PARK AND CEMETERY. 
261 
Very emotional inscriptions, written by noted Frenchmen, are 
placed in plain sight. Passy is a historical spot, with consider- 
able interest for Americans. Near the cemetery, in one of the 
quaintest streets, is a house bearing a tablet recently placed by 
the Passy Historical Society, stating that there lived Benjamin 
Franklin, minister from the United States, and that there was 
erected by him the first lightning rod ever raised in France. 
* * * 
Governor Taylor of Tennessee advocates the organization of 
a Confederate Cemetery Association for the entire south for the 
purpose of raising money and caring for the Confederate ceme- 
teries, many of which are in a dilapidated condition. It is re- 
ported that the Governor has agreed to deliver a number of lec- 
tures for the benefit of the cause. 
* * * 
Queen Victoria has placed a tribute at the grave of an old 
servant, Mrs. McDonald, in Crathie Churchyard, Scotland. It 
consists of two handsome slabs of red Peterhead granite, on the 
top of which is carved an interlaced Celtic cross. Appropriate 
inscriptions are cut in raised polished letters. Mrs. McDonald 
was in the queen’s service forty one years. 
Many of our exchanges are calling attention to the rapid 
destruction of those classes of trees used for Christmas exercises 
in deference to the old custom. It has been noted in many lo- 
calities the past holiday season that Christmas trees were scarcer 
and dearer. When will the American people awake to the dis- 
astrous consequences of this continual destruction of tree life- 
Make it compulsory to plant a tree when one is destroyed and a 
remedy offers itself. 
Experiences of a Public Spirited Citizen. 
Speaking of the removal of two granite fountains, in Boston> 
to other locations, these two being part of a gift of six fountains 
made to the city in 1885, the Boston Transcript relates the fol- 
lowing experiences of this philanthropist: ‘‘The donor of these 
fountains has had some queer experiences in his attempts to give 
like benefits to other places. He Jias business int. rests in a 
western city of large size, and, as he realized the need there of 
public drinking fountains, he went some time ago to the mayor 
of that city to make a formal offer of a gift of nine such fountains 
The mayor was more than surprised, and had a long interview 
with the would be benefactor, during which he tried to discover 
his object in making the gift. He failed to be impressed by the 
simple statement that, beyond filling the public need of just 
such fountains, there was no motive to prompt the offer. The 
mayor was incredulous, and the generous offer was thought to be 
the harmless work of a crank. Indeed, the Boston man who 
made the offer of the gift afterwards heard that the mayor had 
spoken of his “interview with a crank” to those whom he con- 
sulted regarding the matter. It was only after considerable per 
suasion and exercise of diplomacy that his gift of nine fountains 
was accepted. They have been in position for sometime now. 
In another instance the same benefactor noted the need of sireet 
signs in a town which he from time to time visited. He offered 
to furnish free several hundred of these, made of iron, and had 
difficulty in making the gift acceptable. Even after this was 
brought about, it was a long time before the town would stir itself 
to the point of placing the signs in position. He once gave a 
small library to a town which had none, feeling that it would be 
an excellent nucleus from which to build up a better library. The 
town accepted the books with some misgivings as to his sanity, 
apparently, so unusual did it seem to the town fathers to have a 
stranger interested enough in their welfare to make so generous 
a gift. The books, by the way, were placed in a room set apart 
for them, and then were practically let severely alone by the 
people of the towm, who failed to realize the intended kindness 
to them.” 
CORRESPONDENCE. g 
Keeping Up to the Times. 
Editor Park and Cemetery , 
Dear Sir: I notice by the December number of Park and 
Cemetery that Brother Craig will try to make the Omaha con- 
vention a grand success. Whoever attends the next convention 
will see much and learn much, so let us hope that nothing will 
prevent every member from being present. We have all settled 
down to work since the meeting at Cincinnati much pleased with 
what we saw and learned and the many hospitalities extended 
to us, but many absent members we should like to have met. 
Brother Thorn, one of our new members, informs me that he is 
making improvements in his cemetery in the way of lowering 
corner posts, so that he has already begun to reap the benefits of 
our association. Brother Judson tells me that the Catholic clergy 
are making rapid strides towards the stopping of Sunday funerals, 
or at least stopping Sunday burials. 
President Creesy and myself paid a visit to Forest Hills 
Cemetery, Boston, a week or two since. We missed Mr. Bar- 
ker’s familiar face, and did not see the new superintendent, Mr. 
Hargrave, as he was away. Mr. Wescott, who has charge of the 
floral department, took us in charge. His greenhouses are well 
worth a visit. Some eight or ten hands are employed, and every- 
thing is neatness. There are no sickly looking plants. Every 
house bears evidence of trained supervision. The entrance to 
Forest Hills Cemetery is second to none in the countiy, and the 
appearance of the grounds is in keeping with our leading ceme- 
tery practice. These winter months give us plenty of time to 
think and many changes suggest themselves, some of them, of 
course, trivial, but nevertheless worthy of notice. We should all 
aspire to make our grounds look a little better each succeeding 
year, and if we can make an improvement in ourselves let us 
do it. 
I learn that Brother Eurich is about to make a change. It 
is not necessary to say that the best wishes of all of us will go 
with him to his new field of duty. 
Hoping to read several communications from the brothers in 
the January number, 1 wish you all a Happy New Year. 
William Stone. 
* * * 
FRANKLIN, PA. 
Editor Park and Cemetery , 
Dear Sir: Each monthly issue as it comes to my office 
brings me much that is beneficial to me in my work, while only 
those of us who were not present in Cini innati can tell how much 
our absence cost us. 
Whether we have a meeting wdth the undertakers at Omaha 
or otherwise, would it not be well, if possible, for Mr. Craig to 
arrange fora corner for pictures and photographs in some room 
in the Exposition buildings? In regard to the trip to the Yellow- 
stone Park, I think the superintendents will, no doubt, make 
a great effort to include it in their holiday. 
Speaking of Sunday funerals, we seldom have them now, 
thanks to the Association of American Cemetery Superintendents, 
but if our president had been here one Sunday in November last 
he would have found me very busy. On that particular day I 
had three large funerals on my hands, and it was singular. All 
had been brought from a distance, and could not be put off. 
I appreciate the chapters on “Garden Plants and Their Ge- 
ography.” I have been on the School Board of a large township 
for nine years, and botany is taught in every grade; orally in the 
primary rooms, and from text books in the higher grades. I have 
made use of some portions in my talks, and it seemed to interest 
the pupils very much. C. D . Phipps , 
Superintendent of Cemetery. 
