90 
THE MODERN CEMETERY. 
THE RECEIVING TOMB. 
The Kensico Cemetery. 
This new necropolis of New York, is located on 
the Harlem division of the N. Y. Central & Hud- 
son River R. R. , about fifteen miles from the city 
limits. It is situated in the midst of an elevated 
and extensive plateau ranging in height from 300 to 
525 feet above the sea with picturesque and historic 
surroundings, and soil well adapted to the purpose. 
A new stone depot of Queen Anne style, perfect 
in all its appointments and exclusively used for 
cemetery purposes, forms an entrance to the ceme- 
tery. 
The receiving tomb which we illustrate is built 
of stone and granite, contains 178 marble catacombs 
with a perfect system of interior ventilation, which 
will make it thoroughly sanitary. The tomb is en- 
tered under a stone archway, through a massive 
iron gate, in front of which are three large Sienna 
marble tablets; upon the centre one is engraved the 
names of the trustees; the mosaic floor, stained 
glass windows, groined arch ceiling, white marble 
fronts to the catacombs, the large iron gates separ- 
ating the two rows of catacombs from the main isle 
where committal services are held, and the general 
finish of the interior, are all suggestive of a grand 
crypt to a cathedral. In front of the tomb is a large 
fountain, and the grounds near by will be purely 
ornamental. 
The artistic treatment of this building and its 
surroundings has made a most beautiful and attrac- 
tives pot. All drives, roads and avenues are built 
on stone foundations. In all landscape work an 
equal regard has been displayed to convenience, 
completeness of arrangements and beauty of effect; 
the winding drives diversifying the scene and break- 
ing the monotony of the old style grave-yard. 
Among the attractions soon to be ad- 
ded are a chapel and conservatory; this 
group of buildings will be conveniently 
placed near the entrance. Many promi- 
nent New Yorkers are interested in Ken- 
sico. 
The annual report of Spring Grove 
cemetery, Cincinnati, O., for the year 
ending September 30th, contains the fol- 
lowing statistics, receipts from lot sales 
etc., $83,042. Expenses for mainte- 
nance $75,810. Number of interments, 
1,431, total number 55,482. Available 
resources of the association $256,358. 
Perpetual care fund $26,000. Sixty- 
seven men were employed by superin- 
tendent Salway, 
At the Sign of the Skull. 
A strange old tavern have I seen; 
The walls are thick, the garden green; 
’Tis damp and foul, yet through the door 
Do rich men come as well as poor. 
They come by night, and they come by day, 
And never a guest is turned away. 
The landlord, an unwholesome fellow, 
Has a complexion white and yellow. 
And, though he looks exceeding thin. 
Does nothing else but grin and grin 
At all his guests, who, after a while, 
Begin to imitate his smile. 
The guests are a fearful sight to see, 
Though some are people of high degree; 
For no one asks, when a carriage arrives, 
A decent account of the inmates’ lives; 
But holy virgins and men of sin 
Sleep cheek by jowl in this careless inn; 
And beautiful youths in their strength and pride 
Have taken beds by a leper’s side; 
But all sleep well, and it never was said 
That any kind of complaint was made. 
For all people who pass that way 
Appear to intend a lengthened stay. 
The house has a singular bill of fare. 
Nothing dainty, nothing rare; 
But only one dish, and that dish meat. 
Which never a guest was known to eat. 
Night and day the meal goes on. 
And the guests themselves are fed upon. 
These merry guests are all of them bound 
To a land far off, but I never found 
That any one knew when he should start, 
Or wished from this pleasant house to part. 
O, strange old tavern, with garden green! 
In every town its walls are seen. 
Now the question has often been asked of me 
Is it really as bad as it seems to be? 
— Theodore C. Williams in -Century . 
