HISTORICAL NOTICES. 
561 
SECTION YI. 
HISTORICAL NOTICES CONTINUED. 
Not very many years have passed, since from the 
crowded and confined state of our public Burial 
Grounds within our large cities, the question of extra- 
mural interments excited great and earnest consider- 
ation, and eventually led to the establishment of Bural 
Cemeteries. 
The first one of any importance, was that at Laurel 
Hill, near Philadelphia, a most successful enterprise, 
mainly due to the taste and perseverance of Mr. John 
Jay Smith, of that city. This was followed by the one 
at New Haven ; Mount Auburn, near Boston ; Green- 
wood, at New York ; Spring Grove, near Cincinnati ; 
two near Baltimore, &c., until there is hardly a city or 
town of any size in the Union which does not possess 
its Bural Cemetery. 
This was one of those grand improvements in civili- 
zation, the importance and necessity of which was so 
apparent, that it has since been universally adopted, and 
may be fairly considered now one of our institutions. 
Another, and the next great step onward which is 
now exciting much attention throughout the land, is 
the establishment of Parks, which may be classified as 
Public Parks, for the enjoyment of the People of our 
Cities and larger Towns, as the Central Park in New 
York, and Hunting Course Park, near Philadelphia; 
semi-Public Parks, owned and enjoyed by the persons 
who live around them ; and lastly, the Parks, or Orna- 
mental Grounds, attached to our Public Buildings, 
36 
