225 PARK AND CEMETERY. 
The CatHolic Cemeteries of Dublin. 
Compiled by Mrs. Frances Copley Seavey from Fitz- 
patrick’s History of the Dublin Catholic Cemeteries. 
(Continued.) 
A large number of splendid Celtic crosses are scat- 
tered throughout the grounds of Glasnevin, so that 
Petrie’s plan is carried out in effect if not in intention ; 
and O’Connell’s memory suffers no neglect in his home 
city, since “one of the noblest streets of Europe” 
(O’Connell Street, Dublin) bears his name, and 
“Foley’s colossal group of statuary commemorates the 
services of Ireland’s Liberator.” 
The “W atch Towers” on the walls of the Glasnevin 
grounds are relics of the days when body snatching 
was practiced, a custom which occasioned “numerous 
and sometimes sanguinary collisions between what 
were known as ‘Sack-’em-ups’ and ‘Dead W’atchers,’ ” 
while the sexton was called the “knave of spades.” 
It also led an Irish wit to rather irreverentlv remark 
that “The dead experience the wrongs and not the 
rites of sepulchre, which is enough to make them rise 
from their graves ; and so they do, too often.” It is a 
matter of history that the body of Laurence Sterne was 
stolen and sold to Cambridge University. The 
guards and bloodhounds were retained until 1853, 
long after the loathsome custom had been abolished by 
the operation of the ‘hA^natomy Act.” 
The Board of Prospect Cemetery has always exer- 
cised great care regarding the accuracy of inscriptions, 
and facts and dates cut on the stones must accord with 
the records. Inscriptions are never allowed to be 
altered, — although they may, under supervision, be 
added to in the event of fresh interments in a grave 
or plot : and photographs of monuments showing in- 
scriptions have been produced as evidence in the courts 
of the country. 
Many noted people are buried at Glasnevin. and an 
unusual number of interesting monuments exist. One 
historic character, Zozimus, a would-be poet, who lies 
there, is said to have been found “dictatin’ ” poetic 
funeral instructions by the priest who was summoned 
to prepare the poor man for death. The effusion ends 
thus : 
“I’ll not permit a tombstone stuck above me. 
Nor effigy; but, boys, if still yees love me, 
Build a nate house for all whose fate is hard. 
And give a bed to every wanderin’ bard,” 
sentiments which amply prove his sound sense, but 
which seem not to have found favor in Dublin any 
more than in our own country. 
Since 1896 Glasnevin Cemetery, which had for 
more than half a century been exempt from taxation, 
has been forced by a court decision to pay rates 
amounting to “considerably more than £400 annually.” 
This impost has been permanently fixed upon the 
grounds despite the endeavors of the Catholic Asso- 
ciation to maintain its right to continued exemption, 
and “the Charitable Educational Institutions in and 
near Dublin are thereby deprived of that much rev- 
enue.” 
It is the custom for people of means to becjueath 
sums of money (sometimes very large amounts) to the 
Cemeterv Committee ’‘to maintain and keep their plots 
in order in perpetuity.” An Englishman, writing in 
1881, of the Glasnevin Cemetery, said: “Every grave 
in this immense resting-place is a study ; the monu- 
ments and head-stones are works of art, and adorned 
with flowers in vases and wreaths ; and the poorer 
graves show a daily care ; there are little glass houses 
at each end, within which the statue of our Blessed 
Lord, that of the Blessed Virgin Mary, St. Joseph, or 
other saints, with vases of real flowers at their feet.” 
In 1899 the Cemetery Committee secured a report on 
the needs of the Glasnevin grounds from “Mr. Ramsey, 
nurservman and landscape gardener,” which resulted 
