PARK AND CEMETERY. 
22 1 
Black, Rev. Dr. Dick, Major Montieth among the others, and 
if the monuments seemed generally, too, too solid, the columns 
too pretentious, the epitaphs too long and florid, this is but the 
personal opinion of one who cares most for the simplicity of 
death, for the plain slab that covers the dust of a Shakespeare, 
or the brief slate that marks the resting place of a Wordsworth. 
One thing I was glad to see, and that was a wreath of f esh 
flowers on the grave of William Muller, the “Laureate of the 
Nursery,” who wrote “Wee Willie Winkle.” The high relief 
medallion on his tomb showed features gentle and benign, and 
I liked to think that some loving child had placed these flowers 
on the grave of a poet who died before the wee decorator was 
born, all f >r “Wee Willie Winkle’s” sake. 
It is reported from Washington that a systematic canvass of 
the world is to be made in the next four years to determine what 
tree or trees can best be made to grow in our arid and sub-arid 
regions. In an interview Professor B. E. Fernow, chief of the 
Division of Forestry of the Agricultural Department, said, that 
while the above is the ostensible object, it is likely that the 
search will lead to a systematic attempt to introduce into this 
country and acclimatize from all parts of the world the econ- 
omically valuable trees. 
^©orTe^ponesence.v^ 
Returning from the Convention. 
Salem, Mass., October 9, 1897. 
Editor Park and Cemetery , 
Dear Sir: I promised you a short account of my trip home 
from the convention at Cincinnati, which I take opportunity to 
fulfill. 
We left Cincinnati on Saturday morning, September 18, for 
Dayton, O. , and there 1 found that all our discussion on Sunday 
Funerals would be of no avail in Woodlawn Cemetery, for on 
the Sunday we spent there they had six to contend with, one of 
which was accompanied by a band of music as escort, and with 
all the gay and gaudy trappings of one of the German orders, 
with flowers enough to pay a considerable share towards a good 
family lot, although the deceased in this case was laid in a single 
grave plot. The other funerals were divided about equally be- 
tween single graves and private family lots. 
We spent Monday looking around the Gem City, and on 
Tuesday morning left Dayton for Columbus to pay a visit to our 
Mr. Stephens and family. We arrived at just about the right 
time, for it was their carnival, and Columbus is a very delightful 
city; its avenues are good and broad; its side streets are well 
kept,.and, in fact, this applies to all of the public buildings. 
Green Lawn Cemetery, the home of Brother Stephens, is a 
very, very pretty cemetery. The avenues are roomy and the 
land . is very nicely arranged for lots; its single grave plots re- 
minded me a good deal of those of Mr. Stone at Lynn. They are 
not only well arranged, but are not laid out in some out-of-the-way 
place; they are given a good, prominent position in the cemetery ; 
and are as well cared for as any other section. Next turning our at- 
tention to the office and the books and records, I am compelled 
to say that if any of our superintendents are looking for modern 
ideas in the care of cemetery records, I should advise a visit 
to Green Lawn Cemetery, Columbus, O. 
On Wednesday afternoon we left for Cleveland to call on 
Brother Dix at “Riverside.” I have often heard that precious 
gems are found in small packages, and this proved true at Riv- 
erside.” We found Mr. Dix in his new office, which is a beauti- 
ful building — everything about it that a man could ask for. The 
veranda or porch is very attractive, as also the very fine recep- 
tion room. The office just off the latter has a time lock to the 
dividing railing, so that friends can come so near and yet so far 
from the desks. One of the best features of the improvements is 
that he has used up the old buildings which so disfigured his 
entrance and residence. The office has been utilized as a car- 
riage and storage house, and the old house that was in the rear 
of his residence has been removed to the further corner of the 
cemetery. 
This cemetery seems to indicate nothing but prosperity, 
and I consider Mr. Dix has at the present time as good a ceme- 
tery entrance and surroundings as an> cemetery in the country. 
After Cleveland our next stop was at Syracuse to see Mr. 
Chaffee. We arrived late in the evening, and found the family 
enjoying a good open fire, for a steady rain had fallen all day. It 
was just what they had been waiting for some time, for they had 
suffered from drought, like all the rest of the western people. 
After looking over the grounds the morning of the next day, we 
were entertained on another subject. Brother Chaffee is noted 
throughout Syracuse as the “kite” man, and his back office re- 
veals kites of all kinds, sticks, twine on reels, wire on reels, cot- 
ton cloth, etc. After an examination of the paraphernalia we 
were treated to an exhibition of kite flying with six kites, all out 
on one reel of wire, which was estimated to have a length of one 
and one-half miles. These kites varied in size from four to seven 
feet in height. 
This was our last stop, and we reached Boston and home on 
Sunday, having tasted much of hospitality and instructive pleas- 
ure on our trip. George IV. Creesy, 
Superintendent Harmony Grove. 
* * * 
After Thoughts. 
Zanesville, O., October 26,. 1897. 
Editor Park and Cemetery, 
Sir: Since returning from the convention I have been im- 
pressed more than ever before with the importance of our work 
and its extensive field. 
Every hamlet, village, town and city has pressing need of the 
services of the capable cemetery superintendent. While much 
has been accomplished by our association, it is relatively so small 
to what is yet to be done that contemplation often leads to dis- 
couragement. 
But with such leaders and advisers as we have in the associ- 
ation, supported by your incomparable magazine, we may hope 
to press on until every cemetery in the broad land shall respond 
to the touch of the master hand of the efficient superintendent. 
By what means can this much desired end be attained, and in 
what direction will our efforts result in the most good? 
If we could place a copy of Park and Cemetery monthly 
in the hands of every cemetery official the end would seem pos- 
sible of realization. I think this might be done by establishing 
and encouraging State and district associations, and thus lead to 
every cemetery in the country being represented in our annual 
national convention. The interest thus induced could not fail 
of good results. 
In this direction I suggested the formation of an Ohio asso- 
ciation as an auxiliary to the National to several Ohio superin- 
tendents at Cincinnati. The idea was well received, but our 
limited time prevented active work. I would like to hear from 
some of the older members on this subject. Yours fraternally, 
E B. Henslee, 
Superintendent Greenwood Cemetery. 
