52 
THE MODERN CEMETERY. 
ENTRANCE TO OAKWOODS CEMETERY, CHICAGO. 
Oakwoods Cemetery, Chicago. 
In appearance Oakwoods is materially improved 
by the new steel picket fence, six feet high, that 
now encloses it; and the entrance has gained digni- 
ty and impressiveness by the new fence being set 
out to the north line of the cemetery property, tak- 
ing in the strip of land left vacant by the recent re- 
moval of the Illinois Central R. R’s. branch track 
that formerly ran across the entire north front of the 
grounds. 
The curved part of the fence on either side of 
the entrance, and the gates, are of handsomely 
hammered iron; and the pointed columns that sup- 
port this part of the unusually elaborate and expen- 
sive boundary, are of polished Wisconsin granite, 
the lower ones being eight feet and the three taller 
ones, at the gates, twenty feet in height. 
The effect of the light tracery of iron and steel, 
and of the brilliantly polished, richly colored col- 
umns seen against the light gray St. Lawrence mar- 
ble of the office, and against the background of fo- 
liage is extremely good. The unfortunately placed 
pole of the electric railway that detracts from the 
appearance of the accompanying illustration is less 
noticeable in the real scene, and the entrance is now 
of a character calculated to create that first good 
impression that is credited with being a potent fac- 
tor in later opinions. 
But there are important improvements going for- 
ward in the interior of the Cemetery that, while 
more subtle and less likely to catch the eye of the 
ordinary observer, (at least in detail), are quite as 
satisfactory, and even more necessary than the new 
fence. 
Oakwoods has always been pretty in spots, but 
only of late has one noted evidences of a coherent 
plan to make of the grounds a harmonious whole — 
a complete picture. The superintendent, (whom 
we take for granted deserves the credit of trying to 
bring about this happy condition), should have less 
difficulty in accomplishing so desirable an end there 
than in any cemetery of the same size and age with 
which we are acquainted. If he has the backing of 
the Association and the intelligent co-operation of 
the many enlightened lot owners, he will doubtless 
make Oakwoods lovely. And in these days when 
the best cemeteries are good examples of landscape 
art, and many of the cemetery superintendents are 
artists, it is likely that he will have the requisite co- 
operation and backing — especially as this is pro- 
gressive Chicago where the legitimate ambition to 
set a good example is rife. 
It should be easy because there is less bad work 
to be undone, as well as because much very good 
work stands as a foundation to which still better can 
be added. 
For instance, some excellent planting is already 
well established; and the place is free from exam- 
ples of objectionable old customs that have crept 
into newer cemeteries. Here there are no fences 
around lots — as though they were likely to run a- 
way; no cumbersome copings to help cut up the 
simple expanse, and, barring the misguided efforts 
at decoration seen in some unsightly borders of sum- 
mer bedding plants, there are no symptoms of an 
intention to turn the grounds into a checker board. 
It should be an expanse of closely cut, well wa- 
tered sward-— a great sweep of lawn where flicker- 
ing leaf shadows weave delicate tracery, or long 
fingers of light and shade lie like a benediction. 
It is a pity that in our day when Art has come 
to be more than a name, that bad taste in planting 
should be tolerated for any reason; it is doubly a 
pity that it should be publicly encouraged in high 
places by the ones to whom so many look for gui- 
dance. If all lot owners would but expend a fair 
