36 
THE MODERN CEMETERY. 
named meeting at Cincinnati in 1895. In keeping with our an- 
nual custom we have commenced writing to our members to 
learn whether they will be at the Philadelphia Convention, this 
will be followed up from time to time. An answer received from 
one of our members aroused my sympathy; he states that it 
would afford him great pleasure to meet with us at Philadelphia, 
but owing to his meager salary he could not spare the money 
requisite to pay the expenses of the trip. This is a sad commen 
tary on cemetery officials who only care to carry out their own 
purposes without any regard to the hard worked men having in 
charge their cemeteries. Most assuredly they could afford to 
give the managers of their cemetery at least one week’s vacation 
during the year as well as defray their expenses to our convention. 
Newark, N. J. Chas. Nichols. 
Educating Anti^Monument Ideas. 
In a circular recently issued by the managers of 
Graceland Cemetery, Chicago, the lots in the Ma- 
plewood section are offered for sale under the fol- 
lowing rules: i . — No stone-work or artificial materi- 
al of any kind will be allowed to project above the 
sod. 2. — The g'raves may be distinguished by 
trees, shrubs, vines, or hardy perennial herbaceous 
plants of various kinds planted under the direction 
of the superintendent, but no greenhouse or tender 
plants can be planted. 3 — No mounds will be al- 
lowed over graves. 
This radical departure is taken in the belief 
that a sentiment is rapidly growing in favor of a bur- 
ial ground without stone work. Mr. Eurich, one 
of the leading cemetery superintendents in Ameri- 
ca, and a landscape gardener of ability says: “In 
an ideal cemetery the lot owners should not only 
be encouraged, but they should be required by 
strict rules to discontinue the erection of monuments 
and grave memorials above the sod.” Chateaubri- 
and said: “I have seen the memorable monuments 
to Croesus and Cfesar, but I prefer the airy tombs 
of the Indians, those mausoleums of verdure, re- 
freshed by the morning dew, embalmed and fanned 
by the breezes, and over which waves the same 
branch where the black-bird builds his nest and ut- 
ters his plaintive melody.” 
It is expected that Maplewood is destined to be- 
come one of the most admired sections in Graceland. 
QUeSTIOH BOX." 
What assurance can a cemetery give a lot owner 
that his last resting place will remain undisturbed 
by heirs after his decease? It is suggested that the 
best way to guard against such disturbance is for 
lot owners to deed their lots in trust to the ceme- 
tery, which would seem to afford the needed pro- 
tection, but, the question arises, will this hold in 
every case? Where such provision has not been 
made, is a cemetery justified in defending deceased 
lot owners from removal to single grave sections 
to gratify the mercenary desires of heirs? 
These are problems that cemetery officials fre- 
quently have to meet and we would like to hear 
from readers who have had any experience in de- 
ciding such cases. A correspondent suggests the 
question might be discussed at the next convention 
of the A. A. C. S. 
Association of American Cemetery Superintendents. 
WM. SALWAY, “ Spring Grove” Cincinnati, O., President. 
T. McCarthy. “Swan Point” Providence, R. I., Vice-President. 
F. EURICH, Woodlawn, Toledo, O., Seeretary and Treasurer. 
The Eighth Annual Convention of the Association will be 
held at Philadelphia, September ii, 12, and 13, 1894. 
Resolutions Adopted at the Seventh Annual Convention 
of the Association of American Cemetery Superin- 
tendents. 
Resolved: That it is the sense of this convention that all 
Sunday funerals be discouraged as much as possible. 
Resolved: That it is the sense of this meeting that all 
headstonesor markersshould be limited to the height of the sod 
or the level of the surface of the ground. 
Resolved: That it is the sense ol this meeting that vaults 
and catacombs be discouraged and if possible prevented in cem- 
eteries. 
t@)ep0irtment. 
Tire receipt of Cemetery Literature and Trade Catalogues will be 
acknowledged In this column. 
* * * 
TO ADVERTISERS. The Mohern CEMETERY Is the onlv publica- 
tion of Its class and will be found a valuable medium for reaching 
cemetery ofliclals In all parts of the United States. 
* * * 
TO SUBSCRIBERS. Cemetery officials desli’lng to subscribe for a 
number of copies regularly to circulate among their lot owners, 
should send for our special terms. Several well-known cemeteries 
have already adopted this plan with good results. 
* * * 
Contributions on matters pertaining to cemeteries are solicited. 
Address all communications to 
R. J. HAIGHT, 834 Dearborn St., Chicago. 
We have received from R. F. Robertson, Secre- 
tary of Los Gatos Cemetery, Los Gatos, Cal., 
photographs of the Entrance and birds eye view 
of the grounds of that cemetery. 
We have received from C. McArthur, Superin- 
tendent of Pittsfield Cemetery, Pittsfield, Mass., a 
photograph of the McKay Mausoleum, a beautiful 
structure recently completed in that cemetery. 
The Dille & McGuire Mfg. Co., of Richmond, 
Ind., has issued a handsome “Souvernir” illustrat- 
ing their lawn mowers at the World’s Fair, and also 
showing practical work in high grass. Their mower 
is already well known to Cemetery officials, but the 
recent improvements in manufacture, and material 
used in the wearing parts, greatly increases dura- 
bility* and efficiency in the machines now being 
turned out. 
Readers of the Modern Cemetery who are in- 
terested in the Scherer Automatic Burial Device 
will be glad to know that a new company has been 
organized in New York City, and is now manufac- 
turing the apparatus, which by the use of alumi- 
nium has been reduced in weight very materially. 
A show room has been established at 30 Bible 
House, where the invention may be seen in practi- 
al working order. 
Mr. Geo. W. Williams, President of the Magno- 
lia Cemetery, Charleston, S. C., took occasion on 
the 50th anniversary of the firm of Geo. W. Wil- 
liams & Co. , and the 20th of the Carolina Savings 
