PARK AND CEMETERY. 
11 
? I WANT TO KNOW ? 
Locating Graves for Strangers 
Editor Park & Cemetery: I write 
you relative to H. B.’s question, “What 
is the best wa}'' to mark lots and graves 
so that strangers can find them without 
assistance?” When at the office we hear 
the familiar “Will you please tell me 
where Mr. Blank is buried?,” we seek 
our index card. This card, in addition 
to the section and lot, also indicates 
whether the grave has a headstone. 
Then we take a small cheap lithograph 
map of the cemetery, and with a pencil 
indicate thereon before the inquirer’s 
eyes the most direct road from the of- 
fice to the section. Then on a small 
lithograph of the section, such as the 
one illustrated, we trace the route from 
the road to the lot, informing him that 
he will find the number of the lot on its 
four corner stones, and th« numbers 
are supposed to be read while standing 
in the center of the lot. If the grave 
has a headstone we tell him so. If the 
grave has not a headstone we are 
obliged to turn to our lot plat and show 
him the location of the grave upon the 
lot, usually giving him a rough pencil 
sketch. Then we start him on the right 
road with the information that on each 
debris basket along the roadside he will 
see the name of the road and section, 
and with the further admonition that if 
he “should have any trouble in finding 
the grave” to 'inquire of the gardener 
working on the section. We do not 
work our men in gangs, but assign one 
gardener to a section, where he also 
does police duty. These men become 
familiar with the location of each lot 
upon their section, and are usually able 
to readily answer the greater number 
of questions that are put to them. I 
should like to add to H. B.’s question 
the further inquiry, “How can we best 
direct a stranger to a grave with the 
least expenditure of time and money?” 
It is a question that has been bothering 
me for some time past. 
Frederick Green, 
Secretary Lake View Cemetery, Cleve- 
land, O. 
Other questions asked in this depart- 
ment last month still unanswered, are 
here repeated, and superintendents who 
have had experience along these lines 
are invited to answer them ; 
1. Do any cemeteries prohibit placing 
flowers in the public receiving vault 
during the winter? — J. W. K. 
2. What provision is usually made 
on sections to take care of the snow 
water resulting from a sudden thaw? 
-J. R. 
CEMETERY LOT SALES BY 
CANVASSERS 
One of the leading companies of the 
East is revolutionizing the sale of burial 
plots. There was a time when people, 
wanting a place of sepulchre, would 
wait until a death in the family made 
the purchase compulsory, and then 
would visit the cemetery offices. This 
has been changed by the company above 
mentioned. Its lots are sold, almost en- 
tirely, by canvassers — their leading and 
logical argument being “In time of life 
prepare for death.” 
An agent, thoroughly conversant with 
the affairs of the company referred to, 
said recently that the sales made in the 
office in three weeks would not keep the 
improvements under way, going for one 
day. “While a cemetery lot is the only 
piece of real estate a man is ever com- 
pelled to have, he must be sought out, 
and consequently canvassers must dis- 
pose of the property if any cemetery is 
ever to amount to ‘anything.’ ” 
“It is not an easy thing to get a good 
cemetery lot salesman, for while the 
work is not hard, and not necessarily 
distasteful, the average canvasser fails 
utterly when it comes to selling ceme- 
tery lots. The trouble is the salesman 
will not realize that there are times 
when seriousness and earnestness are 
called for. The selling of cemetery lots 
requires both, and the ability to recite 
in an inoffensive way the reasons why a 
man should not put off doing to-day 
what must be done sooner or later. 
“The cemetery referred to has some 
men who have found this cemetery lot 
business a great field. The best one was 
a newspaper advertising agent who had 
a wide acquaintahce, and, perhaps, his 
friends were responsible for his first 
sales. According to his experience the 
first sale breeds a second ; and that if 
one woman buys a lot her sisters are 
favorable prospects. This man makes 
$100 per week, is now vice-president of 
the company, and sells lots in bunches. 
“There is another one who was a 
clothing cutter by trade, with a wide 
circle of friends. He makes the ‘in 
time of life prepare for death’ propo- 
sition so fascinating that the people 
talked to become possessed with the 
idea of having a lot and so the lot is 
sold. 
While an actual door-to-door canvass 
is not made, the next thing to it is 
SECTION PLAN FOR LOCATING LOTS AND GRAVES. 
Lake View Cemetery, Cleveland, O. 
