PARK AND CE/nCTERY. 
^45 
tion similar to that of life assurance. The number 
of instances where payments have had to be cancel- 
ed, before being fully paid for is exceedingly small 
and is mostly caused by accidental death. 
Well managed cemeteries operated upon insur- 
ance methods must prove beneficial to the poorer 
classes, and like the majority of life assurance as- 
sociations are money-making institutions. B. L. 
Memorial Fountain, Lake View Cemetery. Jamestown . 
The accompanying illustration represents the 
fountain erected in memory of James Prendergast, 
in Lake View Cemetery, Jamestown, N. Y. Mr. 
Prendergast was one of the founders of Jamestown, 
after whom the town was named, and was one of 
its public spirited citizens. In addition to this 
drinking fountain, and close by, new iron gates, 
bearing the name of the cemetery have been erect- 
ed. To his family, Jamestown also owes a fine, free, 
public library building furnished complete, and 
when Mrs. Prendergast died she left $130,000 with 
which to build an P 2 piscopal Church, which was 
completed and consecrated in December 1894, in- 
cluding chimes, clock and organ, and forms one of 
the most beautiful churches in the State. The 
fountain and gates were designed and made by the 
J. L. Mott Iron Works, New York City, the foun- 
tain, set up, costing $2,000. 
Suggestive Hints. 
Cemetery officials should turn over a new leaf 
this year and begin early to disseminate such litera- 
ture in connection with their properties as would 
awaken a warm and lively co-operation on the part 
of lot holders in their efforts to improve the physi- 
cal conditions of the property. One of the most 
important questions relating to the welfare of cem- 
eteries, perhaps the most important, is that of per- 
petual care. No effort or reasonable e.xpense should 
be spared to present the matter in its most impres- 
sive sense to lot owners not yet appreciative of its 
necessity and benefits. 
* * 
It is constantly reiterated that the work of se- 
curing the co-operation of lot owners towards meet- 
ing the new order of things in cemetery design and 
management is so discouraging. Why is it so? In 
great measure it is due to the inherent objection to 
take for granted the statements and arguments 
urged by those in whom the work lies. The objec- 
tion is natural and therefere difficult to overcome. 
Undoubtedly the most reliable course would be to 
distribute literature containing current opinions fa- 
voring the proposed improvements. Printers ink 
is more convincing than oral argument as a rule. 
* * * 
As under the new order of things it is compul- 
sory that individual lots should be treated in rela- 
tion to the whole, having a mind to the landscape 
scheme, lot owners should make it a point to con- 
sult with the officials on all matters pertaining to 
the improvement of their lots. It is necessary that 
rigid rules should de maintained, but the arbitrari- 
ness can never assert itself detrimentally, when of- 
ficial and lot owner understand each other and the 
beauty of the cemetery makes itself paramount. 
The single lot then becomes part of the whole and 
shares in its appearance. 
■If. ■)(. -if. 
In the matter of cleaning tombstones and monu- 
ments, which become stained and discolored from 
various causes, there are a number of methods and 
recipes extant, all of more or less value according 
to circumstances and conditions. The following 
are some of the formula in use: 
# # # 
Dissolve one and a half pounds of potash and 
one pound of virgin wax in dilute muriatic acid by 
boiling it for half an hour or so. When cold the wax 
will float, which must then be reduced in a mortar 
with marble pestle to a soft paste by the addition of 
