PARK AND CCMCTCRY 
321 
A large number of floral crowns and garlands collected from 
ancient Egyptian tombs and generaly in a state of good preser- 
vation has been collected. Melons thousands of years old have 
been immersed in water, when traces of their original green col- 
or have been seen. Among the specimens are the blue and the 
white lotus,' the red poppy, the oriental larkspur, hollyhock, dif- 
ferent species of chryanthemums, pome granates, leaves of wiL 
low and celery and several kinds of grasses of the Greco- 
Roman epoch. 
^ fe * 
While excavations were being made on the Hessian plot in 
the Centre cemetery, at Bennington, Vt., recently preparatory 
to placing the granite pedestal that is to mark the spot, they 
came across several parts of skeletons, supposed to be the remains 
of Hessians buried there in 1777. From the length of the bones 
of one of the skeletons it is judged that the body to which they 
belonged must have been seven feet or more in height 
* * » 
There- is only room for a few more graves in the old Mora- 
vian burying ground in Bethlehem, Pa. This historic burial 
ground was laid out in 1742 and has been in use ever since. The 
first interment was made on July 27, 1742, when John Mueller, 
Jr., was buried. Going through the old “God’s acre” one pas- 
ses nearly 3000 graves, among which are those of fifty -six con- 
verted Indians, seventeen negro converts and one convert from 
Ceylon. 
* * * 
The enforcing of the new burial act of Michigan is reported 
to be causing the cemetery officials trouble. It has hitherto been 
the custom for the doctor’s certificate of death to be given to 
the cemetery officials with cause of death and other particulars 
marked thereon. Under the new rule, however, the certificate 
is given to the city clerk who issues a permit, which however, has 
none of these necessary particulars. The government requires 
such information, but, as it now stands, the cemetery authorities 
have no means of declaring the cause of death. 
Newark, N. J. 
Edifor Park and Cemetery, 
Dear Sir: It was with much pleasure that we read Bro_ 
Wm . Stone’s contribution to the June issue. Following his ex- 
ample and to encourage others, I offer a few lines. Brother 
Brazill writes hopefully of the St. Louis convention; he has been 
hard at work making preparations to insure success, and ar- 
rangements have been consummated for several addresses to be 
made to the convention. Our Secretary is also at work and in- 
forms me that matters appear very favorable for an interesting 
occasion. As our supply of badges were exhausted, at request of 
Treasurer seventy-five new ones were ordered which can be ob- 
tained from him. We consider them to be an improvement on 
the old badges, and advise members not having one to write to 
the Secretary. It must have occasioned both surprise and regret 
to our members to learn of the abrupt termination of John G. 
Barker’s relations with Forest Hills Cemetery, Boston. 
Yours truly, Chas. Nichols. 
* * * 
Salem, Mass., July 9, 1896. 
Editor Park and Cemetery, 
Dear Sir: In looking over the June number I found 
something very interesting, and when one is interested the next 
thing is to see how he can interest some one else. Bro. Stone 
loves to write, and especially when he '-an just siir up som , on-e 
He speaks about Bro. Creesy being five miles away and is trying 
to work him up. The fact is Bro. Stone has been to sleep and 
has just woke up, and that is where the shoe pinches. He says 
his lily pond is undergoing its spring renovating, — ours we at- 
tended to in the spring and now it is looking grand, what it will 
be when his begins to be attractive is beyond my comprehen- 
sion. Now ask Mr. Stone about his cacti-bed and also his prin- 
cipal centre-piece and he will tell you if you want to see the 
handsomest and most unique bed you ever saw go to Harmony 
Grove Cemetery, Salem, Mass. I propose to send you a little 
later in the season a photo of our “Rock of Ages,” and which will 
be an ornament to the pages of Park and Cemeteri’. Mr. 
Editor, the time is not far distant, when we. like a great many 
other people, will be packing our grips and seeing what tickets 
will cost for the trip to St. Louis, and if it would not be too 
much trouble. I should like you to enquire through your columns 
how Bro. Eurich is getting along with these railroad fares. If we 
superintendents should all do the same as our good old Father 
Nichols is doing, write to all and see what we can do to start 
them, I think it would be a good thing. We want to encour- 
age and impress our Cemetery Trustees with the facts that we 
are something more than a lot of politicians who get together 
and make platforms that cannot be sustained. We are the party 
who have the only and sure foundation before us. Now let us 
all, as far as we can, try and give our Brother Superintendent 
Brazill to understand that we are coming to St. Louis to see him 
and learn all that we can for the benefit of our cemetery and its 
future prosperity. Yours truly. Geo. W. Creesy , Snpt. 
* * 
Mr. W. Clauson, superintendent Hillside Cemetery, South 
Plainfield, N. J., commenting on the suggestions contained in 
the extract from the Rules and Regulations of Pine Grove Ceme- 
tery, Lynn. Mass., concerning Sunday funerals, says most super- 
intendents would be glad of the opportunity to close the ceme- 
tery for burials one day in the week, for rest for themselves and 
men, and he is glad that one cemetery corporation takes that 
stand. He wishes all would say, “No burials on Sunday . bodies 
brought that day must be left in the Tomb.” In his locality 
there has been lots of rain, plenty of grass and much work in 
general in the cemetery. The lawn mowers have not been 
idle this summer. Flowers and shrubs have been in their glory, 
and every cemetery should have been seen at its best. 
* * 
St. John, N. B., has, practically speaking, no public park 
but the laudable desire to provide such a necessary adjunct of 
city life is the principal object of the Saint John Horticultural 
Association. This association has issued an exceedingh' at- 
tractive pamphlet containing prize lists for its two floral exhibi- 
tions this year, considerable information on the culture of 
plants, a report of its success in the establishment of a public 
park, and an appeal to the citizens of St. John for the same ob. 
ject. Last year the association expended over $5,000 in the 
purchase of lands and improvements on the same, and have 
already acquired a considerable acreage. The association 
numbers in Its ranks many of the leading citizens of St.John, 
and evidences a public spirit highly commendable and worthy of 
imitation elsewhere. The love of the cultivation of flowers and 
plants is a sentiment, to stimulate which in a community is the 
duty of every well-wisher of the human race. Nothing so pro- 
motes high thinking and high living as intimate association with 
these marvellous developments of nature’s handiwork, and all 
classes find a common ground in the care of flowers. The Rural 
Cemetery of St. John has often been referred to in these col- 
umns as being improved on progressive lines, profiting by the 
efforts over the border, and this idea of park promotion does 
credit to the community. 
