THE CEMETERY LONG CONTEMPLATED. 71 



long been in contemplation, from the words of the Hon. 

 Edward Everett, 1 published in the Boston papers at the 

 time such a place of burial was proposed in connection 

 with an experimental garden under the auspices of the 

 new Horticultural Society. Mr. Everett said, " The 

 spot," referring to Mount Auburn, " which has been 

 selected for this establishment, has not been chosen 

 without great deliberation, and a reference to every 

 other place in the vicinity of Boston which has been 

 named for the same purpose. In 'fact, the difficulty of 

 finding a proper place has been for several years the 

 chief obstacle to the execution of this project." He 

 said again, " This design, though but recently made pub- 

 lic, has been long in contemplation, and, as is believed, 

 has been favored with unusual approbation. It has 

 drawn forth much unsolicited and earnest concurrence. 

 It has touched a chord of sympathy which vibrates in 

 every heart." 



Judge Story, in his address at t]ie dedication of the 

 cemetery at Mount Auburn in 1831, argued the im- 

 portance of rural cemeteries, from the customs of the 

 ancients and from the general feelings of mankind in 

 regard to the burial of their friends. He added, " Con- 

 siderations like those which have been suggested have 

 for a long time turned the thoughts of many distin- 

 guished citizens to the importance of some more appro- 

 priate places of sepulture. There is a growing sense 

 in the community of the inconveniences and painful 

 associations, not to speak of the unhealthiness, of inter- 

 ments beneath our churches. The tide which is flow- 

 ing with such a steady and widening current into the 

 narrow peninsula of our metropolis not only forbids the 



1 Transactions of the Mass. Hort. Soc. for 1832, p. 70. 



