THE MODERN CEMETERY. 
119 
appearance of the romantic old place. At the head of the ave- 
nue is an enclosure, formed by a thick high wall, in which many 
chiefs of the Clan Macnab and their near relations tie buried; 
while outside and all around repose the remains of the commoi' 
clansmen. — Philadelphia Item. 
to Lot OWner^. 
BY A LOT OWNER IN LOWELL CEMETERY, MASS. 
If your circurristances will not admit of deposit- 
ing as large a fund as you would like for “Perpet- 
ual Care,” deposit $25 or $50 allow the dep- 
osit to accumulate. In a few years it will reach an 
adequate sum, you meanwhile paying yearly char- 
ges as rendered by the superintendent. 
If your lot does not grow a good sod, consult 
with the superintendent. Perhaps there is no soil 
to support the sod, perhaps it has “run out.” New 
soil and new turf may be the easy remedy. 
If you have rubbish to dispose of, throw it on 
the carriage way. Employees will then easily gath- 
er the same. Don’t throw on spaces that do not be- 
long to you, or behind trees or banks. 
Consider if there is anything more beautiful 
than nature itself in cemetery adornment. Is there 
anything prettier than the green sward ? Then why 
break its beauty with the hideous corner post pro- 
truding above the level of the lot? It is well en- 
ough to bound your lot with markers level with the 
surface, but you disfigure your own lot and that of 
your neighbor when you do more. There is but 
one benefited — the stone-cutter. 
Thousands of dollars are spent in the effort to 
produce effective stone work in our own and other 
cemeteries. Beautiful work is shown, but far too 
often is defective material used. In a short time 
the defects appear. You cannot be too painstaking 
in the selection of stock to be used. 
Study for simplicity in all inscription work. The 
greatest indignities to the dead are to be found in 
burial places throughout the land, in the way of in- 
scriptions. Much is ludicrous, some horrible, and 
by far too much in very bad taste. No doubt much 
that we read on cemetery stone work is the ingen- 
uity and suggestions of the stone-cutter. There is 
only one rule^ — ^study for brevity. 
If you buy stone work and pay the cutter for it, 
there is no reason why he should forever after share, 
with you the surfaces for advertising purposes. 
The mark is for the dead, and it is not erected for 
the purpose of displaying the name of the enterpris- 
ing dealer. 
It would be well if the custom followed at the 
grave should be to have the cemetery authorities 
do all concerned with the handling of the casket and 
lowering into the grave. Especially should this be 
the case when the bearers are of advanced years. 
If you have a sloping front to your lot, don’t cut 
it for flower beds. It breaks the symmetry of the 
avenue, and will not look presentable without con- 
stant care. 
Don’t turn your carriage in an avenue. If you 
do the chances are that you will cut the margin 
turf, and if you do, it means expense. 
Don’t give too much weight to the sayings of 
sidewalk orators who see so much that is bad in the 
management of your corporation’s affairs. If your 
mind is uneasy on any point, go to the president or 
treasurer and ascertain if the evil actually exists. 
If the management is inefficient the remedy is at 
the annual meeting, but first, be correctly informed. 
— Lowell Cemetery Report. 
'^/©orre^pondence.I^ 
Removal of Bodies From Unpaid Lots. 
Grove Hill Cemetery, Shelbyville, Ky., Nov. 23, 1894. 
Editor Modern Cemetery: 
On page loi of the November issue, I find under the head 
of “Removals of Bodies From Unpaid Lots,” a certain judge’s 
decision in favor of such removal. He is certainly correct in his 
judgment. On first taking charge of Grove Hill Cemetery, as 
Secretary and Superintendent, I was informed that I would have 
all classes of people to deal with, and human nature is more or 
less the same in every age. In my sixteen years experience I have 
found people who, after burying their dead on a lot in a ceme- 
tery, and after most solemn promises, have deferred payment and 
become both callous and careless, from whom no satisfaction could 
be got. Your correspondent asked what to do. Give them a 
written notice that if all charges are not paid in thirty days, the 
remains will be removed and decently buried on the ground 
which a committee appointed for that purpose has set apart; 
then place the lot in good condition for resale. This is a plan 
adopted here for which a saving clause is iuserted in our charter. 
I have furnished many superintendents copies of this for revision 
of their charters, and we furnish lot owners with an abstract for 
their guidance. Before I had charge of the cemetery five or six 
lots were taken back and resold after notification. 
Yours truly, G. W. Riely. 
St. John’s Churchyard, New York. 
"Good friend for Jesu’ sake forbear 
To dig the dust enclosed here. 
Blest be the man that spares these stones, 
And curs't be he that moves my bones.” 
I imagine the Shakespearian sentiment inspires 
everyone who commits the remains of loved ones to 
the earth. 
Then what can be said for a rich corporation 
such as the Trinity Corporation of New York, who. 
for “$520,000” (p. 104), or any consideration what- 
ever, would disturb the tombs of St. John’s Church- 
yard ? It is rare enough in this country to find an 
old churchyard guarded by twenty-five survivors, and 
it is monstrous that they should be compelled to 
employ a lawyer. The Trinity Corporation claim 
