328 
PARK AND CEA\ETERY 
their choicest sylvan treasures to our^ative woods and hills. 
Let us not forget the flowers that do so much to beautify 
our cemeteries. Some have discouraged growing them to such 
an e.xtent as they are grown in many cemeteries. To my mind, 
their many colors help to bring out the beauty of the grass, and 
make the lawn more beautiful. Who does not love them ? 
They are welcome on every occasion, at the scene of festivity 
and the house of mourning. We watch them flourish under the 
hand of cultivation. We see them by the wayside, and in the 
fields, and up among the hills and mountains, cultivated only 
by the hand of nature, and we love them everywhere. They 
seem to carry with them something unexplainable, a sort of Di- 
vine inspiration. As 1 see people wending their way to the 
grave of some dear one, with a bouquet culled from among the 
treasures of the garden, 1 think what else would answer in the 
place of those flowers, and I answer myself by saying nothing. 
They seem to be a message to the departed one, and as far as 
we know, they may be in some way. Let us do all we can to 
encourage their growth, and not think for a moment, that they 
detract from the beauty of the lawn. 1 do not advise making a 
flower bed on the grave, preferring the grass and level at that. 
1 have always felt impressed that Sundays should be more 
generally observed in our cemeteries. I do not see why a su- 
perintendent should be called upon to sell lots oii that day. 
The plea is made by people that they do not have the time 
on a week day. The office of the dealer in real estate is closed, 
and this plea is not made to them. Much other cemetery busi- 
ness is put off till Sunday by lot owners because they know the 
cemetery is open for business Why make burials on that day, 
when the cemetery is full of visitors ? To see strangers almost 
mingling with the mourners around the grave, is, to my mind, a 
scene not in keeping with what should be one of great solemnity. 
If for no other reason, a burial should not be made on Sunday. 
In some cemeteries connected with our large cities, if it is 
necessary to make burials on Sunday, by reason of the large 
number of bodies brought in, means should be taken to prevent 
a public exhibition. 
In the cemetery that is in my charge, from one to five bodies 
are brought in on Sunday, and they are placed in the receiving 
tomb, and arrangements are then made with whoever of the 
family that wish to be present at the burial, which is generally 
on Monday and not later than Tuesday. My assistant, or my- 
self, is present at every burial. 
I have no applications to sell lots on Sunday. My office is 
closed and the curtains down. A sign in the window informs 
visitors that the superintendent and his assistants are prohibited 
from performing any labor on the Sabbath Day, and is signed by 
the Secretary of the Board of Commissioners. An officer is on 
duty to answer all questions. Observing the Sabbath, I think 
is as much an improvement to uphold the standard of 
the modern cemetery as the many improvements that have been 
made in other directions. 
In conversation with people, and hearing their expressions, 
I am firmly convinced that our cemeteries, in the manner they 
are kept, do much in the direction of education towards a higher 
standard of thouglit, and it is certainly pleasing to know that 
when the inevitable comes, our mortal remains will go back to 
dust in such beautiful grounds. A common interest is centered 
in our cemeteries. The young and the old walk hand in hand 
through the grounds. We see one standing in silent prayer by 
the grave of maybe a mother, who has fulfilled her mission, 
leaving a legacy rich with good teachings ere she journeyed to 
the Great Beyond. We look about the cemetery, and we see 
others standing by graves, <ind in their imagination, they have 
gone to that Great Beyond, and have seen father, mother, 
brother or sister. Could they walk out of the grounds feeling 
other than better by their visit ? 
Let us, therefore, strive to help our Association,'and we will 
by so doing help ourselves, and see more readily where we 
can make improvements, never forgetting that this is an age of 
progress, and we must ever be on the alert. By so doing, we 
will make our grounds more attractive, and will be rewarded by 
the appreciation of a generous public. 
The committee on State Association presented 
resolutions expressing sympathy with the Nebraska 
State association, extending co-operation in fur- 
thering the work of disseminating information on the 
care and improvement of cemeteries and recom- 
mending the formation of such societies in every 
state in the Union. 
A letter was read from Mr. Charles Nichols, of 
Newark, N. J., familiarily known as Father 
Nichols, expressing regret at his enforced absence, 
this being the first convention of the association that 
Mr. Nichols has not attended; a suitable resolu- 
tion was adopted and its substance telegraphed 
to him. The carriage route for the afternoon 
drive was through the beautiful residence district of 
the city to Forest Park and Tower Grove Park, and 
a portion of the cyclone district. Like the drive of 
the preceding afternoon, this was exceedingly de- 
lightful, the only cause for regret being that more 
time could not be spent with our courteous friend, 
Mr. Gurney, at Tower Grove Park. For the even- 
ing, through the courtesy of Prof. William Trelease, 
director of the Missouri Botanical Garden, the con- 
vention attended the 7th annual banquet to Florists, 
Nurserymen and Market Gardeners provided for in 
the will of Mr. Henry Shaw. The banquet was 
held at the Mercantile Club and was a most enjoy- 
able affair, beautifully decorated tables, a delicious 
menu and a feast of reason and a flow of soul, made 
the occasion a memorable one. 
THIRD DAY. 
The morning session opened with a paper writ- 
ten by B. D. Judson, of Troy, N. Y. , entitled “A 
Plea for the Perpetual Care of Cemetevies and their 
Individual Lots.” Mr. Judson’splea was well stated 
and was followed by a helpful discussion of the sub- 
ject of perpetual care. 
Prof. J. B. Johnson, of the Washington Univer- 
sity, St. Louis, read an intensely interesting paper 
on A More Rational View of Death,” in which he 
viewed death as a product of natural causes, and a 
friend and benefactor to the race. Cemetery su- 
perintendents, he said, can do much towards im- 
pressing upon the public mind that death is a 
friend and not an enemy. 
A paper on “The Education of Lot Owners,” by 
Matthew P. Brazill, of Calvary Cemetery, St. 
Louis, was an urgent appeal for co-operation on 
the part of the lot owners with the trustees so as to 
bring about much needed reform. He said in 
part: “The finest cemeteries are those that have 
