34 
THE MODERN CEMETERY . 
that passed through iron pipes. The Association 
has been laying galvanized pipe in place of the or- 
dinary pipe with a view to remedy the evil. 
* * * 
The new rules of the Crown Hill Cemetery 
Board, Indianapolis, Ind., include the following, 
which is in keeping with the order of things 
now being rapidly instituted and enforced in the 
leading cemeteries of the country. The rule goes 
into effect the coming fall: “All persons are pro- 
hibited from planting trees, shrubs or plants on lots 
or graves, and on and after November i., 1894, 
will be prohibited from planting any flowers in the 
cemetery grounds. Flowers are permitted in vases 
or urns, and cut flowers may be placed upon the 
graves, but will be removed as soon as they become 
faded and unsightly in appearance.” 
# # # 
The cemetery receiving vault is beginning to 
attract the attention of Board of Health inspectors, 
and we note that an investigation of the vault of the 
New York Bay cemetery has been made, discover- 
ing a condition of things warranting immediate ac- 
tion; — bodies having been found which had been in 
the vault for years. Meeting the wishes of lot own- 
ers, prospective or actual, is a wise business prac- 
tice, but it should undoubtedly be limited and 
brought within the bounds of common sense, which 
implies with due force, decency, notwithstanding 
that the dollar-bill may be a factor in the matter. 
In the questions of design, construction, ventilation, 
and even care, the receiving vault has been largely 
neglected, so that any action that will lead to prop- 
er attention to this important adjunct of the ceme- 
tery should be welcome. 
# * * 
Elsinore, or Helsingor as the Danes call it, is 
only a two hours train journey, or three hours sail 
from Copenhagen, and one would think should be a 
Mecca for travelers, for there is the tomb of Hamlet. 
At present it is however, seldom visited by American 
or English pilgrims, although otherwise an attract- 
ive spot. Within a mile of Kronborg castle, on the 
hills, which rise a little from the sea, in the verdant 
public grounds behind the pretty bathing place 
called Marienlyst, is found the shrine. A narrow 
path ascends the hill until a gate is reached, where 
a trifling toll must be paid. Passing on to the sum- 
mit, in a forlorn, waste corner, sheltered by great 
elms there is found a mound or cairn of rough hewn 
brick, stone and earth, topped by a tiny monolith. 
Upon this monolith are two words, “Hamlet’s 
Grave.” It is a fitting spot for such a tomb. The 
everlasting murmur of the sea is heard afar. The 
breezes make strange music overhead, among the 
branches of the elms. A mossy wall forbids all ac- 
cess from behind and only rarely is the peace of 
Hamlet’s melancholy resting place disturbed by the 
invading stranger. 
# # * 
An unfortunate circumstance of cemetery man- 
agement has been brought to light in a prominent east- 
ern cemetery, implying curious business relations ex- 
isting between the cemetery and the undertaker. It 
is unfortunately an open secret that such questiona- 
ble business practices are by no means scarce, but 
nevertheless it is a serious reflection on cemetery 
management. The case in point was where a law- 
yer in settling an estate required to remove certain 
bodies in the cemetery, but permission was refused 
until the receipt for the grave was forthcoming 
which the undertaker had in his possession. Upon 
application he refused to deliver the receipt until 
interest on his bill was paid notwithstanding that 
the applicant held his bills fully receipted. The 
pecuniary advantages of such a condition of things 
to any cemetery association, will and should be fully 
negatived by the odium which publicity always 
casts upon the corporations so involving themselves. 
* # # 
A pertinent and practical suggestion is being 
materialized by a Ladies Cemetery Association of 
Ithaca, Mich. , and that is that ladies committees 
can be most effective agencies for the care and im- 
provement of our rural cemeteries, and that enlarg- 
ed opportunities should be accorded to them for the 
exercise of the functions for which they are emi- 
nently fitted. The following from the pen of an 
Ithaca lady appeared in the Journal of that town. 
“Shall the walks between the lots be filled? My 
answer is emphatically ‘yes’ for several reasons. 
A few I will give. The walks as they are, act as 
surface drains, making it too dry to grow plants 
which do not root deep enough to reach down to 
the moisture on a level with the walks. It is al- 
most impossible to trim those terraces in nice shape 
save with shears, and this process is too slow, for 
time means money to the association. A few will 
trim their own lots and the rest are left for us to 
hire trimmed. Until this is changed there will nev- 
er be funds enough to beautify and improve the 
grounds, as it will be all one man can do to keep 
them clean. If the walks are filled on a common 
level with the lots and seeded, a lawn mower can be 
used on all the grass and leave time to cultivate and 
water plants and shrubs. This assured care will encou- 
rage individuals to procure and contribute many 
plants, which without care will survive but a short time. 
These are only a few reasons, but enough to stir up 
your thoughts on the subject. This is a work which 
principally falls on the ladies. We spend hours in 
arranging something dainty and beautiful to keep 
