130 
THE MODERN CEMETERY. 
CEMETERY NOTES. 
The authorities of the Vale Cemetery of Schenectady, N.Y., 
have prohibited public funerals on Sunday. 
* * * 
Portland, Me., is to have a new cemetery, under a private 
association. The cemetery will be situated at Deering Centre, 
and will contain about 6o acres. 
* * * 
The city fathers of Flint, Mich., recently decided that they 
had no jurisdiction on the matter of the establishment of new 
burial grounds within the city limits. 
* * * 
At the funeral of a woman in Baltimore, Md., some time 
since, six women attired in black acted as pall-bearers. With 
the exception of a priest, not a man officiated at the ceremony. 
— Sunnysidc . 
* * * 
Mr. Rufus Howe, the oldest native resident of Marlboro, 
Mass., died suddenly recently, aged ninety-two. He was a mar- 
ket gardener, and had been superintendent of Mount Auburn 
Cemetery for many years. 
» * * 
A bequest of money to put the cemetery of the Vincent 
Baptist Church in good order, and furnish headstones for those 
who have never had anything to mark their resting places, was 
made by the late Silas Evans, of East Vincent township, Pa. 
A contract for some 200 headstones has been let. 
* « * 
The directors of Mountain Grove Cemetery at Bridgeport, 
Conn., will probably begin an era of improvement in that cem- 
etery early in the spring, which will possibly absorb some $25,- 
000. These improvements will include the macadamising of 
the principal drives, which have been badly abused by a gener- 
al traffic, and the erection of a handsome arch entrance. Other 
improvements will go on simultaneously. 
* * -X- 
Cold marble is too perishable and insignificant to longer 
serve for monumental purposes. The only fitting monument of 
the noble is something that will house an idea, foster souls, and 
develop love. The richest men can hardly preserve their names 
on earth with costly monuments and extensive estates. But the 
world will not permit the name of him who founds a library, 
causes a park to be made for man, or helping a church to thrive, 
to pass from the minds of men. — Unity . 
* * •» 
A new cemetery, to be called Wildwood Cemetery, contain- 
ing some 240 acres, will add to the list of Detroit, Mich., ceme- 
teries. It is located about nine miles from the City Hall, and is 
picturesquely situated, the Rouge river running through it, and 
the landscape is rolling and drainage good. A. C. Varney, ar- 
chitect, has in charge a $10,000 chapel, and a vault will be built 
with a capacity of 50 bodies. The spot offers grand facilities for 
landscape work, and improvements are to begin in earnest in the 
spring. The company is capitalized at $200,000. 
* * ■* 
Among the many unmarked graves at Oak Hill Cemetery, 
Washington, so far as monumental art is concerned is that of 
James G. Blaine. A small foot stone with the initials J. G. B., 
marks the precise spot where the remains repose, but to the 
large number of pilgrims visiting the grave, a blasted hickory 
tree is the most telling sign post. At the death of his favorite 
son. Walker Blaine, Mr. Blaine purchased a lot in this ceme- 
tery, and when soon after he was called upon to bury his daugh- 
ter, he bought the adjoining lot on which this fine old hickory- 
stood. It was in a somewhat shabby condition, having been 
struck by lightning, but the statesman expressed a wish that it 
should be taken care of as he would like it to mark his resting 
place, and so it stands, care having restored its vitality which 
bids fair to sustain it as long as the other hne trees in the cem- 
etery. 
* * *• 
Dr. George Francis, who died last month in Alameda, Cal., 
was cremated a few days later without any religious services 
whatever. A codicil in his will relieved his friends of their sur- 
prise and shows that the deceased thought that the preparation 
by the undertakers for the grave was a disgusting proceeding, 
and he therefore forbade his body being washed, or that his 
clothes be changed, and directed that all unnecessary expense 
be avoided after his demise; that there be no religious ceremo- 
ny whatever, and that his body be cremated as soon after death 
as possible. 
* * * 
To show what the women can do by organization, in the mat- 
ter of improving rural cemeteries, the history of Glendale Cem- 
etery, Akron, O., gives an excellent example. In 1837, the town 
council put the project on its feet, and some 8 acres were secur- 
ed. It now contains 58 acres. For several years it remained 
unfenced, and the sexton was superintendent. In 1850, the city 
transferred rights and title to the Akron Rural Cemetery Asso- 
ciation. In 1866, several prominent women organized an asso- 
ciation to assist in beautifying the cemetery, of which Mrs. 
Evans, a woman devoted to the cause, was president until her 
death in 1869. Under her active work the entrance lodge was 
built, and much work of improvement accomplished. She be- 
queathed her energy to her associates who, since her death, have 
raised and expended over $20,000 in adding to the beauties of 
the cemetery. The ladies’ association appears to be as active as 
ever, and is on the war path for funds for further improvements 
and renovations. 
* * » 
In Loudon Park Cemetery, Baltimore, an elaborate monu- 
ment has just been completed for Mr. John F. Wiessner. The 
structure rests on a bed of Portland cement concrete two feet 
thick and twenty feet square. On this is built a foundation of 
hard brick laid in cement, in which are set heavy copper anchor 
bolts. The height of the monument is fifty feet and consists of 
four main divisions, viz; The base, the surbase, the pedestal and 
the pedestal proper, forming the top division and supporting a 
colossal figure of Hope The base, of Beaver Dam marble is six- 
teen feet square, and consists of four monolithic plinths, from 
the diagonal angles of which spring four huge consoles, forty 
feet high, with steps between, each carrying pedestals support- 
ing recumbent draped figures of Grief. The surbase is eight feet 
square and eleven feet high, boldly molded and reinforced by 
circular buttresses at the angles based upon the tops of the con- 
soles. It is crowned by a rich cornice and frieze. On each side 
central between the molded bases of the buttresses, are sheafs of 
wheat cut in full relief. The pedestal is seven feet square and 
twelve feet high. It has four niches flanked by pilasters with 
molded bases and carved capitals, spandrils and keystones. At 
each of the exterior angles are detached circular columns sup- 
porting a heavily molded entablature, with cinerary urns over 
each column. At the base of the niches are elaborately carved 
corbels for the support of four life-size statues — that on the front 
or west side representing the Angel of the Resurrection, on the 
south side Faith, on the east side the Recording Angel, on the 
north side Resignation. All the statues were cut in Italy. The 
pedestal IS four feet square at the base and fourteen feet high, 
the base and capital richly molded and carved. The die block, 
a stone three feet square and five feet high, is sculptured with 
festoons of drapery in graceful folds, and its capital is crowned 
by the figure of Hope nearly nine feet high. The monument was 
designed by Hugh Sisson & Sons, Geo. A. Frederick, architect. 
