Tract + 

I will teach you my townspeople + 

how to perform a funeral⁠— + 

for you have it over a troop + 

of artists⁠— + 

unless one should scour the world⁠— + 

you have the ground sense necessary. + 

See! the hearse leads. + 

I begin with a design for a hearse. + 

For Christ’s sake not black⁠— + 

nor white either⁠—and not polished! + 

Let it be weathered⁠—like a farm wagon⁠— + 

with gilt wheels (this could be + 

applied fresh at small expense) + 

or no wheels at all: + 

a rough dray to drag over the ground. + 

Knock the glass out! + 

My God⁠—glass, my townspeople! + 

For what purpose? Is it for the dead + 

to look out or for us to see + 

how well he is housed or to see + 

the flowers or the lack of them⁠— + 

or what? + 

To keep the rain and snow from him? + 

He will have a heavier rain soon: + 

pebbles and dirt and what not. + 

Let there be no glass⁠— + 

and no upholstery phew! + 

and no little brass rollers + 

and small easy wheels on the bottom⁠— + 

my townspeople what are you thinking of? + 

A rough plain hearse then + 

with gilt wheels and no top at all. + 

On this the coffin lies + 

by its own weight. + 

No wreathes please⁠— + 

especially no hot house flowers. + 

Some common memento is better, + 

something he prized and is known by: + 

his old clothes⁠—a few books perhaps⁠— + 

God knows what! You realize + 

how we are about these things + 

my townspeople⁠— + 

something will be found⁠—anything + 

even flowers if he had come to that. + 

So much for the hearse. + 

For heaven’s sake though see to the driver! + 

Take off the silk hat! In fact + 

that’s no place at all for him⁠— + 

up there unceremoniously + 

dragging our friend out to his own dignity! + 

Bring him down⁠—bring him down! + 

Low and inconspicuous! I’d not have him ride + 

on the wagon at all⁠—damn him⁠— + 

the undertaker’s understrapper! + 

Let him hold the reins + 

and walk at the side + 

and inconspicuously too! + 

Then briefly as to yourselves: + 

Walk behind⁠—as they do in France, + 

seventh class, or if you ride + 

Hell take curtains! Go with some show + 

of inconvenience; sit openly⁠— + 

to the weather as to grief. + 

Or do you think you can shut grief in? + 

What⁠—from us? We who have perhaps + 

nothing to lose? Share with us + 

share with us⁠—it will be money + 

in your pockets. + 

Go now + 

I think you are ready. + 