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Show BURIAL OF SMALL-POX. Ceremonies held in various places in connection with the funeral of Old Man Depression recall a similar celebration cele-bration in Sierra City, Calif., more than 44 years ago. At the California event, however, it was Small-Pox that was impersonated by the "corpse." According to a newspaper of that day, the people of Sierra City and vicinity were advised of the approaching approach-ing ceremony and festivities by the following printed notice, bordered in black: "Funeral Notice: Died at Sierra City, Calif., February 22, 1888, Small-Pox. Small-Pox. As the deceased has no friends in town, his enemies are invited to Spencer & Moore's hall at 8 o'clock, to dance on his coffin. The funeral exercises will be under the auspices of the Butte's Band, which will pipe its level best for the occasion. Tickets ?1. P. S. The wake will continue ad libitum at the close of the dance." The community had just succeeded in stamping out a scourge of smallpox small-pox and quarantine had been lifted. Virtually the whole population turned turn-ed out to celebrate, including 35 persons per-sons who had recovered from the disease. di-sease. The dance program included the "Small-pox Polka," the "Virus Jig," the, "Vaccination Reel," and the "Quarantine Quadrille." |