According to the obit, the mortal remains of one Mrs. Sallie M. Smith were, at the undertaking parlor of Miller & Tracy, perpetually embalmed. Hmmm!
If my extensive college education has taught me anything, it is that the word "perpetual" means "indefinite." That is, her remains are preserved forever. Even with the advanced state of embalming chemicals available to the undertakers of the time, Sallie's remains would eventually deteriorate without fresh solution pumped though her body. Perhaps she was immersed in a vat of formaldehyde to keep her fresh and life-like. Was she used as a demonstration of the latest preservation skills to convince families to embalm their loved ones? I would think so, since embalming has a steep markup.
It's been 95 years since Sallie was "perpetually embalmed." Gee, maybe I'll wander over to Miller & Tracy to see if she's still there!
UPDATE: It seems that Mrs. Smith wasn't so well preserved after all. My friend, Christoph managed to get a hold of the mortuary record for Mrs. Smith. Seems that a month after this notice ran in the paper, she was buried at Rose City Cemetery in a "Half Couch Casket" trimmed in grey velvet.
Miller & Tracy, like so many small mortuaries in Portland, closed a number of years ago. Their records, fortunately, are held "perpetually" in the custody of a local (and very helpful) funeral director.
We don't know for certain that she was "perpetually embalmed" but we do know she is perpetually dead.
