Cremation of the Dead. By W. Eassie, C.E. (Smith and
Elder.)— The best part of Mr. Eassie's book is the description and comparative estimate of the various processes of cremation. There is some danger lest the advocates of the system should ride -their hobby too hard. Burial and burning have been frequently practised side by aide. In Rome, for instance, the poor, there is good reason to believe, were commonly buried. And, if we ever adopt cremation at all, there ism reason why the same should not happen again. Cremation, so far as it may be suitable to any people, is rather suitable for large cities, where,, indeed, the claims of the dead seem likely to encroach upon the living ; for small places, burial would always be far more convenient. A village where deaths were infrequent could not conveniently maintain a furnace. Personally, as far as a man can be supposed to have any preference in the matter, most men would have a preference for burning. Theological prepossessions being put out of the question, to extinguish the hideous possibility of being buried alive is a motive more than sufficient. -Ii is the pain which this outrage, as it were, on the corpse gives to the mourners which will tell against the practice. And, no doubt, this pain must be very real.
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