About Bones and Charnel Houses: I am reminded of my high school days and a line from Shakespeare's Hamlet: --From Hamlet (V, i, 203-204): "Alas, poor Yorick! I knew him, Horatio; a fellow of infinite jest, of most excellent fancy." (Often misquoted as 'Alas poor Yorick, I knew him well'). My English teacher said that it was common in Shakespeare's time to remove the bones from a grave after a few years, after the flesh was gone, (maybe ten years) and to store the bones in the church basement or a charnel house. This was to make room to bury another body. I was shocked at the time. Apparently, however, this was also commonly practiced and may still be practiced, from time to time, in America. HAMLET: Hamlet and Horatio come upon the grave of Ophelia, who killed herself after having gone mad. Hamlet is angry over the nonchalant way the two grave-diggers go about their job, singing and bantering while they dig. One of them digs up a skull that belonged to Hamlet's father's jester, Yorick. (The jester's bones were to be removed to the charnel house).Hamlet takes the skull in hand, and this ignites his thoughts on death and the ultimate and inescapable destruction of even the most powerful people. (from: http://www.allshakespeare.com/quotes/305) "Alas, poor Yorick! I knew him, Horatio: a fellow of infinite jest, of most excellent fancy: he hath borne me on his back a thousand times; and now, how abhorred in my imagination it is! my gorge rims at it. Here hung those lips that I have kissed I know not how oft. Where be your gibes now? your gambols? your songs? your flashes of merriment, that were wont to set the table on a roar? Not one now, to mock your own grinning? quite chap-fallen? Now get you to my lady's chamber, and tell her, let her paint an inch thick, to this favour she must come; make her laugh at that. Prithee, Horatio, tell me one thing". (From: http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/25500.html)