HPB-SB-4-31

T i

vol. 4, p. 31

H. P. Blavatsky Scrapbooks

from Adyar archives of the International Theosophical Society

vol. 4 (1875-1878)

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< Cremation and Burial (continued from page 4-30) >

the subject has excited, mostly in modern times. In conclusion, after a full and fair discussion, Dr. Adams sees no cause for changing the present system of burial, He regards it as “ endeared to the hearts of all Christendom by a ties of religion and sentiment.” As practiced in the rural cemeteries of to-day, he does not consider it open to any reasonable objection.

Upon the point, and it is an important one, of the influence of the burial of the dead upon the public health, Dr. Adams is greatly surprised at the small amount of evidence which he has been able to gather of any positive injury known to result from burial-grounds. Only five cases have been reported in Massachusetts. One of these occurred “ years ago,” one “ some years ago ;” two are accounted for by neighboring nuisances with which burial had nothing to do ; and in only one was there a reasonable presumption that the cemetery may have caused injury to health, The weight of testimony from different parts of the country is against any appreciable injury to the public health from the proximity of cemeteries. Nor can Dr. Adams, after the most careful analysis, find a single example of disease presumably induced by water contaminated by the neighborhood of burial-grounds. The whole matter is summed up as follows: “ A living man in sound health is far more to “ be dreaded as a disease-producing agent than “ is a dead man buried with ordinary care.” Of medical gentlemen interrogated upon the point, more than a third gave their testimony in favor of the adoption of cremation as a substitute for burial. But some of the opposite opinions were very strong ones. Dr. Acland of Oxford, England, regards inhumation as “ the “ best, scientifically, and the most congenial to “ human feelings” Dr. Beale of London regards interment as “ the only method really “ available,” Prof. Charles A. Cameron of Dublin is of opinion that “ the earth is the proper receptacle of dead bodies.” Dr. Beard of this city thinks that “ the amount “ of sickness that is demonstrably caused by “ cemeteries must be comparatively trifling.” There is difference of opinion among medical men, but it does not appear to be cither strong or wide.

Finally, according to Dr. Adams, pyre cremation as performed by the ancients and by modern Asiatic nations is an incomplete and disgusting process. Cremation by the Siemens furnace at a very high temperature is in no way offensive, nor is it likely to contaminate the atmosphere. Burial in contracted spaces of ground has been repeatedly proved injurious to the health of the community. Extramural interment, with regulations for preventing crowding, prevents any possible injury to the public health. Lastly, cremation “ is an “ innovation not demanded in this country on “ sanitary grounds.” These views, being those of one who has given an unusually careful attention to the subject, have a higher value at least than the sentiments of those who have only given the question cursory or poetical consideration.

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Dec-ber 8. 1876.

The Baron's Dry Bones

Colonel Olcott Gathers Together the Ashes and Bones of Baron Von Palm and Forwards Them to New York

[by telegraph to the herald.]

Washington, Pa., Dec. 7, 1976.

When Colonel Olcott and Dr. Zink, Health Officer of Queens county, opened the lid of the retort this morning at ten o'clock, all they saw was a trail of show white fragments of bone, mingled with a scattering of the ashes. This was all that had remained of the corpse with its winding sheet, its aromatic spices, evergreen boughs and a sprinkling of fragrant flowers. No preparation had been made for taking out the ashes, which were far inside the retort, and so a rude board was roughly nailed to a pole, and this was used to rake them out ; then followed a sight still more revolting to the reverent heart. The bones and ashes were st shovelled upon the catafalque, during which delicate operation a small quantity was spilt on the floor. This was feelingly described by Dr. Zink, who came away sickened by the spectacle, and says that the cremation of the dead is undoubtedly brutalizing. He had not found in the whole town any one who was willing to be cremated except old Dr. Lemoyne, but thought the community been disgusted by the sickening performance. Through an oversight the carbolized potter's clay, with which the corpse had been stuffed in the embalming had not been removed, and, of course, was mingled with the sacred dust. The iron crib being taken out, the largest osseous fragments were first removed, then the limbs of clay were put by themselves, and finally the finer particles of clay and incinerated ashes were gathered together. They were all wrapped up in pieces of paper and carried in a large market basket to Dr. Lemoyne’s house. The attendant, Wolf, who carried it looked as though he were bringing home market provisions. The sorting process was again gone over, all kinds of curious persons, even ladies, coming in to look at and examine the bones. Finally the portions of clear bones and bone ash were wrapped by Colonel Olcott in a piece of white silk and the residuum was enclosed in a paper parcel, and in this way was returned the remains of the late Baron, by the afternoon train to Pittsburg, and thence to New York, though Colonel Olcott thinks that such of the fragments of bone (some of which were quiet large) as retained their structure were so brittle as to readily yield to the pressure of the fingers. Dr Zink is of the opinion that some of the ashes are too solid for that. The weight of the ashes and bones was nearly five pounds.

The delicacy of the bones.

Some of the smaller fragments of the femur, scapulæ, parental and other bones seem only white, delicate little shells, and other cellular structure seems as dainty and beautiful as lacework. Colonel Olcott says that the bones and ashes will be sprinkled with perfumed water, and thus reduces to a snowy white powder, some of which will be disposed in the Hindoo urn, while the other will be strewn in the plot purchased for the Baron in the Lutheran Cemetery, mingled with flower seeds, so that flowers can spring through the turf which covers Baron Palm’s dust.

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(Cincinnatti)

<Untitled> (The cremation of old De Palm's remains)

The cremation of old De Palm's remains at Washington, Penn., will attract little attention, in view of the horrible fact that nearly one hundred worthy people were killed and cremated in the Brooklyn Theater night before last.

Broiled Baron

De'Palm Decently Done

Yesterday's Cremation at Washington Penn. The Body of the Late Baron DePalm Reduced to Ashes. Interesting Details of the Event.

Special Dispatch to the Enquirer.

Washington, Penn., December 5—It is scarcely two years ago since society in England was startled by the sudden death of Lady Dilke, the wife of Sir Charles Dilke, Bart., M. P., whose public advocacy of republican sentiments was at that time creating considerable commotion in various parts of the country. Lady Dilke held what are generally understood as extreme views on religious questions, and by those who were most intimate with her it was thought that, following the example of Lady Amberley, the daughter-in-law of Earl Russell, who had died some little time before, her will would give instructions for the interment of her body in unconsecrated ground. No little excitement was therefore occasioned when it was announced that she had left explicit orders that the body should be subjected to a cremating process in the interests of scientific investigation. Strong objections to the fulfillment of these desires were at first urged by Sir Charles Dilke, but they were not persisted in, and the body, which prior to its temporary interment, had been embalmed, was cremated in Bavaria, Germany, some little time afterward. The ceremony was attended by number of scientists from England and Continent. The cremation, which was carried out under the most improved processes, was looked upon as a valuable addition to scientific investigation, although it created a considerable sensation among those who considered that this mode of disposing of bodies was revolting in the extreme.

The discussion on the advantages or disadvantages of burning the bodies of the dead, which was imitated on the Continent by the cremation of the body of Lady Dilke, is now renewed on this side of the water by the approaching cremation of the body of a German nobleman, which takes place in this town to-morrow. The deceased, who died in New York some mouths ago, was of high rank, and this, coupled with the fact that this mode of disposing of the bodies of the dead has, with two exceptions, been hitherto unknown in this country, has contrived to produce a great sensation in this country, which will probably revive, though in more vigorous form, the agitation on the Continent in ‘74.

life of the baron.

The few facts relative to the Baron's life, which I have been enabled to gather from Colonel Olcott, one of his executors, together with the assistance of some documents left by the deceased, show him to have been no ordinary man. He was born in Augsburg, Southern Germany, in 1809, his father being Colonel Adjutant Johan de Palm, Prince of the Roman Empire, and his mother the Countess Freyen von Leiolsdorf. He showed a superior intellectual capacity at an early age, and had scarcely completed his studies the University of Heidelberg when he was offered and accepted the position of Secretary of Legation at Curlsruhe. He was long in the German Diplomatic service, and was afterwards in the service of King Ferdinand, whose confidence he enjoyed, and by whom he was decorated with several Orders. He enjoyed the King's fullest confidence, and was consequently intrusted with many negotiations of an intricate character, on the settlement of which he showed great diplomatic skill. At the time when the disputes between Ferdinand II, and his brother were the scandal of the Court, the Baron was intrusted by the former with the settlement of the difficulties, which involved, among other things, the legitimacy of the Prince’s son, a task which the subsequent harmony of the family showed to have been satisfactorily accomplished. After the fall of Ferdinand the Ваron, together with the Duke De Aquella, wo now resides in Paris, made vigorous efforts to save the property of the King, who was compelled to leave the country when Italian unity was finally accomplished.

After the cessation of the troubles in Italy the Baron became a great traveler, and for some years he traveled over the Continent, visiting every place of public interest. He was a splendid linguist as well as an enthusiast on subjects connected with science and art, and a large portion of his fortune was devoted to the gratification of his tastes in these respect. In 1861, his travels having exhausted his chief places of interest in Europe, he came to America, and took up his residence in Chicago. There his attainments, combined with an ever genial disposition, made nim many friends, and so attached to this country did he become that as soon as allowed by law he naturalized himself and became an American citizen. He was a firm believer in spirits and the occult sciences, and before he had been long in Chicago his house was the resort of the leading savants of America. The Baron was not so good a financier, however as he was scholar diplomatist, and several investments which he made during his residence in Chicago, especially in real estate and mining stock, turned out financially unsuccessful. In 1865 he removed from Chicago and took up his residence in New York. Here he came in contact with many notable men, and became particularly intimate with Commodore Vanderbilt, Judge Roosevelt, A. T. Livingstone, the late A. T. Stewart, and many others. For some time he lived in a boarding house, but, not finding this style of life to his fancy, he took up his residence with Colonel Olcott, a leading lawyer of New York. In the society of this gentleman, who is himself a scientist of no small reputation, he found the congeniality which he desired. In the spring of the present year he was seized with a complication of internal disorders, to which he succumbed on May 20th. Among the papers found after his death were the <... continues on page 4-32 >

Editor's notes