PARK AND CEMETERY. 
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AROUSING SENTIMENT FOR CEMETERY REFORM 
ENTRANCE DRIVE IN DECATUR, ILL., CEMETERY, SHOWING NEED FOR 
BETTER GRADING TO JOIN DRIVE AND LAWN. 
If every local newspaper in the coun- 
try were as interested in showing the 
people of the community the condition 
of their cemetery and as energetic in 
pointing out neglected spots with strong 
words and pictures as the Herald, of 
Decatur, 111., the weed-grown grave- 
yards, and the tumble-down stone yard 
burial grounds would soon be relics of 
ancient history. The Herald recently de- 
voted several articles, one of them nearly 
a page, to showing up the conditions 
of neglect that had been allowed to 
creep into the local cemetery, and showed 
with photographic reproductions the ex- 
act spots that needed improvement and 
what they needed to make them better. 
One of the Herald articles is illustrated 
with three photographs whose titles il- 
lustrate the detailed method of showing 
up conditions that ought to be remedied. 
Under one of the pictures appears the 
title “A concrete walk and wall needed 
at the entrance drive.” Another was 
labeled : “A retaining wall badly need- 
ed here,” and another illustrated a ‘‘Sam- 
ple of a good retaining wall which 
might profitably be extended to other 
parts of the cemetery.” 
While an expert cemetery landscape 
architect might differ with the Herald 
as to the exact nature of some of the 
improvements needed, there can be no 
question about the fact that some are 
needed and that lively agitation of 
the matter as this newspaper has under- 
taken will result in some substantial im- 
provement. If the Herald would next 
arouse agitation for the employment of 
a landscape architect who is a cemetery 
specialist to come and report on condi- 
tions and make plans for the necessary 
improvement, its efforts would be as 
wisely directed as they are now ener- 
getic and useful. 
The chief article on the Decatur ceni- 
eter\r was followed by another showing 
what had been accomplished and con- 
trasting conditions with pictures in Oak 
FI ill Cemetery in the neighboring city 
of Springfield. 
We give herewith some extracts from 
the Herald's story and a couple of the 
pictures to show the manner and the 
spirit in which the matter was handled. 
Cemetery officials who have the prob- 
lem of awakening a lethargic public to 
the run-down conditions in the local 
cemetery, will do well to send for cop- 
ies of the Decatur, 111., Herald of Sun- 
day, April 16, and April 23. 
Following is part of what the Herald’ 
had to say : 
A more fitting motto at the entrance tO’ 
Greenwood cemetery would be “All ye who- 
enter here, expecting to find more beauty 
than ugliness, leave all hope behind.” . 
As one enters the cemetery he is iiri' 
pressed with the fact that the entrance is 
merely a continuation of Spring avenue and 
that the character of the soil differs but 
little. The main avenue is graveled, but at 
this season of the year it is undeniably soft 
and muddy. 
It has long been contended that this w'allc 
should be paved, or at least treated with; 
ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF POORLY GRADED LAWN AND ROADWAY. 
