Cemeteries 



voice; and the association of many such 

 would make our cemeteries really beautiful 

 spots. Now they usually look like stone- 

 cutter's yards on an extended scale. 



I know one rural cemetery near Boston 

 where the trustees have taken this matter of 

 monuments, as well as the matter of planting, 

 into their own hands. A skilful architect 

 has made for them a number of tombstone 

 designs, some more elaborate than others, 

 but all simple enough to be executed by an 

 ordinary stone-cutter. Among these designs 

 the lot-owner can choose ; and if he cares 

 for none of them, he must submit his own 

 for the trustees' sanction. Nor may he plant 

 his lot as he pleases. All the planting is 

 done under the trustees' supervision. There 

 is none of a formal and none of a showy 

 or expensive kind. AVild flowers are en- 

 couraged to grow, native trees and shrubs 

 are preserved wherever desirable, and hardy 

 flowers have been planted w^here they could 

 help the general efl'ect of the landscape. Of 

 course no enclosures are permitted around 

 the lots, and, while the grass is shorn in the 

 occupied parts and all parts are kept appro- 



239 



