This was posted on the GA-CEMETERIES Mailing list. I just love it! This article published in The Marietta Journal, Issue of Thursday Morning, March 29, 1888, page 1: GLASS BURIAL CASES Henry H. Barry, of Philadelphia, has for many years interested himself in transparent systems of burial. After conceiving the glass casket, he kept it secret for a long while, until, on October 24th of last year, it was patented. 'What is the advantage of glass for domiciles of the dead?' 'In the first place, one has perfect preservation. Before being placed in the vial the patient is embalmed. I may say that the coffin is devised on the walnut shell principal, in two halves. After my customers are once securely packed in coffins, I apply an exhaust-pump, take out all the air and hermetically seal up the aperture. Then the thing is accomplished. I believe sincerely that the whole business will last through several generations. There is the advantage that no infectious disease can come through the glass. The flesh of the subject will preserve its natural tints, and relatives and friends will be able to view the deceased for years to come. 'As a sanitary reform it is unparallelled,' he went on; 'tenanted coffins can be piled up like any other merchandise anywhere and stay there for years. Some people might prefer to keep relatives in their own houses, nicely put away in the glass coffins. There is nothing objectionable about the idea. When buried in cemeteries, there will be no exhalations whatever, and in case of the removal of graveyard, the coffin can be taken up and carted away with no more offense than would be given by so many kegs of nails.' end of article