Among the many things important to undertakers to bear in mind is
the discretion that must necessarily be employed in the choice of
their help and assistants. To a great number this caution will seem
trivial and perhaps superfluous; but we hope those who may think so
will change their opinion after reading attentively the following.
We have stated at the commencement of this work that every man cannot
be an undertaker; it is equally true, also, that every man cannot
fill with credit and satisfactorily the position of assistant to an
undertaker. As a good, efficient assistant can, to a great extent,
enhance the repute and promote the interests of his employer, so it
is that a careless, inattentive, self-conceited man may and will
cause harm in the same ratio.
A first-class assistant should consider the interests of his employer
as closely his own as though they were so in fact, and perform his
duties outside the store with as much promptitude, thoroughness
and correctness of deportment as if he were under the immediate
supervision of his employer.
A slovenly appearance in public should be guarded against; and a
man who does not care for his personal appearance seldom possesses
much regard for anything else; moreover, it is not beneficial to the
establishment with which he may be connected.
Trustworthiness is also to be looked after in such parties, not
only so far as immediate honesty is concerned, but also in the
punctual discharge of his duties. The profession of an undertaker
is confining and exceptional in its nature, and requires constant
attention. Pleasure and amusements are a secondary consideration;
and any man accustomed to self-indulgence in the above to any extent
should scrupulously keep out of the business, and select some other
means of livelihood more congenial to his tastes. As an assistant may
be called upon to exercise his functions at any hour of the day or
night, he must be ready, and constantly so, to answer any call made
upon his services.
An assistant should also enjoy sound health and a strong
constitution, as the strain upon his physical powers may be placed to
a severe test at times. He should be a man of some social standing,
and be a thorough master of his profession, as he may at times be
called upon to officiate instead of his employer, and any show of
ignorance or neglect on his part will not only be a stigma upon
himself, but will also reflect discredit upon the name of the party
whom he may be serving.
An ill-mannered, boorish assistant is a plague to any establishment;
so is also the self-conceited, foppish, ignorant one. The first is
liable to give offence by the rudeness of his speech and manners;
the last will surely alienate the good will of patrons by his
overbearing demeanor and shallow pretensions to a knowledge which he
does not really possess.
A good assistant should know all that pertains to his business, not
in superficial and light manner, but in thorough, complete fashion.
He must be able to not only line a casket, but manufacture his own
lining if necessary; to take charge of all the details of a funeral;
assist physicians in a post mortem examination, if required so to
do; or properly embalm a corpse. On the other hand, it must be
conceded that such a man as I have described is a valuable one for an
assistant, and ought to receive a generous remuneration, and also be
made to feel that he is appreciated.