Superstition is an element that cannot be discarded when dealing with life and death. Not the least of these are tales told by the undertaker, his family, or friends. Among those we have heard include - - that funerals go in threes - if one funeral is held then there will be three within a very short time. - that if a cemetery is opened once - it will be opened three times within a short time. - that if a horse stopped without any apparent reason during a funeral procession, it was a bad omen for that family. - that the sensitivity of a dog must be respected - the McLeod's St. Bernard was the 'forerunner' of some funerals as he would sit at the door of the house or store and 'cry' before knowledge of a death in the area had reached the undertaker. During the early part of this Century, many young people in their early twenties, as well as babies and children, died. Few families were exempt from this misfortune. In some cases no cause of death is given, but many are recorded as dying of consumption. A few also died of blood poisoning. Without a doubt the common diseases of today were not named and a Doctor was often at a loss to know what the sickness was, or a possible cure for it. Two causes of death which we should take note are dated February 4, 1909, and January 3, 1910. In February, a resident of the district died when a home was destroyed by fire and in January, a fifty-year old resident of Stanley Bridge died of cancer. This is the first recorded death, by Mr. McLeod , from this disease which is so common today. Most remains in early days were not embalmed so that one may readily understand the desire for Mr. McLeod 's attendance at the time of the funeral. Partial embalming had begun about 1900, which differs from the present day, in that complete embalming is required by law. A.J. MacLeod died in 1935, and the funeral business continued under the direction of his son, D.J. MacLeod , who continued to use the horse-drawn hearse until 1943. The auto was in vogue by then and the suburban movement had begun, so D. J. MacLeod joined the N.D. MacLean Funeral Service in Charlottetown . The early prices for funerals and/or burials ranged in price from $5.00 to $14.00 for children, and from $18.00 and $35.00 for adults. The price depended on whether or not clothing such as shrouds, collars, cuff links, etc., were ordered as extras. This price was also dependent upon the quality of the casket or coffin requested, or whether the family of the dead had made a coffin, and was requesting the use of only the hearse. The last recorded funeral was held in July, 1943, for a twenty-nine year old woman from Mayfield . This was for Mary Alma Doiron Gallant, who, before her marriage, had worked in Stanley Bridge . With this date, then, another business passed from the area to the larger villages and towns. Included in the names of funeral homes which operated or are still in business include - Mr. James Andrews of Hunter River ; Mr. Joseph Davison of Kensington area; Mr. Philip Monaghan in Kinkora area, as well as other funeral homes in Summerside and Charlottetown . 107