86 
THE MODERN CEMETERY. 
and planting of the entrance to the cemetery. It 
was with great pleasure when visiting the Forest 
Hill Cemetery of Boston, I saw that this had evi- 
dently been taken into consideration when the plans 
of the cemetery were drawn. Who having driven 
along that broad, sweeping drive, planted on both 
sides with most beautiful specimens of Blue Spruce, 
Nordman Fir and other choice evergreens, supple- 
mented with banks of Rhododendrons, Azaleas and 
handsome thickets of shrubs, and on up through 
the Ivy covered archway, has not felt that he was 
indeed entering a beautiful Paradise ! I really be- 
lieve that more attention should be given to the ap- 
proach to, and the entrance of, the cemetery 
grounds proper, for it is there that visitors get their 
first impression, — and first impressions are always 
the most lasting. 
Perhaps this was more impressed upon my mind 
when I visited Poorest Hill, because it was only a few 
days before this that I saw another cemetery in 
western New York, where the entrance was directly 
from the street, through the conventional gate-way 
with its stern granite posts and iron railings. Not 
but what the grounds of this cemetery were very 
artistically arranged, but the entrance to it did not 
give me the same feeling of rest that I experienced 
when I visited Forest Hill. Yet, the entrance to 
the cemetery of which I speak could very easily 
have been arranged so as to give one the idea of 
entering a beautiful park, simply by placing the en- 
trance proper a little distance from the street, and 
massing a number of choice evergreens, trees and 
shrubs on both sides of its sweeping driveway. 
It is not my intention to go into the details of 
how to plant a cemetery, because that is the pro- 
vince of a landscape gardener; I merely wish to 
throw out a few hints or points which to me seem 
to be frequently overlooked, and this question of 
an artistically planted entrance is, I think, one that 
particularly needs attention. It seems to me that 
it is your duty, gentlemen, to let no opportunity 
escape to instruct your lot-holders how to keep in 
touch with the improved and more advanced aims 
of the modern cemetery. Every one is prone to do 
a certain thing because custom has made it popular, 
and this is as true in cemetery matters as in every- 
thing else. The huge marble or granite shaft, rare- 
ly an object of beauty and sometimes but a mere 
display ol wealth, is usually erected with the best 
intentions, and its use is still a custom mainly be- 
cause it is believed to be the most fitting thing to 
do, and lot-holders have not learned a more advanced 
idea. And this is just where the question arises — 
what is the most advanced idea by which we can 
satisfy that desire to do something to show how the 
dead are missed or loved ? Would not the plant- 
ing of rare trees and plants be more fitting and 
bear testimony to our love to a far greater extent 
than does the erection of monuments? Do not vis- 
itors at a cemetery show more real love for the trees 
and flowers than they do for a block of marble or 
granite, upon which more frequently they look with 
more curiosity than respect? There is no doubt 
that our dead soldiers are more honored and the 
living more inspired by the strewing of flowers an- 
nually on their graves, than they would be by mere 
monuments alone. We must get lot-holders to re- 
member with us that beautiful trees and shrubs pro- 
duce beautiful thoughts, and keep us, as it were, in 
closer communion with those we have lost, and that 
trees, shrubs and flowers are, therefore, more fitting 
than monuments. The most choice and beautiful 
evergreens that could be selected would cost but a 
small portion of the value of a monument, and 
would leave a handsome fund to be placed in the 
hands of the superintendent for the annual care ne- 
cessary to keep the lot in a beautiful condition. 
I understand that no marble monument or head- 
stone marks the spot of the famous Nicholas Long- 
worth, one of the pioneers in the industrial devel- 
opment of Cincinnati, and possibly the father of 
modern strawberry culture, but that he sleeps be- 
neath the spreading branches of a noble elm tree. 
I think that you all will agree with me that the 
time is here for some changes in this direction. 
Many of you have already passed rules forbidding 
the erection of marble copings, iron railings, and I 
think in some cases tall headstones. A few years 
ago this would not have been possible, but to-day 
the people have more advanced ideas, and through 
your teachings are becoming willing to discard 
these things. Even in the matter of headstones and 
monuments they are showing a desire to design 
them after ideas more natural than the marble 
shaft and square or rounded top headstone. 
This is shown by the imitations of tree trunks, and 
boulders now frequently seen in cemeteries. The 
monument in Harleigh Cemetery, near the main en- 
trance, representing a column of stones, doubtless 
attracted the attention of many of you, and each of 
you perhaps have in the cemeteries which you sup- 
erintend, monuments, the erection of which has been 
suggested by some seemingly appropriate object in 
nature. It is but a step from the imitation of na- 
ture to the real, and I firmly believe that the tran- 
sition would not be so difficult of accomplishment 
as one might suppose. Let but a few of your lot- 
holders start the work, and others will quickly fol- 
low. It is probable that the idea may be too radi- 
cal for its full accomplishment at an early date, but 
I have no doubt but what it will come in time just 
as other reforms have been adopted after persist- 
