Account of the Lowell Cemetery. 49 



Here, too, may be seen wild and thick masses of trees and 

 shrubs, un pruned by the too formal knife of the gardener, 

 where, in uninterrupted solitude, bereaved relatives may calm- 

 ly enjoy their soothing visit to "the house appointed for all 

 the living," and there cherish all those interesting associations 

 which ever cast a cheerful light over the darkness of the grave. 



The site of the Lowell Cemetery is eminently picturesque 

 and beautiful. The northern and southern boundaries embrace 

 a range of high grounds, covered for the most part with a 

 young and verdant growth of trees: these high grounds grad- 

 ually and abruptly slope towards the centre or valley, thiough 

 which runs a brook, supplying several large ponds for the sea- 

 son, also sufficient for supplying a fountain of about one hun- 

 dred feet head. The southern range of high grounds is cov- 

 ered with a verdant growth of trees, and is highly ornamented 

 with that most characteristic and aj)propriate of all sepulchral 

 ornaments — well grown and stately oaks, intermixed with the 

 funereal and feathered boughs of the dark hemlock; while the 

 slopes are only partially clothed with trees, and the contrast 

 between the deep dusky green of the hemlock and the soft 

 bright tint of the grass in the open spaces between them, 

 produces an effect almost magical, and which strikes one as 

 being more the result of art than nature. The northern range 

 is admired for its more elevated position, and is favorable lor 

 tombs or vaults. The soil, for the most part, is of a hard 

 and gravelly nature. Leaving the high grounds on the north, 

 and descending to the lower parts, the gravel disappears, and 

 a moist yellow clay, mixed with black earth, extends to a 

 great depth, and is productive for a rapid growth of shrubs. 



The professional work of surveying and laying out this 

 cemetery was commenced during the fall of ] S40 — that of 

 making the avenues and paths, early in the spring of 1841, 

 since which, a corps of laborers have been engaged in mak- 

 ing the roads and paths, and clearing off the grounds. Of 

 the architectural department there is much to admire. One 

 of the avenues, called " Washington Avenue," embraces a 

 circuit round the ground, and the whole extent of drive is a 

 mile and a half. 



Directly opposite the gateway, and winding along the side 

 of a natural ridge, leading to the chapel, is " Fenelon Ave- 

 nue." From the chapel, the avenues diverge, one extending 

 along the central parts, and intersects with others at right 



VOL. VIII. NO. II. 7 



