MERRY FUNERALS.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXII, Issue 91, 17 April 1912, Page 2

MERRY FUNERALS.

Two remarkable funerals took place recently in it Italy.- The first was that of Signor, i Uhaldo i' Samori, a wealthy broker, -wlio 1 didd in fiUilan. His will made provision for'a bequest of .£IOOO to the.-, hospital wherh he died on couditiqn that thermi (should bo no eral. His executors were.- ordered t(( servo at least GOO pints of The nest wine to the persons who attended the. funeral, and the will contained an explanation of this extraordinary request. “If J . order an ordinary funeral,” declared the dying man, “probably few will follow me to my grave and fewer still will shed a tear; whereas if I order a merry one a crowd of poor devils will enjoy a pleasant time.” The order was obeyed by the executors, a canteen waggon following the hearse; and the result was what tdm broker had anticipated. To n - sands of people joined the funeral and the procession was halted every few minutes and wine was served. The mourners were toasted, the dead benefactor was cheered, and the crowd sang comic songs and patriotic ditties, a journey of a few miles from the hospital to the cemetery occupying half a day. A few days later there was an equally hilarious funeral in Turin. Signor Luigi llossi, who had been a postal clerk, had left instructions for; Ids friends to make his funeral a jovial ceremony by hiring a brass band to play lively music and furnishing wine and cigars lor the delectation of the mourners. Thousands of people followed the hem f-e through the streets of Turin. The brass hand played vigorously, and the “mourners” puffed their cigars ami shouted jolly tunes. The grotesque procession was headed by the widow, who was decked out in brilliant seai - lot attire, her husband having bequeathed a large sum of money to her on condition that she should wear scarlet clothing for twelve months after his death. A wealthy company promoter who was buried at Turin on the same day had a more seemly funeral, but under the provisions of his will the shareholders in his companies were entertained the same evening at a very gorgeous banquet.