A BEAUTIFUL MONUMENT IN NATURAL SURROUNDINGS 175 



/:> 



A Beautiful Monument in Natural 

 Surroundings. 



It is the mission of this magazine to 

 tell of homes near to nature, of ram- 

 blers' walks in nature. Then why 

 should we not speak a good word for 

 charming, natural surroundings for the 

 homes of the dead? There is no more 

 reason why a cemetery, visited by the 

 friends of the dead, should be lacking 

 in the charms of nature than for a gar- 

 den. Nature is a joy forever, a charm 

 and consolation not only in the environ- 

 ment of the living but in the surround- 

 ings of the dead, because nature cheers 

 and consoles. She offers a balm to the 

 sick heart ; she comforts in sorrow as 

 no other friend can comfort- 

 It is for this reason that we here 

 present a full page view of one of the 

 most attractive monuments in pictur- 

 esque natural surroundings that it has 

 ever been the editor's privilege to gaze 

 upon. Here is a resting place restful 

 to the eyes. The form of the monu- 

 ment as a seat suggests rest. The view 

 of the bay, of placid Long Island Sound 

 in the distance, with the still more dis- 

 tant vista of grove and field, the trees, 

 the well kept lawns, the flower urns 

 and the evergreens, all combine to com- 

 prise an inviting place- The monu- 

 ment, in the form of a settee, bears the 

 words, "Until the day break, and the 

 shadows flee away." The natural beauty 

 of this place has been used to so great 

 advantage by the charming design of 

 this unique monument that we have 

 asked Mr. Howard L. Scofield to write 

 a detailed decription of the work. It is 

 in Woodland Cemetery, Stamford, Con- 

 necticut. 



"The love of structural beauty was a 

 leading characteristic of the Greeks in 

 the times when that people led the 

 world in aesthetics, and found expres- 

 sion mainly in the erection of temple? 

 and tombs. Whatever may be said of 

 their mythology, more refined but less 

 sturdy than that of Northern Europe, 

 it certainly developed — and their relig- 

 ion was at the bottom of it — works of 

 matchless beauty which to this day, in 

 their ruined shape, challenge the admi- 

 ration of all and are the despair of 

 modern builders. As they were firm be- 

 lievers in immortality — the continued 

 existence of the individual in the great 

 Beyond — their affection for those dear 



to them did not terminate with this 

 life, and was shown by the peculiar care 

 given to the designing, erection and 

 preservation of sepulchral monuments 

 and tombs. Indeed, the frequent fu- 

 neral feasts and other rites peculiar to 

 their faith at the graves of the depart- 

 ed made it well-nigh impossible that 

 they should be forgotten or unmarked 

 or that memorials once placed should 

 be allowed to fall into disrepair. 



"Among a multitude of other forms, 

 all exquisite in proportion and adorn- 

 ment, the one in especial favor when 

 means admitted of its purchase was the 

 exedra. Originally built as a meeting- 

 place for the philosophers or teachers of 

 the day and their pupils, it soon sug- 

 gested itself as a form equally conven- 

 ient for the assembling of families in 

 the cemeteries, when they visited the 

 graves of their departed for the perform- 

 ance of the funeral rites which were 

 considered requisite and properlv rever- 

 ential. It was in this latter use that the 

 exedra reached its highest develop- 

 ment and perfected form — so perfect, in 

 fact, that we moderns who must needs 

 borrow, and cannot add to anything- 

 architectural of Greek origin, when we 

 desire to erect a memorial along classic 

 lines, find no better motif for our work 

 than that of the structure mentioned- 

 That it is so is sufficiently attested by 

 the numerous examples erected to the 

 memory of the great scholars, states- 

 men and soldiers of Europe, by St. 

 Gauden's noble monument to Admiral 

 Farragut in New York City, the Benja- 

 min Harrison memorial in Indianapolis, 

 striking examples in Sleepy Hollow 

 and Woodlawn Cemeteries. 



"So it is a matter worthy of note that 

 our local cemetery has now placed in it 

 the J. Hudson Brown memorial, erected 

 by Howard L. Scofield, a particularly 

 fine reproduction of ancient architectur- 

 al worth. 



'The exedra makes a compliance with 

 the following conditions imperative : A 

 choice of material which shall preserve 

 the soft contours, and at the same time 

 clearly define the gentle curves and 

 fine lines of mouldings and other em- 

 bellishments ; proper natural setting 

 of outlook, shade and foliage ; conscien- 

 tious craftsmanship, which considers 

 every detail, however inconspicuous, an 

 important part in the success of the 



