178 
PARK AND^CCMCTCRY. 
CEMETERY NOTES. 
The cemetery association of Nichols, Conn., is happy over 
the gift of Miss Fairchild of a new fence and one thousand dol- 
lars — a fund to keep the family graves in order and improve the 
grounds. Another practical benefaction. 
* * * ' 
Hundreds of boxes of gold, silver, ivory, alabaster, onyx, 
marble, and other substances have been recovered from the 
Egyptian tombs. When the dead were buried these boxes were 
tilled witli perfumes and placed in the tombs. Many still retain 
the odor of the perfumes with which they were once filled. 
» » * 
Mr. Levi Z. Leiter of Chicago, has purchased the old fam- 
ily burying ground in Washington county, Maryland, where his 
parents rest, and has ordered a brick wall erected around the 
Leiter family lot. .The cemetery was part of a farm and it is said 
Mr. Leiter desired to protect the last resting place of his parents 
from desecration. 
* * * 
The cemetery of the quiet little town of Bedford, N. H., has 
been greatly improved at the expense of Mrs. Charles H. Wood- 
bury, of New York City, who has a strong attachment for the 
spot. A well and stone windmill tower with tank have been com- 
pleted, and a general improvement of the grounds has been un- 
derway. Mrs. Woodbury could erect no better monument than 
this, its effects are far reaching. 
* * * 
The suit of the city of Denver, Col., virtually against the 
authorities of the old Catholic cemetery on Capitol Hill, follow- 
ing an injunction, prohibiting further interments, was decided in 
favor of the city last month and a fine of $25 and costs assessed. 
Exception was taken to the ruling and the case will probably be 
carried up. The cemetery had been removed and there is an 
ordinance prohibiting further burials at this old location. 
» * » 
An unusual form of gift, nevertheless a good one, is that pro- 
posed by Mr. John G. Taylor, of West Chester, Pa. He has 
purciiascd a 100 acre farm at Forks of the Brandy-wine, which 
will become at his death the property of the Board of Managers 
of LaFayctte Cemetery, at Old Birmingham Friends’ Meeting 
House, the income for which will be used for the purpose of 
keeping the grounds and monuments there in good order. He 
has already done much in this direction. 
* # » 
In reply to a contemporary which bemoans the slow pro- 
gress of cremation The Urn says: “No cause for alarm. If there 
is any journalistic worrying to be done over cremation. The 
Urn will do it properly, but that occasion is not yet in sight as 
a matter ol fact the number of cremations in the United States 
has doubled about every three and a half years. There is no 
sense at all w’orth logical deduction in the statement that from 
so many dead only so few were cremated. Put a crematory, as it 
will be in time, in every cemetery, for even choice, and the re- 
sult wilt be surprising and distinctly in our favor.” 
* * * 
An interesting mound was recently opened just outside the 
city limits of Toledo, O., which contained twenty skeletons, all 
in a sitting posture and facing towards the east. At the side of 
each figure was a curious piece of pottery covered with pictorial 
figures. Most of the bones crumbled on exposure, but some 
were kept intact, and two skulls were almost perfect. The teeth 
are larger than those of the people of to-day, and the lower jaws 
fire larger. Segments of flint were also taken out and a few small 
crude implements. The pottery in this mound was different 
from that taken from Ohio or Michigan mounds opened jirevi- 
ously. 
* * * 
Contracts have been let for a new building and entrance 
arch-way for Erie Cemetery, Erie, Pa., to cost over $20,000 . 
This IS to take the place of the structure now in u.se. It will be 
constructed of pressed brick and stone and have two stories 
The first floor will contain superintendent’s office, private office, 
large w'aiting room and storage vault. The superintendeht’s 
apartments will occupy second floor. A statement is published 
to correct an impression somewhat prevailing that this cemetery 
is a source of profit to incorporators. The land was originally pur- 
chased by an association of Erie citizens, and the money realized 
from the sale of lots is expended for improvements. 
* « -if- 
While '.vorkmen were excavating for the foundations of a 
building in front of the old Presbyterian Church on Fourth 
Street, Cincinnati, O., they came across a tombstone and some 
skeletons. On the stone was an inscription, which showed its 
erection in 1793. Upon searching records the skeletons were 
identified as of well known pioneers. The site of this church is a 
landmark in Cincinnati’s history, for the first church in this part 
of the country was built here, rignt among the Indians. This, 
with many other such facts, make quite a commentary on the 
“rush” with which the country has reached its present position, 
that burial spots of only a hundred years ago should be thus for- 
gotten and themselves buried. 
* * * 
A monument is now being designed, under the direction of 
William Tyson Gooch of Harding & Gooch, architects. New 
York City, for Mr. John W. Mackay, to be erected in Green- 
wood Cemetery, Brooklyn, a plot for which has been bought for 
$38,000. It will be constructed probably of Westerly granite 
and in Doric design. It will rest upon a granite platform, and 
will be in effect a chapel with twenty chambers. The interior 
walls will be of brick and bluestone; those of the main corridor, 
white enameled brick. The ceilings will be arched and proba- 
bly of granite. Each catacomb will be fitted with white marble 
doors, holding panels for inscriptions. The approximate cost of 
the structure is about 1250,000. 
* * * 
The little republic of Switzerland offers many suggestive 
ideas in some of its laws in regard to burial, which other civilized 
countries may find it economic and advantageous to imitate at 
some time in the future. The U. S. consular reports contain 
much information on this and kindred subjects. In some of the 
Swiss cantons, the state provides for the burial of the dead. Cof- 
fins and all other necessary matters are furnished to certain ap- 
pointed undertakers upon application, and everything connected 
with the interment is absolutely gratuitous, rich and poor both 
being entitled to the benefits of the laws, and all classes avail 
themselves of it freely. The whole subject as exemplified in 
Ssvitzerland is very interesting, and would seem to be distinctly 
a mark of the civilization to which the Swiss republic has ad- 
vanced in the general welfare of its citizens. 
* * * 
The new entrance gates of Mt. Calvary Cemetery, Boston. 
Mass., costing $20,000 has been dedicated. They are of quite 
rustic design, built of feldsite, taken from a neighboring ledge. 
The ledge from which the stone was taken is full of iron pyrites, 
which from oxydization has imparted to the stone beautiful 
shades. The bright colors — which run from vivid yellow into 
red, brown and green — is heightened in effect by the pointing of 
the joints in various colors of cement. A roof of green slate and 
