109 
PARK AND CEMETERY. 
and prolific litter. Crowds sw’arm over the 
flower beds, youthful prodigies climb the 
monuments, the firing of salutes starts a few 
runaways with uncertain results and a life- 
saving crew (illogical institution for a ceme- 
tery to maintain) seems necessary to keep 
the lagoons free of humanity. With the 
county fair features involved, it is small 
wonder that the cemetery superintendent is 
tempted to regard the occasion as a Dese- 
cration Day. 
“Nevertheless, being a patient and long- 
suffering class, accustomed to look beneath 
externals for the true reason of things, it 
is probable that, after due reflection, the 
cemetery superintendents of the country will 
be found defending ■ the real purposes of the 
day. Its inauguration w'as one of the finest 
conceptions in our history and, as still cele- 
brated by a large proportion of our people, 
is entitled to rank on the calendar -with 
Independence Day and Christmas itself, for 
it partakes of the spirit of both, in patriotic 
and unselfish sentiment. Any serious sug- 
gestion of departure from its proper observ- 
ance should be vigorously resisted. Nor is 
this proper observance in the direction of 
national mourning. Outward periodical evi- 
dences of grief would be small recompense 
for our courageous' soldier dead and must of 
necessity in time dwindle into mere affecta- 
tion. Honor and glory to the departed for 
their best efforts for humanity and a strong 
resolve to add our own best efforts for the 
same cause: these should be our interpreta- 
tion of those outward symbols of flowers 
and flags, songs and salutes which give 
color and harmony to the day. And in this 
respect there has been no decline in its 
popularity, nor any difference in the be- 
havior and character of those celebrating it, 
nor any decline in its memorial character- 
istics. It is true that the day is taken ad- 
vantage of for games and recreation, but 
this should not be deplored. It is our first 
holiday of the open season and comes just 
as the glories of full spring are upon us. Is 
it any wonder that life and buoyancy find 
vent in physical action? Then too, remem- 
ber that the workers of the world require 
refreshment and recreation and no oppor- 
tunity for such should be denied them. The 
spirit of good, wholesome play will never 
wreck our national frame. It will add sinew 
to it. We find the children taking impor- 
tant parts in the day’s proceedings out of 
doors, when the weather is sufficiently cle- 
ment, and the flowers and grave decorations 
are as profuse and decorously handled as in 
the past. Holiday features are not more 
apparent in the exercises than the religious 
spirit, but as the latter is seen to apply more 
to our daily affairs, less awe and formality 
is manifested in its expression and more of 
intimate human intercourse. It is true that 
some damage is done to the cemetery 
grounds by the exceptional number and 
sometimes thoughtless visitors and that the 
superintendent would welcome the elimina- 
tion of picnic accompaniments, but the dam- 
age is susceptible of repair and its preven- 
tion is a matter of education along the line 
of the civic improvement propaganda which 
is now beginning to show results. 
“As to maintaining the memorial charac- 
ter of the day, so far as the cemetery is- 
eoncerned, sufficient is being done, but there 
are a few things not to do. One of these 
is the disposition on the part of some or- 
ganizations to establish private and exclusive 
memorial days and to attract attention 
thereto by widely advertised exercises, ap- 
parently for the purpose of occupying the 
center of attentio'n, rather than accepting 
their proper relative positions on a day 
of general memorial. If this is persisted 
in, the tendency will be to divide interest 
and separate thought on a subject which 
should receive united support. The effort 
of nature has been to unite mankind by 
making laws absolutely applicable to all 
alike. Man has refused to accept the wis- 
dom of this method by dividing himself 
into groups, whether religious, political or 
commercial and exploiting one at the ex- 
pense of the others. When driven at last 
to compromise with himself, he attempts to 
establish brotherly affection on a limited 
basis and then wonders why the results are 
not universal. In teaching the lessons of 
national integrity, let our method be all- 
inclusive. Let us have one Memorial Day. 
“Ow'ners of lots in the cemetery are really 
the ones to be most considered in admit- 
ting an unusual number of people to the 
grounds, and while they, no doubt, wish to 
see greater decorum on the part of the 
Decoration Day attendance, still they have 
been very patient in accepting its customs 
and do not absent themselves nor find great 
fault with the activities of this one day.” 
THE ALBANY RURAL CEMETERY, ALBANY, NEW YORK 
The Albany Rural Cemetery, Al- 
bany, N. Y,, famous as the burial- 
place of President Chester A. Ar- 
thur, is in natural beauty of grounds 
and methods of management one of 
the most interesting cemeteries in the 
country. The views herewith show 
the substantial character of the build- 
ings, the mature and well grown 
planting and the general tidiness of 
the grounds. 
The Albany Cemetery Association 
was incorporated by special act of the 
Legislature in 1841, has no capital 
stock, and is in no sense a money- 
making enterprise, its income being 
devoted wholly to the maintenance 
and improvement of the cemetery. 
It is situated about halfway between 
the cities of Albany and Troy, zYz 
miles from Albany. The original pur- 
chase of 123 acres has been added to, 
from time to time, until the present 
enclosure contains about 400 acres. 
The beauty of the Albany Rural has 
been enhanced by the construction of 
lakes, fed by the streams of the sur- 
rounding country; and of broad ave- 
nues, aggregating at the present time 
over 30 miles in length and conducting 
to every improved section of the 
grounds; by the planting of rare trees 
and shrubs; which, with the natural 
slope of the ground, makes it one of 
the beautiful cemeteries of the coun- 
try. 
There are three entrances well-situ- 
ated for the use of lot-holders coming 
from any direction. The main en- 
trance and office, shown in one of the 
accompanying illustrations from a 
handsome little book of views issued 
by the association is on the Albany 
and Troy trolley lines and at a sta- 
tion of the D. & H. Railway. A short 
distance further into the grounds is 
a handsome well appointed chapel 
open to the free use of lot holders. 
It is substantially built of brick and 
stone and cost $12,500. The receiving 
vaults and the superintendent’s resi- 
dence, both very effectively set off by 
planting are also shown. The receiv- 
ing vault is of bluestone, has a ca- 
pacity of 700 and cost $20,000. 
The monument to President Arthur, 
one of the famous memorials of the 
country, occupies an imposing site at 
a turn in the drive, that shows in im- 
pressive manner the beautiful bronze 
Guardian Angel holding a palm branch 
over a sorcophagus of Wisconsin 
granite. 
In the purchase of lots, there is 
great latitude for choice, not only of 
location and surroundings, but also in 
LAKE BETHESDA, ALBANY RURAL CEMETERY. 
