Rensselaer Journal, Volume 10, Number 45, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 18 April 1901 — NEWIDEASINFUNERALS [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

NEWIDEASINFUNERALS

The Uniformed Pallbearers’ association has begun to do business in Milwaukee. This body is just what its name indicates. It will, for a proper consideration, furnish forth any funeral with as many nicely uniformed pallbearers as the occasion may require or the friends of the deceased be willing to pay for. And the uniform will be of a character calculated to lend dignity and impressiveness to any funeral. William Ast is the originator of the idea, which he hopes will soon make him wealthy. There are seven of them in the association now, and Mr. Ast says they can get more should it be necessary. He is looking forward to the time when they get so much business that they will employ double that number of men and move into much more commodious quarters. Then he will give up tailoring and devote himself entirely to funerals. “I am a German,” said Mr. Ast, “and have been in this country for fifteen years. In the old country, particularly in France, uniformed pallbearers are the rule rather than the exception at all funo-o’- P f any consequence. In

Leipsic and Hamburg I have made uniforms for pallbearers often. I have never officiated as a pallbearer myself, but the others in the association have all served their time at what is a regular trade in the old country. I am informed by undertakers here that they frequently have great difficulty in getting men to act as pallbearers at funerals, and that there will be an active demand for the services of men who know their business thoroughly and are attractively uniformed. There is a strong disinclination to act as pallbearer at a funeral where you are expected to go to the cemetery and expose yourself to all sorts of cold and attacks of pneumonia. “The uniformed men will add solemnity to the funeral pageant and will be an impressive sight. In fine weather they will carry the casket behind the hearse for several blocks, walking in the middle of the street before it is put in the hearse, and then will take their carriage to go to the cemetery. It is a fact that the number of funerals at which the uniformed lodges participate is now decreasing

in numbers quite rapidly and we expect that soon the uniformed pallbearers will still further supplant them.” The uniforms are elaborate effects in black and white and quite costly. The black chapeau is like those worn by the Knights of Pythias, even to the nodding white ostrich feather. The black frock coat has a broad ruffled collar of white lace, falling to the shoulders, and lace ruffles falling over the hands at the wrists. Knee breeches of black, with black hose and patent leather shoes with silver buckles complete this costume for the first association of uniformed pallbearers to be formed in the United States. One thing upon which Mr. Ast lays particular stress is that the men are all matched exactly in size, so that they will appear to the best advantage on dress parade, the six men being under the command and orders of the seventh. The officers of the association are: Reichardt Rolfe, president; William Ast, treasurer; Gustave Bloomenthal, secretary, and Henry Brandes, business manager. Their business is exclusively local.

UNIFORMED PALLBEARERS AT THEIR CALLING.