9 8 
PARK AND CEMETERY, 
I CEMETERY NOTES | 
The 50th anniversary of the consecration of Forest Hills 
cemetery of Boston, Mass., occurred late in June, and the occa’ 
sion was appropriately observed. The celebration took the form 
of special floral decorations or the central plots and individual 
lots. An exchange says the 204 acres never looked more beauti- 
ful, and the superintendent and the gardeners surpassed all previ- 
ous efforts in this direction. 
* * * 
The will of the late Hannah E. Bigelow of Marlboro, Mass,, 
contained among many others the following public gifts: The 
city of Marlboro to have the use of the income on $1,000 for the 
purpose of shade trees for the highways, parks and cemeteries in 
this city. The Marlboro public library $5,000 for the purchase 
of books for its use. The town of Berlin receives $2,500, the 
income of which is to be used on the maintenance of private bur- 
ial lots as designated and the care of cemeteries in Berlin and 
near vicinity. 
* * * 
The twenty-first annual meeting of the stockholders of Mag 
nolia cemetery, Charleston, S. C., was held June 17th. Since 
Magnolia cemetery was organized, nearly half a century ago, 
2,700 lots have been sold, as well as 1,205 single graves. The 
first interment was in 1848 and the number of interments to 
June 1, 1898, is 10 150. The total sale of lots amounts to $181,- 
1 15, and there has been expended on improvements a total sum 
of $120,000. The trust fund has reached $37,874. About 100 
lots have been put under perpetual care the fund for which 
amounts to $27,454. 
* » * 
The criticisms on the condition of the burial plot at Key 
West in which repose the remains of 24 victims of the “Maine” 
tragedy, has had a prompt response. Encampment No. 69, Un- 
ion Veteran League, Washington, D. C.,took the matter up and 
over $500 is now in hand towards providing and erecting ahand- 
some iron fence about the graves of the nation’s heroes. It is 
also intended to similarly protect the graves of the dead of the 
torpedo boat “Winslow,” near by the “Maine” enclosure. Sev- 
eral other projects are on foot to appropriately commemorate 
the fallen in the cause of Cuba at Key West. 
* * * 
Paxtany Cemetery, the new cemetery for Harrisburg, Pa. 
situated close to the old historical Paxton church on the Paxtany 
Ridge, about one mile from the city limits, is under way. Some 
45 acres have so far been acquired for use. It is beautifully situ- 
ated, commanding magnihcent views, and is finely adapted fo r 
a high order of landscape work. It is organized on the lawn 
plan and will be conducted under modern approved practice. A 
comfortable office and waiting room are under contract, as well 
as wrought iron entrance gates with four stone pillars. All the 
avenues will be macadamized. Bellett Lawson, Jr., is secretary 
and comptroller. 
* * * 
In the course of an address largely devoted to simplicity in 
funerals, delivered at the opening ceremonies attending the 
dedication of Druid Ridge cemetery, Baltimore, the Rev. Madi- 
son C. Peters of New York, said: “To do away with the excess 
of flowers, and above all, with crepe veils, is what we want. 
Fashionable mourning is the greatest possible satire on grief. It 
expresses hopelessness instead of faith. In New York I have 
seen mourning put on dogs and the coachman is also dressed 
ridiculously. If you have flowers give them to your friends while 
they are alive. Avoid all unnecessary display and expense. De- 
liver me from funeral addresses. The worse a man is the more 
good you have to say about him. It brings ridicule upon the 
church. ” 
* * * 
Speaking of the traditions and prejudices for long held re- 
garding the position of the body when laid in the grave, 
an exchange says: Probably few people know that there is 
a choice side to every cemetery. Thus, in some parts of the 
world, the eastern portion without regard to its situation, is al- 
ways deemed most desirable. This preference arises from the 
old tradition that our Lord will appear fromThe east. It is also 
believed that the dead in the eastern portion will be the first to 
rise; then those in the southern, western and northern, in order. 
In England it was once the custom to bury felons and other bad 
characters on the north side of the church. The custom of lay- 
ing the dead in a certain direction is responsible for the Welsh 
designation for the east wind: “The wind of the dead men’s 
feet.” 
* * * 
The new West Park Cemetery, Cleveland, O., for which the 
Board of Control awarded contracts for improvements the past 
spring comprises nearly ninety acres at the intersection of Ridge 
avenue and Big Creek, of remarkable natural beauty. The 
thirty-eight acres under contract is laid out in twenty-three sec- 
tions arranged some for private lots only, some for single graves 
and others reserved for vaults and mausoleums. The city has 
endeavored to rival the best private cemeteries in the design and 
arrangement of its planting plans. If the plans of William H. 
Evers, a local civil and landscape engineer, are carried out, 
West Park lays claim to be the first city cemetery, controlled by 
city government, laid out according to modern landscape ideas, 
and the lawn plan. 
# * * 
Mr. Bellett Lawson’s progress in the development o 
“Grandview” cemetery at Wilkesbarre, Pa., is attracting the 
general attention of the locality to the possibilities of improving 
the wonderful natural features thereabouts. “Grandview” over- 
looks the city and controls magnificent views of the Wyoming 
valley. The area was very rough, and was originally covered 
with splendid timber, which had been cut and slashed for min- 
ing purposes. Some 1,500 stumps had to be removed which was 
done by dynamite, charges in 50 stumps being fired at one time. 
Numbers of growing trees have been sacrificed which caused con- 
siderable comment, but the effects rapidly being demonstrated 
has changed the tone. Great interest is shown in the proceed- 
ings, and sentiment is being revolutionized in the vicinity in re- 
gard to landscape work. “Grandview” promises to be an edu- 
cator for a large area of country. 
* # * 
The Druid Ridge Cemetery, Baltimore, Md., was dedicated 
with appropriate ceremonies on June nth. It is situated about 
nine miles from the city, directly on the Druid Ridge, near Pikes- 
ville, and is accessible in several ways. The land was acquired 
by several prominent business men of Baltimore and New York 
for a cemetery on lines in keeping with modern ideas of hygiene 
The ground selected possesses peculiar advantages for cemetery 
purposes, a system of natural springs affording facilities for an 
artificial lake and other water requirements. No lot inclosures 
of any kind will be allowed. Upon the property is a dwelling, a 
portion of which has been furnished for the use of lot owners and 
officers. There is under construction a public mausoleum, built 
of granite, containing 138 catacombs situated on a knoll com- 
manding a view of the entire cemetery, Its interior will be dec- 
orated in marble and it will have Mosaic floors, stained glass 
windows and Italian marble catacombs. The cemetery will be 
conducted on the most approved practice. 
