FUNERAL

rites have usually been celebrated either by prolonged fasting, as amongst the ancient Egyptians; magnificent orations, as amongst the ancient Greeks; or heavy drinking, as amongst the Irish poor. In Queen Anne’s age the practice of having midnight funerals became common. The Queen herself was buried by torchlight, as also were Add is on, Prior, and Gay. Macaulay has described the midnight funeral in Westminster Abbey at the end of his e ay on Add is on. As lately as 1891 there was a midnight funeral in Lich field Cathedral.