At the funeral of a woman, her husband sometimes walks alone, but usually with his mother or his daughter.  A very few intimate friends walk at the rear of the family, followed by the servants of the household.  At the chancel the choir take their accustomed places, the minister stands at the foot of the chancel steps, the honorary pallbearers take their places in the front pews on the left, and the coffin is set upon a stand previously placed there for the purpose.  The bearers of the coffin walk quietly around to inconspicuous stations on a side aisle.  The family occupy the front pews on the right, the rest of the procession fill vacant places on either side.  The service is then read.

=THE RECESSIONAL=

Upon the conclusion of the service, the procession moves out in the same order as it came in excepting that the choir remain in their places and the honorary pallbearers go first.  Outside the church, the coffin is put into the hearse, the family getting into carriages or motors waiting immediately behind, and the flowers are put into a covered vehicle. (It is very vulgar to fill open landaus with displayed floral offerings and parade through the streets.)

=FEW GO TO THE BURIAL=

If the burial is in the churchyard or otherwise within walking distance, the congregation naturally follows the family to the graveside.  Otherwise, the general congregation no longer expects, nor wishes, to go to the interment which (excepting at a funeral of public importance) is witnessed only by the immediate family and the most intimate friends, who are asked if they “care to go.”  The long line of carriages that used to stand at the church ready to be filled with a long file of mere acquaintances is a barbarous thing of the past.

=HOUSE FUNERAL=

Many people prefer a house funeral—­it is simpler, more private, and obviates the necessity for those in sorrow to face people.  The nearest relatives may stay apart in an adjoining room or even upon the upper floor, where they can hear the service but remain in unseen seclusion.

Ladies keep their wraps on.  Gentlemen wear their overcoats or carry them on their arms and hold their hats in their hands.

=MUSIC=

To many people there is lack of solemnity in a service outside of a church and lacking the accompaniment of the organ.  It is almost impossible to introduce orchestral music that does not sound either dangerously suggestive of the gaiety of entertainment or else thin and flat.  A quartet or choral singing is beautiful and appropriate, if available, otherwise there is usually no music at a house funeral.

=HOUSE ARRANGEMENT=

Some authorities say that only the flowers sent by very close friends should be shown at a house funeral, and that it is ostentatious to make a display.  But when people, or societies, have been kind enough to send flowers, it would certainly be wanting in appreciation, to say the least, to relegate their offerings to the back yard—­or wherever it is that the cavilers would have them hid!