The idea to propagate cremation at Valparaiso, Chili, originated with the Lessing Lodge of Free Masons, which, on the 6th of August, 1881, directed a circular to the other Masonic lodges of the city, requesting them to send representatives to a preliminary meeting. This meeting came off on the 3d of December of the same year. Cremation was freely discussed from every standpoint, but on the whole the meeting was not followed by any practical result. On the last of December, 1881, a proclamation to organize a cremation society was published in the journal _Il Mercurio_ by the committee having the matter in charge. On the 20th of May, 1882, the Cremation Society of Chili was formed under the presidency of Señor O. Malvini. This society is in a flourishing condition, and now numbers over 200 members. Towards the end of 1883 a committee to organize a cremation society at Alexandria, Egypt, was formed by M. Lumel, who, unfortunately, died in the same year. The committee, however, is still in existence, and is at present occupied in realizing the ideas of M. Lumel. At Cairo Messrs. Titus Figari and Cesare Praga labor to found a cremation society. CHAPTER II. THE EVILS OF BURIAL; THE SANITARY ASPECT OF INCINERATION. The grave, hallowed by religion and the queen of arts, poetry, has become to us the emblem of eternal rest—something that is beautiful; something in which we may sleep long and well. The weeping-willow droops its slender branches over it, sweet, fragrant flowers thrive upon its soil, and the little birds perch there to sing their song. The rays of the sun often play upon the small earth elevation, and lend additional beauty to the green foliage of the trees, the bright color of the many flowers. But verily, we are like the sunshine—superficial. It is the great fault of mankind to be satisfied with a film-like knowledge of things. To go deeper, to dive below the superstratum, would mean to meet, perhaps, with matters not at all pleasant; to become cognizant of facts never before dreamt of. Consequently, the majority of men is content to remain on the surface; content to know a little, but not all. Thank God, there are happily individuals left who descend to the bottom of every question, scientific or social, and who daily enrich all departments of learning. As regards the grave, let us first of all listen to him who has held generations of folk spellbound; let us bow reverently before the opinion of one of the masters among English novelists—Charles Dickens. [Illustration: THE CREMATORIUM AT CREMONA. (From Dr. Pini’s work.) ] It is he who tells us in measured words that the grave is naught but—