124 
PARK AND CEMETERY. 
scendant turn to these records with heartfelt pleasure and cer- 
tainty. 
But the question at the head of thisarticle is yet unanswered. 
Shall we embalm our dead for people 3000 years hence to unroll 
and ship away 2000 miles to fertilize their land? Or like the 
dead Pharaohs to be toted over the world and exhibited to the 
then rabble of earth? To me it is repugnant, and does not save 
any expense to the living. I had much rather rot beneath my 
own native soil. 
Or shall we incinerate our dead and throw their ashes to the 
winds of heaven, or entomb them in a glass jar upon our parlor 
mantle shelf; or even bury them in the earth? Does this save 
any expense or give any pleasure to the living except that it is 
proof against the ghoul, the dissecting knife, and from being 
buried alive? 
I now answer the question. These bodies are mortal and 
must die— then why not lay them away to mingle with mother 
earth from whence they sprung? This is nature dust to dust. 
Earth disinfects from disease and pollution, and sends back no 
unhealthy poison for the living. And some will ask how to save 
this vast expense of disposing of the dead in a civilized land? 
Rich or poor I would for myself or dearest friend have a 
plain casket made of pine or whitewood varnished or stained, 
with plain iron handles and an uncostly plate— lined with white 
lasting or cheap satin. 
The body should be dressed in plain natural clothes with a 
flower or two for their suggestiveness. One horse only, and a 
plain neat hearse should be employed. No useless casket box 
should be used at the grave. 
I am very fond of flowers; yet I would not have a flower 
bought to bury with me. If some dear friend should lay a few 
flowers from their owngarden above my head I would not object; 
but it looks like sacrilege to see as I have seen several times 
the past year, 200 dollars worth ol flowers spread over a single 
grave. As to mourning dress— I would not change a rag of my 
clothes from my Sunday suit for any friend that 1 love; nor would 
I have them change anything for me. 
Then I would have them sing over my grave no mournful 
dirge, but a song of joy and triumph like; 
My rest is in heaven, my rest is not here, 
or 
Joyfully, joyfully onward I move. 
And lastly I would have my minister speak of me as one 
gone beyond his watch and care. I should feel ashamed to have 
him praise me or recount my good deeds while living — much 
more being dead. I would have him tell my faults and warn 
others to avoid the scrapes that I got into, and leave me in the 
hands of my final Judge. P • 
ASSOCIATION OF AMERICAN CEMETERY SUPERINTENDENTS. 
G W CREESY, "Harmony Grove," Salew, Mass., President. 
ARTHUR W. HOBERT, "Lakewood," Minneapolis, Minn., Vice- 
President. 
F. EURICH, “Woodlawn," Toledo, O., Secretary and Treasurer. 
The Eleventh Annual Convention will be held at Cincinnati, 
O., Sept. 14, 15, 16 and 17. 
Salem, Mass., July 16th, 1897. 
To Officials of Cemeteries. 
Gentlemen: The time is fast approaching for our Annual 
Convention of the Association of American Cemetery Superin- 
tendents, to be held at Cincinnati, Ohio, September 14, 15, 16 
and 17 th. 
The meeting will be one of unusual interest and profit. 
We meet where we organized in 1887 with twenty members 
representing ten states. 
By our last report w’e have one hundred and fifty members 
and these represent nearly every state, showing something of 
growth in numbers. 
Superintendents who have had the privilege of attending 
any or all of the meetings realize, that they are much better able 
to cope with the difficulties which must come, therefore they are 
more useful and valuable as public servants. 
Spring Grove Cemetery, Cincinnati, has more than three 
hundred acres of ready land and is one of the finest and best kept 
cemeteries in the country, and the information gained by a visit 
to the grounds alone would more than repay the expense of send- 
ing your representative. 
Trusting you will see the importance of this and hoping to 
see your superintendent or representative, 
I remain yours with respect, 
George IV. treesy, Pres. 
The Executive Committee has issued an address to cemetery 
officials, setting forth the object of the association and the im- 
portance to every cemetery of having its superintendent or some 
other official in attendance, at its annual conventions. 
* * * 
The programme for the convention is almost completed and 
will appear in these columns in August. 
i & PUBLISHERS' DEPARTMENT. s * 
♦ ♦ 
Park Commissioners and Cemetery Trustees are requested 
to send us copies of their reports. 
Photographs and descriptive sketches of interesting features 
in parks and cemeteries are solicited from our readers. 
Mr. Bellet Lawson has removed to Chicago to assume the 
duties of lading out Mount Auburn Cemetery, a new burial 
ground, in the western part of the city. Mr. Lawson has been 
appointed Superintendent. 
James Monahan. Sexton of City Cemetery, Independence, 
Mo., 100 years old March 20 last, died at his home in Indepen- 
dence J une 24 of cancer. He was born in County Galway, Ire- 
land, in 1797. and came to the United States in 1848, landing at 
New Orleans, but soon moved up the river to Independence, 
where he married. About this time in 1849, Mr. Monahan was 
appointed sexton of the city cemetery at Independence and he 
held the position at the time of his death. In the last cit.y ad- 
ministration an effort was ma le to supersede him, but a ma- 
jority of the council refused to confirm any other app >intment. 
His wife died several years ago, but a large family of sons and 
daughters survive him. 
OBKUARV. 
Abram Bull, for 33 years in continuous service as sexton of 
Lake View Cemetery, Jamestown, N. Y., and member of the 
Association of American Cemetery Superintendents, died on 
May 8, 1897. His was a record of faithful service. The Ceme- 
tery Association has recently appointed Perry W. Goodwin to 
till the vacancy. 
RECEIVED. 
Allegheny Cemetery, Allegheny, Pa., President’s and Su- 
perintendents" Reports for year ending June 25, 1897. 
Die Preisvertheilungauf der Ersten Sonder— Ausstellung der 
Allgemeinen Gartenbau— Austellung in Hamburg, 1897. 
* * * 
Cemetery officials who are desirous of assisting their lot own- 
ers in the selection of artistic memorials should have a collec- 
tion of monumental designs for that purpose. An opportunity is 
afforded for mak ; ng a choice collection of this kind by The 
Monumental News Internati mal Edition. This publication 
furnishes eximpLs of every variety of monumental work, tmny 
ot which are reproduced from original drawings made expressly 
for that journal. Live plate illustrations are issued each month 
in addition to those which appear in the text. A collection of 
these designs kept in cemetery offices or waiting rooms where 
they can be seen by lot owners should be a valuable aid in 
varying the character of menaori als erected. 
* * * 
Park and Cemetery is in frequent receipt of requests for 
plans of receiving vaults, cemetery offices, gateways, shelter 
houses, etc. The illustrations of improvements of this character 
that have been illustrated in these pages in the past are valuable 
in the way of offering suggestions to those who contemplate 
simil.tr improvements and to the end that PARK AND CEME- 
TERY may be of greater service in this direction we ask our 
readers to send in sketches, plans or photographs of any im- 
provements of this nature. These should be accompanied by a 
brief nescription with such particulars in regarp the structure as 
will be of most interest to the readersof Park and Cemetery. 
CATALOGUES. 
The Charter Gas and Gasoline Engine. Charter Gas En- 
gine Co., Sterling, 111 . The Charter gas Engine is proving itself 
a valuable motive power, using gasoline, as well as manufactured 
and natural gas. It is simple and substantial and is giving un- 
qualified satisfaction. The Woodlawn Cemetery Association of 
Green Bay, Wis., is using a No. 3 “Charter -1 to drive its pump , 
giving 150 gallons per minute against a 60 ft. pressure, and they 
state it to be “very economical, and any ordinary man can run 
it.” Catalogues may be had by readers of Park and CEME- 
TERY. 
