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PARK AND CEMETERY. 
161 
IMPORTANT TOPICS AT THE RECENT CONVENTION OF THE A. A. C. S. 
In the course of a paper by Mr. Lawson, Sr., the 
subject of country burial grounds received attention. 
This topic aroused interest, on account of the fact 
that to improve the country cemetery has been the 
most difficult proposition of any presented to the asso- 
ciation. Mr. Lawson mentioned the country press as 
being the likeliest medium by which to create an active 
interest sufficiently vital to arouse action and main- 
tain it ; he also spoke of the power of the women 
of the community when once their sympathy was 
awakened in the cause. The subject called forth a 
valuable discussion in which mention was made of 
several small cemeteries ably and successfully con- 
ducted by women cemetery associations. The State 
Cemetery Superintendents’ organizations appear to 
be encouraging the latter idea and it is ful 1 of 
promise. 
The remarks by Mr. Jacobs of Sturgis, Mich., 
were warmly received. He declared the main point 
to be the education of the people in such communi- 
ties, as to what to do and how to do it, for he had 
found all the necessary willingness but no knowledge. 
He instanced the fact that he had read a paper at 
his State and Fanner’s Institute meeting in which he 
told the farmers in a practical way how to beautify 
their church yard, and their school yards as well .is 
their homes. He told them what to do, “what plants 
to set out and how to do it.” This led to consider- 
able correspondence from all parts, and he had writ- 
ten out some brief rules and regulations of how to 
go to work, with all the necessary details as to tools, 
etc., and suggestions as to how to get the money. 
He claimed that a personal interview with the super- 
visors of each township by one able to advise and in- 
terest would result in work being done and the town- 
ship cemeteries made more attractive. Considerable 
evidence was forthcoming confirming the valuable 
work in cemetery improvement by women’s organi- 
zations. 
The Illinois society includes two representatives of 
cemeteries controlled by women, and at the next an- 
nual state convention delegates are expected from at 
least six such cemeteries. From the papers read by 
the delegates and the reports received it is certain 
that many of the small cemeteries are being greatlv 
improved, and that the work is becoming popular. 
Mr. Jacobs’ success should be an incentive to others 
interested in the improvement of the countr}' grave- 
yard, and his suggestions and explanation in his own 
words afford a key to the results obtained : “If any 
individual would make it a business to attend one of 
the county meetings of the board of supervisors and 
talk with them as we talk with one another here, they 
would go to work ; they would know what to do and 
how to do it, and their cemeteries would be beautified 
I know. That little paper I read before the Farm- 
er’s institute though I am not a literary man, and I 
only stated facts, has had a great influence in our 
community and spread over into Indiana.” 
Another important innovation in the Association’s 
convention proceedings was the appointment of a 
committee to report on the cemeteries visited by the 
association at its annual gatherings, not particularly 
with the view of criticism, liut of encouragement, by 
drawing attention to all the good points and empha- 
sizing such features as invite further development or 
are worthy of reproduction elsewhere. This was 
considered quite an educational feature, and it was 
ruled that the report should be presented at the end 
of the convention sessions. Such a study of the cem- 
eteries visited during the convention days was advo- 
cated in an editorial in these columns in September 
of last year. The duties of this commitee under a 
motion were stated as follows : “To commend those 
features in the various cemeteries visited which har- 
monize with the prevailing ideas of modern cemetery 
development, and to co-operate with the officials in 
charge in making suggestions for improvement along 
lines advocated by this association.” 
