Instinct of pugnacity , but this primeval In
stinct has almost entirely died out of the
trading and speculative class. "
I do not pronounce upon the truth of this
indictment. Certainly , if we assume Its
truth , we must not fall to emphasize the ex
ceptions pointed out. Let us hope that these
exceptions are rapidly multiplying. But , as
suming these words to be mainly true , how
does the truth stand related to the evil
municipal conditions which affect New York ?
Are we dealing with cause or effect ? With
both , I think. The government of New York
Is what It is today because these men are
what they are. Their selfishness , their lack
of conscience , has given over the city into
the hands of a sordid and brutal tyranny.
But , on the other hand , how much of the de
basement of this "upper class" Is due to Its
relation to the government of the city ? Not
a little. I believe. "Inasmuch as ye did it
not" Is good ground for damnation. The
perfidy which epurns this supreme obligation
must wither and blast the soul. No man can
trlflo with such a trust without degradation.
If what Mr. Merwin Bays is even approxi
mately true , and if conditions at all similar
prevail In other cities , then it would seem
that a great revival of civic patriotism Is
needed not only to save our cities from mis
rule but to save the "upper class" from Ig
nominy. WASHINGTON GLADDEN.
THE TUK.LTEKi > .
The Corletons will Inaugurate their sscond
week of summer opera at Boyd's by produc
ing Monday evening Francis Wllion's ver
sion of Jacobowskl's pretty opera , "Er-
rnlnle , " which Mr. Carleton has secured for
the territory west of the Missouri river. It
has been several years since "Ermlnle" was
produced in Omaha , much of the book hav
ing been rewritten by Edouard Paulton , and
it is this verjlon of the very best of comic
operas which will be made known Monday
night. The entire strength of the Carleton -
ton company will be required to give the
opera properly , and Mr. Carleton will spare
no efforts to make the rendition v.-orthy In
every way the fame of the organization
which he heads and which has grown in
public confidence ever since the opening
night of the summer season. New cos
tumes and stage settings will be Introduced ,
and those who have heard the opera in the
west say it is the best of the Carleton rep
ertoire. It abounds In beautiful solos , duos
and catchy ensembles , with a humor that Is
decidedly up to date. There is not a dull
line in the llberetto tlnce Paulton revised it
for Mr. Wilson , and the music flows as de
lightfully as a mountain stream. The opera
will be cast as follows :
Ermlnie Ml ; * Alice- Vincent
Javotte Miss Marie Bell
Princess Gramponeur..Mli > s Clara Wisdom
Cerlssu Mlas Edith Elbrldge
Captain Launay..Mlss Emma Function
Murle Miss Maggie JJVynn
Eugene Mr. J. C. Taylor
Chevalier de Bradazon..Mr. H. M. Imaiio
Marquis Mr. S. C. Porter
Simon Mr. II. Ehrent
Dufoli Mr. J. K , Reynard
Vlscompto de llrissac Mr. W. U. Dlxon
Benedict Mr. Robert Perris
Cadeaux Mr. Tom Rlcketts
and
RAVENNES MR. W. T. CARLETON
"Ermlnle" will be given , Monday , Tuesday
and Wednesday evenings and Saturday
matinee , Balfe'B "Bohemian Girl" the
balance of the week. One of the remark
able things in connection with this opera
is that it Is as popular with the patrons
and admirers of English opera as it was
half a century ago , having had Its first
production at Drury Lane theater , London ,
November 27 , 1843. It is as certain to fill
a theater now as then and there has been
no waning of Its charms In the meanwhile.
Of how few operas can this be said truth
fully ? Tonight the Carletoos will do Gilbert
& Sullivan's opera , "The Mikado , " with Mr.
Carleton In the titular role. While the
first week of the summer season of opera
has not been what It should have been , In a
business sense , theatergoers have recognized
the sterling value of the company and there
Is every indication that business will
grow as the public becomes educated to the.
low prices prevailing and recognize that
they can see a J1.50 performance for 75
cents. While Bummer prices prevail It Is
a winter series of operas that are beliic
given.
"Michael Strogoft , the Courier of the
Czar. " one of the grandest and most popu
lar dramas that has ever been produced , will
open a week's engagement of the J. P.
Kutlodge company at the Fifteenth Street
theater this afternoon. The surprising fact ,
In connection with this announcement. Is
that the prices of admission have been re
duced to 10 , SO and 30 cents. The summer
season Is with ns , and Manager Burgess nas
made this reduction in accordance with an
established theatrical custom. At these
prices , which are very unusual for Omaha ,
and merely nominal , as everybody wilt con
cede , the perfonnances should be well at
tended. "The Bank Ilobbers" will be put
on for the last half of the week , opening
Thursday ,
Graders discovered the skeleton of a white
man under a bank of earth at Arlington ,
and sn effort Is bel&g mada to ascertain
bow th "late lamented" came to his death.
DUST TO DUST BY CREMATION
Description of the Plant for the Carrying
Out of the Process.
HOW CORPSES ARE PLACED IN THE FURNACE
Frogrrm of the lcn < t Unity from the Coffin
to the Urn Talk with the Manager
of the limitation nt
SU Louis.
A now business venture , such as dealing
In second-hand coffins , caskets , etc. , estab
lished In Ornnha at the present day and
age would be an innovation indeed , and
calculated to call out comment. The un
dertaker who should be bold enough to
announce his engagement In that trade ,
even Douglas county's Inimitable coroner ,
would place himself at once under suspicion
of participating In grave desecrations or
other execrable deeds , and thereby call
down upon himself the indignation of a
large portion of the community. Not until
satisfactory explanation of the source ,
whence his wares were derived were given
might he escape the wrath of those who
shortly previous were made to mourn the
loss of relatives or friends. There can be
no tenderer thoughts than those binding
memory to the last hours or the llnal view
of a departed loved one before the coffin
lid shuts out the light from his form for
ever. Long after , Involuntarily sometimes ,
memory's pages vividly recall the lowering
of the coffin Into the grave. Recollections
reach even beyond the mound In the silent
city , where many a tear Is fhcd. Through
all the grief and sorrow which the parting
has brought , some comfort remains by the
consciousness that the dearly beloved le-
po8cs in an encasement beneath the ground
which cannot pollute the remains , until by
decree of time they shall again form a part
of It.
From the prehistoric period to the pres
ent funeral customs have changed but little
among most peoples. It remained for the
latter part of the nineteenth century to
inaugurate a radical departure in Europe ,
and in this country when , during 1874 , Dr.
Lemoyne of Little Washington , near WheelIng -
Ing , Pa. , built the first furnace. In which
Baron de Palm's body furnished the first
practical test of the Incineration method.
The example was followed by others , until
today there are a number of crematories in
the country , and especially In eastern states.
Bodily cremation seems thus to have come
not only to stay , but to gain additional ad
herents with the years. With this devia
tion by a portion of the people
from ancient customs and the
new system's being more and more put into
practice , the second-hand trade in coffins
will flourish correspondingly. The future
establishment of a crematory and the new
business attendant thereupon in Omaha
may not be considered as altogether out
side the range of possibilities , since many
favorable opinions respecting it have been
expressed whenever the subject has re
ceived attention. If the reality should hap
pen then a younger generation in Its time
might perhaps bestow no more than ordi
nary attention upon a business sign an
nouncing a second-hand trade in coffins.
In St. Louis , with a crematory , such
dealers are already established , according
to good authority , although their business
at present has not reached the proportions
to which they may aspire in the future.
Much has been said about the subject of
cremation. Enthusiasts have sought to
make it an interest-absorbing topic , and to
claim it as the best method yet devised for
the disposition of bodies after the immortal
soul has gone. Comparative Inexpensiveness -
ness , If people can be divested of what is
termed foolish notions , Is urged in favor of
It. Its dispatch In re-unking dust to duet
Is set forth as commending itself to every
body , and the final funcrul arrangements
are said to be calculated as non-productive
of the Jar upon the high tension to which
the feelings of bereaved persons have been
wrought , when the coffin is lowered Into
the grave and the earth clatters down upon
It. It is also claimed as advisable from
a philanthropic and sanitary standpoint , and
viewed in the light of progress over the
custom which has prevailed for ages.
Opposed to these views , of course , are the
great majority of people living at the pres
ent age. Most of them cannot but experi
ence a feeling of revulsion at such a pro
cedure and shudder at the bare thought
of having their earthly remains devoured
by the flames. A mother's teachings of a
future beyond , and an aversion from a re
ligious standpoint , also commingle with this ,
and enter largely Into unfavorable consider
ation. Still , other reasons have been ad
vanced very recently , when the newspapers ,
In long articles , emanating from the mother
and relatives of Annie Plxley , the Ameri
can actress , charged the latter's husband
and manager of her estate , Robert Ful-
ford , with having brought about his wife's
death and resorted to cremation In order to
prevent exhumation of the body and the
tracing of the crime. /
In another instance , in St. Louis , it was
charged In a newspaper account that Wil
liam B. Lange , a once prosperous business
man and prominent German-American ,
whose death occurred several months ago
from "violent congestions of the lungs , " and
whose ashes repose now In an urn In the
Missouri crematory , had committed an act
of self-destruction , but investigation was
checked when the flames reduced the body
to dust.
IN THE ST. LOUIS CREMATORY.
It was seven years ago that St. Louis citi
zens associated themselves together and
purchased five acres of ground on which the
Missouri crematory was erected. This tract
lies about five miles from the postofflce , on
Sublette avenue , in the vicinity of the asy
lum for the insane in one direction , the poor
house and female hospital In the other. The
substantial building of brick with stone cor
ners stands upon rising ground , which slopes
In all directions from it. A short distance
away is the neat little frame cottage occu
pied by the Janitor , his family and assist
ants , while in the rear of the crematory
long rows of cord wood , piled high , reach
down to a wood shed or barn.
The building , in its architecture , resembles
a chapel with small stained glass windows ,
through which the light casts a somber hue
upon the interior.
The grounds are partially surrounded by
a neat fence , and shrubbery and trees are set
out to beautify the strips of land , separated
by graveled walks. A sign at the gate an
nounces that visitors will be shown around
by the janitor on application at certain hours
of the day , for which service that function
ary shall be entitled to a fee not exceeding
10 cents. Nothing on the exterior denotes
the character of the work carried on within ,
and the two fiery furnaces In the building
are not even marked by a tall smokestack.
Only an Iron-topped chimney of diminutive
size protrudes its head slightly above the
walls to the rear.
"Missouri Crematory" Is in large gilt let
ters upon the front of the structure , and
after ascending several stone steps , visitors
and mourners are admitted Into a spacious
hall Ihrougn a double door. The floor of
the interior U of tiling in two colors. The
smooth surface of the walls , in opposite
corners , about eight feet In height , is broken
by several niches , which are occupied by
black marble family urns , bearing the
names , dates of birth and death of those
whose ashes rest therein engraved upon
them. These were manufactured In the
capital city of the German empire , at the
express order of wealthy residents , surviv
ors of the deceased. Other urns , less
costly , stand upon brackets affixed to the
walls and are encircled by wreaths of flow
ers , symbolic of love. Still others are
placed on tablets against the walls. At the
farther end of the room steps lead to an
elevated platform , where the organ stands.
Fronting it is the crypt , a stationary struc
ture covered with black cloth , into which
the coffin Is rolled , and which hides from
view the body's Journey to the basement
when the doors are closed. A tiny bell
pushed at this Juncture indicates this to the
waiting attendants below. Surrounding the
crypt are palms , evergreens and bluer
potted plants. They also occupy places
near the walls and on the platform. Rows
of chairs are placed near the structure to
seat the relatives and other mournura. A
large framed notice on one of the walls
gives the names of the present directors
and officers of the .institution , and states
the cremation fee to be $25 tor all corners.
In ( bo basement a bright light , through
unobstructed wliidowK , admits of a clone in
spection of furnaces "tftfd apparatus for In
cineration. The Inturior of tlif furnace * ,
which resemble ov piwrlth Intricate con
struction , possesses many points of Inter
est. One of these1 was1' added only a short
tlmo ago to meet Ui0 < cvtr-lncr-uslng de
mand for cremation , i , The tirst one was
tmllt by nn Italian , whose buMn s was
that of constructing fiirnaees of thU char
acter , but In the neV one Amerlran inge
nuity was used to ; m > od Advantage. Con. ,
trary to prevailing nuUaus In cremation the
flames da not play directly upon the body.
Incineration la ncco&tfltthed by the gases
and the Intense heat , generated by the
heater , slatlouod lu an adjoin
ing room. This .heater is of dura
ble material , almost 'Square , with somewhat
rounded corners. Fuel Is added from a
round projection at the top which U closed
by an Iron slide. The intense heat pro
duced by the seething flames is forced
through a Urge pip ! Into the oven part , only
again to be conducted Into smaller pipes
and apertures , which continue the radiating
process with intensifying results. What
a stntus the heal reaches may t > ? Judged
from the appearance of the Iron , platform-
like , apparatus upon which the bodies are
deposited when in the furnac ° . From Its
original Iron color It Is changed to almost
white. When the coffin descends from the
superstructure It Is conveyed , by means of
the truck upon which It r ? ts when first put
Into the rrypt , through an archway Into
another room and deposited upon a plat
form. Here It is opened and the budy
placed on the sliding apparatus , which
stands upon rollers upon another truck run
ning on rails to the furnace. Tli ? top ap
paratus , or resting place of the body , con-
slstH of two long Irons firmly held together
by heavy cross bars , with an Iron sheet
underneath. An ordinary linen sheet , dlpp-d
Into water In which alumn has been dis
solved , Is used as a covering for the form
to prevent the heat from doing its work
on hair and clothes , which would emit odor
before the furnace doors could be closed.
Only a slight push Is required and the truck
will start on Its track with the burden. Its
contact with the furnace gives It the Im
pulse to roll on into the oven with very
little assistance. With the doors tightly
closed the heat soon consumes all that Is
mortal. Not the least odor during the
progress of incineration Is to be detected.
Three small burners , two In fiont and one
In the rear of the furnace , consume all
vapors arising from the body. In an hour ,
or at most one hour and ons half , all Is
done and after allowing sufficient time to
cool the attendant reopens the doors and
withdraws the Iron platform , upon which
the ashes He scattered , from the furnace.
Carefully sweeping thorn together they are
placed , at first , in a common urn , which is
to Join other like receptacles on the shelves
around the walls of the basement. Ther
it will remain until relatives shall call and
direct the" disposition of the ashes in ac
cordance with the deceased's wish or their
own inclinations , whether that be a scatter
ing of them to the four winds of the heavens
from some high tower or a casting upon the
turbulent waves of the mighty ocan. To
each of these urns , for temporary use , a
card Is attached giving the name of the
party and other-data.
CREMATION PROCESS AS WITNESSED.
When The Bee correspondent visited the
place several weeks .ago two funeral pro
cessions were expected to arrive that after
noon. After making known his desire to
be present during tkV funeral services and
the cremation processj President Stlfel of
the Missouri Crematory association , who
chanced to be on thc'grounds , consented and
conducted the corresporident through the in
stitution for an inspecting tour.
A feeling of awe impossible of repression ,
commingling with vagus and uncertain Ideas
as to what his eyes' might behold within
arose in the reporter-gcbreast , when he was
about to Intrude hlscjiresence Into the com
pany of the dead. T e Interior surroundings
at first glance and the elements without
were not calculated 'bn this occasion to at
once dispel shuddering thoughts. A perfect
hurricane prevailing ou of doors might have
'
supplied our fm'dginatiye minds with Ideas
of loud protests by the'elements against the
proceedings about to' T > e begun. Out of a
leaden sky a dull ligttvcast & sombre shadow
through the small windows , giving to all
things within a peculiarly weird , gloomy
and phaiitastic appearance. Especially was
this BO with regard to the deep "black crypt
and the black marble urns. In bold relief to
this , however , was the center ceiling ,
cupola-shaped , with angels In beautiful fresco
work and other things denoting happiness
in on unknown world.
Several young ladles , among them the
organist , were already assembled and occu
pied chairs , waiting for the first funeral
procession to arrive. Shortly after the
hearse stopped on the graveled driveway in
front and the pall bearers bore In a cloth-
trimmed casket. The first sounds of the
organ rang out when the steps were as
cended. Without halting in the chapeJl the
casket was noiselessly rolled Into the crypt.
The mourners seated themselves , 'and a
friend of the deceased stepped upon the plat
form to the head of the crypt and delivered
a touching tribute to the man whose body
was even then , unheard and unseen , of
course , descending to the room below. This
short eulogy abruptly stopped by a flood of
tears in the speaker's eyes closed the sim
ple service , and when It was ended a second
trip was made to the basement on Mr.
Stlfel's courteous invitation. The furnace had
received and already closed in upon the corpse.
Down below the heat was fast reducing It
to ashes. With the exception that perhaps
the fire seemed to be burning more fiercely
and with a roaring noise , things around the
furnaces were found in the same order as
before. Not a vestige showing that the body
had been received there remained. The pres
ident being asked as to what had become of
the casket answered that it had been placed
In the rear , where it would be reduced to
kindling wood , the same as those of the
costliest order.
"We have been asked , " he continued , "to
keep a number of coffins In different sizes on
hand to accommodate those who might wish
to use them In case of bereavement , as well
as effect a saving for bereaved poor persons
who are unable to purchase new coffins , but
In doing BO we would clash with the under
takers. This latter we wish to avoid , espe
cially since they take now more kindly to
cremation. When we first slatted this Insti
tution they were all much opposed to us , but
gradually their resistance has given way ,
until now both Protestant and Catholics , as
well as nonbellevers , find burial here with
their full consent. They have come to the
conclusion that our process does not threaten
to reduce their revenues. The custom of
expending money lavishly In purchasing
costly caskets and on the dress of the dead
who are to be cremated Is t > otb foolish and
worse than useless. The former are used a
few hours only , to be broken up again la
order to make room for others. The latter ,
especially habiliments made of woolens , re
tard quick incineration by a slow and not
entire consumption. ' Particles of woolen
cloth will find lodging places and clog up
many of the small opqrtures in the furnaces ,
necessitating frequent .cleanings ; but until
people shall desist from throwing away
money in this manner we will be compelled
to put up with their notions. "
Answering another question , the chief offi
cial of the institution , said : "Some of the
undertaking firms here In the city take back
the empty coffins or caskets and sell them a
second time , but ad having been already
used , If the customu ( does not mind that.
They can be sold , of , course , much cheaper
the second time , but the undertaker today
could not be Induced" to carry on that kind
of trade. The number of those who do engage -
gage in It is only ftuall yet and the trade
limited , but there Is no telling what dimen
sions It may reach Iri the future It cremation
continues on the IncfeAse as It has done. In
the case of contagiousand Infectious diseases
we Incinerate cofflh and all , but to do so
when there Is no necessity would only be
accumulating an extraordinary amount of
ashes. So far In the neighborhood of 300
bodies have keen cremated here , and wo ex
pect a proportionate Increase as people come
more ansl more around to our way of think
ing. Another body Is to arrive In an
hour from Los Angeles , Cal. The
party used to live here. Tomorrow
we will rect-lve one from San Antonld , Tex.
We contemplate erecting a columbarium In
the near future , where all the urns left are
to find a final resting place. It will be a
sort of memorial hall. "
A further query as to how Mr. Stifel came
to be connected with such grlevcsome busi
ness was answered by him'
"A few years ago myself and a few
friends were seated , I think at L'elerkranz
hall , when two other friends , shivering with
the cold from head to foot , entered. Both
said that they had greatly suffered from
the Inclemency of the weather while at a
funeral To this I casually remarked that
the bttlMIng of a crematory would b the
right thliiR and that their experience of that
day would not be repeated It this were done.
Surviving relatives and friends of deceased
persons would avoid catching cold while
Mending bareheaded In the cemetery by the
grave Talking It over lu this way we found
that our views coincided In the matter and
not tang after w ; organized the present com
pany with a capital ot $20,000.
MAY THEY PLEASE THE COURT.
Entrrtnlnlns Anrr < lotc of Members of
llmrli unit liar.
"There was a good Joke played on Judge
Dundy of the United States court at Omaha
several jcars ago. H makei me laugh
every time I sec the Judge's naire In print , "
said Thomas A. Weaver to the Globe-Demo
crat man. "Judge Dundy U quite tender
hearted and dreads to Bend a married man
to Jail. Well , there was a fellow on trial
for passing counterfeit money. He was a
single man nnd the cass against him was
qu'tc ' strong. Judge Baldwin was defending
him , nnd xeelng that the case was hopeless ,
Baldwin decided to take advantage ot Judge
Dundy's weakness. He hunted up an old
lady who had five children , ringing from 8
years to S months old , and had her Impersonate
senate the supposed wife and children
of the prisoner. All through the trial they
sat , often weeping. The man was found
guilty. Three dnys later when the prisoner
was brought up to be sentenced , the woman
nnd children were brought In nnd Judge
Baldwin , who Is very dramatic , made a
pica for the man and his family of little
ones , who would suffer If the father was
sent to prison. Baldwin wept , the court
wept , the prisoner pretended to weep , as did
the woman and the children. When the
court had wiped nnny the tears he talked
severely to the man nnd then gave him one
day In Jail nnd $10 fine. Later on , when
he learned how he had been deceived , he
became so angry that It was weeks before
he would speak to Judge Baldwin. When
the Joke got out everyone twitted the court.
After that the sight of a handkerchief np-
plled to the eyes In Judge Dundy's court
was liable to get the prisoner ten years. "
Mr. Sergeant Wllklns once defended a
breach-of-promlse. case for a singularly ugly
little man , which he told the defendant ,
after reading his brief , must be "bounced"
through. And the sergeant did bounce It
through in a truly remarkable manner , says
the Detroit Free Press.
"Gentlemen of the Jury , " he said , nt the
close of a most clcqucnt speech , "you have
heard the evldencs for the plaintiff ; and.
gentlemen of the Jury , you have seen and
have admired that most bewitching plaintiff
herself. Gentlemen , do you believe that this
enchanting , this fascinating , this captivat
ing , this accomplished lady would for one
moment favor the advances or listen with
anything save scorn and indignation to the
amorous protestations of the wretched and
repulsive homunculus , the deformed and de
graded defendant ? "
His client looked up from the well of the
court and pltcously murmured : "Mr. Ser
geant Wllklns ! Oh , Mr. Sergeant Wllklns ! "
"Silence , sir ! " replied the sergeant. In a
wrathful undertone ' 'Gentlemen , " he con
tinued , bringing his fist down heavily on
the desk before him , "do you think that
this lovely lady , this smiling creature , would
ever have permitted an offer of marriage
to be made to her by this miserable atom
of humanity , this stunted creature , who
would have to stand on a sheet of notepaper -
paper to look over twopence ? " The Jury
at once gave a verdict for the defendant.
Recorder Smyth had an experience on
Fifth avenue recently that recalled the
threats of violent revenge muttered by
felons whom he has sent to Sing Sing for
long terms. The recorder , says the New
York Herald , was strolling down to the
Manhattan club after dinner on a raw ,
misty evening when the electric lights were
out of repair. In the deep gloom half way
down the side of the Fortieth street reser
voir a rasping , threatening voice said :
"Recorder ; yer sent me to prison Eve
years ago. I've been follerln' y'all th1 way
from yer house. "
"Well ? " asked the recorder calmly , yet
not unexpectant of a sandbag entering Into
the dialogue.
"I've reformed now , " continued the voice ,
"and I thought mebbe y'd help me git a
Job. " ,
"Call at my house tomorrow moraine. "
said the recorder In unchanged tones. The
man got his Job and be Is working indus
triously , and he has not the least Kdea of
the first effect of his voice crying in the
night
If a story told of Richard Prendergast is
true he must bo ; n better lawyer than he Is
Judge , says the Chicago Record. He took a
case on one occasion , so the tale runs , that
promised well except for one thing. There
was a precedent that was directly against
him.
him."That
"That other case will surely be brought
up , " said his client.
"Never mind , " replied the ex-Judge , "I
can get around that. It's a fool decision
anyway. Who rendered it ? "
"You did. "
"I did. "
"Yes : when you were on the bench. "
"Well , that doesn't make any difference , "
returned the lawyer calmly. "I can beat
It anyway. "
And he did. He went Into the county
court and showed that the previous deci
sion was not according to law and could
not be held to establish a precedent. He
was successful In practically overruling his
own decision and won the case.
The Independent tells an anecdote of
Joseph B. Choate In connection with the
Brigs case , the Intricacies of which he re
fused to master , while a brother lawyer ,
who is a member of the distinguished law
firm , a large part ot whoie business consists
In winding up bankrupt flrms and broken
down corporations , took much Interest In
it , and sent him an octavo volume contain
ing a full report of the trial. This Mr.
Choate acknowledged when they met , with
his usual courtesy , but ho could not help
saying : "But I cannot see what you are
after , unless , " he continued , "It be to break
up the Presbyterian church , so that your
firm may have the business of reorgan
izing It. "
The general minutes of the Methodist
Episcopal church South for 1894 show 0,487
traveling preachers , 6,513 local preachers ,
1,329,673 white members , an Increase ot
40,123 during the year ; 312 colored members ,
a decrease of 45 ; and 3.S25 Indian mem
bers , a decrease ot 729. There are 13,185
churches , valued at $20,567.707 , and .3,103
parsonages , valued at J3,675,739.
According to the Methodist Year book for
1694 , there are now In the two bodies of
Episcopal Methodism In this country 3,545-
OC9 members , and adding the other branches
of Methodism in the United States the num
ber Is considerably over 4,000,000. Canadian
Methodism numbers 252.17S members , and
British and Irish Methodism over 600.000.
Adding the adherents of Methodism to these
numbers would make a total of 25,000.000 ,
the largest Protestant church In the world.
This great number has grown from a mem
bership of CG.COS in 1791.
Census returns recently Issued show that
there are in New Zealand 1,197 churches and
chapels , being an Increase ot 134 in five
years. Two hundred and forty-ono school
houses are used for Sabbath services , and
1C1 dwellings and public buildings. These
various edifices have accommodations for
278.114 persons ( or less than half the popu
lation of the colony ) , and are actually at
tended by 197,055 , or about a third ot the
population. Presbyterians report 40,785
church-goers ; Episcopalians , 37.252 ; Roman
Catholics , 30,525 ; Wesleyuns , 27,106 ; Salva
tionists , 14,442 , There are 450 Jews , 200
Freethinkers , and 3,803 of no denomination
at all.
m
llhuuinatliiu Curml lu Three Oays.
"I have been afflicted all winter with
rheumatism In the back. At times it was
so severe that I could not stand up straight ,
but was drawn over on one side , " says
George A. Mills of Lebanon , Conn. "I tried
different remedies , but without relief , until
about six weeks ago , when I bought a bottle
of Chamberlain's Pain Balm. After using it
for three days , according to directions , my
rheumatism was gone , and has not re
turned since. I have since recommended It
and given it to others , and know they hava
been benefited by Its use. " For sale by
druggists. _
A camp of over fifty Woodmen of the
World has been organized at Plattsinoutt.
THE
Cnnnc
I I
Ug
FOR SPOT CASH.
Every' article we quote here
is guaranteed'at actual cost or
under , and
FOR CASH ONLY.
Children- * ' bonnets
In silk and luce , act
ual value C&c.
Spot Gash ut 25c.
Ladles' line shirt
waists , actual value
$1.35.
Spot Gash at 50o.
French S.itlnc wrap
pers , KJ.&O value ,
"
Spot Gash at $1.75.
Fine silk wnNts , ac
tual value W.7& ,
Spot Cash at $2.48. -
Fine silk walfts , ac
tual vuluu Jj.UO.
Spot Gash at $3.75.
Pine silk wnlstH , ac
tual value 17.5U.
Spot Gash at $4.48.
Latest styles ladies'
all wool jackets , ac
tual value 85.00.
Spot Cash at $1.75.
Latest stvle Indies'
all wool JRckots , uctu-
al value 810 ,
Spot Gash at $4 98.
Actual vuluo S3 00.
Spot Gash at $1.48.
Actual value 15.00 ,
Spot Cash at $2.38.
Actual value $7.50 ,
Spot Gash at $3.75
Actual value $10.
Spot Cash at $5 00.
Actual value S1C.OO.
Spot Cash at $7-50.
At those prices wo
will sell one garment
only lo a customer.
One lot of kllk nnd
iron frumo grenadine ,
regular value , Jl.OO.
Spt Gash at 97a
Ladles' hemstitched
and FC.illopod hand
kerchiefs. In plain or
colors , actual value
20c.
Below Cost at So-
All our 35cnnd 40c
best Scutch glnglmms.
Under Cost at 18c.
Trench flnnnolette ,
in now designs nnd
colorlucs.actuul value
L'Oc.
Under Cost at 9c.
A lot of laces In dif
fer out widths , actual
value SOc.
Spot Cash at 25c.
Colored nmbrolder-
Ics.up to 8 Indies wide ,
uctuul value ilUc ,
Spot Cash at 121(5. (
Schilling's Model
Form , extra long , IilKU
liUbt corset , actual
value Jl.OO.
Spot Cash at 83c.
Ventilating satin
striped corset , regular
7&c goods.
Spot Gash at 43o.
Fine damask Lunch
cloth , hoinstltcli , with
upple blossom pat-
turn , actual vuluo $2 ,
Spot Cash at $1.25.
Gowns , sVlrts and
drawers , mudo of ex
cellent cambric and
iiinsllii , actual Miluo
II.6.
Spot Oa h at 87c.
Children's R I n. u o
halt , with button
crowns ,
Spot CaRh at 50c.
Children's hats with
satin crowu uud luca
rlmn ,
Spot Cash at 75o.
Iloya' irash flannel
suits , actual value 14 ,
Spot Oafih at $1.
Boys' OOc pauU.
Spot Cash at 37ia
Boys' uOc unluun-
dcrcd shirt \\uUts ,
Spot Cosh at 23c.
f 1 boys * klug waists ,
Spot Gash at 75o-
Canvass belts ,
IOC.
Leather girdle bolts ,
25c.
Fancy gold belts ,
75c.
Pink and blue col
lars and culls , tut ,
25c.
25c
120.
Fisher's root beer ,
17o.
Florida water ,
13c.-
Plna and sllvorod
trays ,
80.
Dress stays , dozen ,
5r.
All our flno Import
ed French chilllcs ; ,
actual value up to 7So.
Spot Oaih at 45c.
8-lnch tin wash
boiler.
Spot Gash at 58o.
Nlcklo-platud , por-
celaln-ltncd , S-oleco
pudding dish , actual
value S1.2D.
Spot Gash at 53a
Good floor brooms ,
actual value 25c ,
Spot Gash at 17c.
Ladles' Ono lisle
thread vests , ecru and
white , actual value
40c.
Spot Gash at 21a
Ladies' all Kllk vosts.
ll.&O quality ,
Spot Gash at 48o.
Ladies' Egyptian
llblo drawers , Icnco
length , actual vuluo
7Cc.
Spot Gash ,
Ludics' Egyptian
cotton VL-fcts , regular
25c quality ,
Spot Gash llo.
Ladles' host llslo
thread vcsU. regular
bOc goods ,
Epot Gash 28c.
Ladies' llslo thread
and bilk uulon nulls ,
all qualities , at
Much Below Cost.
Flno English Porce
lain decorated cottugu
dinner stith , real value
5.75 ,
Spot Gash at $3.75.
A flnoMo.vlc&u ham
mock , actual vuluu 75c
Spot Gash at 49o.
Yourcliolco from & 0
pieces iiuo novelty
nuttings , all the new
colors , nciuu ! vuluu up
to OOc ,
Spot Gosh at 18c.
A lot of French diag
onal , whlpcordri , surges
nnd hcnrluuas , worth
up toll ,
Spot Gash at 42c ,
*
62 inch storm serge
black ,
40 Inch flnn serge ,
40 Incti hunrlottai ,
44 inch novultlfs ,
44 Inch cnipoiis ,
Worth up to tl.23 ,
jour eholco for
Spot Gash at 02o.
Boys' heavy bicycle
ease , with double houl
and toe , uctual value
85c.
Spot Gash at 18a !
Ladles' seamless fast
ilack lioso , regular
We Eoodn ,
Spot Gash at llo.
Give a woman
a hint and she'll
guess the rest.
Morse Spot Cash
Sale undersells
every bargain
price ever made
*
on
DRY GOODS ,
CARPETS ,
.CAPES ,
JACKETS
CHIN AWARE.
Don't spend a
dollar until you
look over our un
der value prices.
Lawns. ,
lancy Satt-ens ,
Turkey Ilpil f tyn
A / O
Fancy Duck for
Suitings
Fast Black
t-uloon
Ladles * fast black ,
double sole , lice I uuu
too , 60c quality ,
fpot Oaih at 33c.
Ladles'opera lotiRth
tixu liosc , fast colors ,
75c ,
Snot Oa'h at 33c.
A line ot ladles' silk
hnsn. In drab uud
llltht hlindus , bavo
been belling for (3) )
Monday for
Spot Cash at97c.
Gowns , drawers and
con > ul cover * , cambrlo
and itiutllu , trimmed
with luca nnd oin-
broldery , have sold up
to Hie ,
Spot Oa-h at 47o.
Extra length chem
ise , in flno lawn , bouu-
tifully trlmmucl with
lace , actual value uu
to J1.7D.
Spot Gash at $1.12.
72-luch Damask , popr
ular pnttorna , actual
value M.50.
Spot Gash at 99o.
Lunch cloth , plain
daniaik center , 'OiiU
leaf border , uctuul
Spot Gash at $1 95.
Flno hemstitched
truy cloth ,
Spot Gash at 25o.
An elegant line o |
white dotted I'oitH d
bprlt and Point dri
Genes lucu at
Mnch Under Oost
Flno silk striped
challlcs. actual vuma
Spot Gash at 15a
The best quality of
domestic ginghams ,
Spot 0&h at 80.
Ladles' Kcullopod
and cuib rotde rod
liunduerculofs , actual
value -Oc ,
Spot Cosh at llo.
Ladles' homstlchod
and scullopud em
broidered hundUur-
chiefn , uctual value.
Bslow Qcst at 13o.
Moil's colored hem-
stitcliod linndkur *
clilof.s.ln noiit designs ,
actual value 20c ,
Below Oost at 9o ,
Host quality surahs ,
all colors.
Spat Gash at 59o.
24-Inch China nnd
Jupumebo Hilkn , rcgu-
lurtlquullty.
Spot Oiah at 59o.
Changeable surahs ,
all silk , actual value
use ,
Spot Cash at 55o.
No 1C nil tlllc iiiolro
ribbon tic.
No. 22 satin and
inolro ribbon , 17c ,
No , 9 aU silk blucU
pros grain ribbon , 'Jc.
No 10 sutln and gros
grain ribbon , Oc.
Nos. 0 and 12 nmlra
and but In ribbon VA ; .
Nos. & , 7 and U sutln
and grog grain , also
inolrc ribbon , tic.
Ilttby ribbon with
fouthur udgu llo
aploco.
I'laln all silk baby
ribbon 8c apluce.
Ladles' extra flno
tan lioso , upllcud lieol
and too ,
Under Oost at 33 s ,
Ladles' line llslo
thread haso. with
drop stitch , uctuul
value Soc.
Spot Gash at 35c.
Children's whit a
foouid hoto , f u d t
black , double knee ,
heal and toe , actual
value Me ,
Spot Gash at 35o.
Ladles' soaralcia ta *
base , fast colors , Do ,
