130 
PARK AND CEMETERY. 
laws for minor offenses are violated, and the disre- 
gard generally evinced for our neighbors rights. 
Park officials should see to it, that their police force 
is both sufficient and efficie4it, and all misdemean- 
ors threatening the repute or welfare of our parks 
should be prosecuted without fear or favor. 
.vj y 
The foregoing remarks apply with equal force 
to our cemeteries. The liberal policy generally 
prevailing of permitting almost unrestricted access 
to our beautiful burial grounds prevents close dis- 
crimination in respect to those using the privilege, 
and the consequence is frequent trespass and an- 
noying pilferings and damage. It is a very difficult 
matter to secure sufficient evidence of such pecca- 
dilloes to make successful prosecution assured, but 
when it is possible, the penalty should be such that 
recurrence of similar misdeeds could never be ex- 
pected. In neither the park nor the cemetery 
should there be the remotest chance of insult, in- 
convenience or loss, — the very name and nature of 
the grounds should be a perfect safeguard against 
any such possibilities. In many states cemetery 
employees are empowered to act as special police 
within their grounds, and this law should become 
general. When such special police fail in their du- 
ties, it is a reflection on the cemetery authorities. 
T he following comment in the Minneapolis 
Journal, the result of an interview with a 
well-known educator and a prominent mem- 
ber of the American Park and Out-door Art Asso- 
ciation, in regard to Graceland cemetery, Chicago, 
is worthy of attention for its value as an incentive 
to cemetery superintendents: “No cemetery in the 
country, to which the hand of man has been applied, 
approaches closer to the state of cultivated nature, 
when considered from the artistic point. The sup- 
erintendent has introduced objects which are to be 
met with nowhere else.” This is a strongly sug- 
gestive commendation. It is in trying to bring 
about effects in landscape work which shall approach 
the conditions of cultivated nature, that the most 
enduring results will be achieved. It, however, re- 
quires an intense sympathy with nature herself, de- 
voted study of her methods and means, and a con- 
sequent knowledge which will permit of the proper 
use of the material she so abundantly offers, so as 
to enable the qualified man to reproduce her pic- 
tures appropriately to the requirements of the situ- 
ation he controls. It is this sincere study and 
sympathy in the work which in degree will effect 
every cemetery and make it to favorably contrast 
with others. Beautiful effects may be created in 
the smallest areas, just in proportion to the intelli- 
gence, as outlined above, which may be brought to 
bear on the work. 
THE THIRTEENTH ANNUAL CONVENTION OF THE 
ASSOCIATION OF AMERICAN CEMETERY 
SUPERINTENDENTS. 
The Thirteenth Annual Convention of the Asso- 
ciation of American Cemetery Superintendents, held 
at New Haven, Conn, Sept. 5.6 and 7, and Hartford, 
Conn., Sept. 8, was by far the most largely attended 
gathering in the history of the organization. At 
least seventy-five members were in attendance, 
many of whom were accompanied by their wives and 
daughters.. The weather was all that could be 
desired, the papers and discussions covered a variety 
of interesting subjects and the enjoyable entertain- 
ment provided by the local cemeteries combined to 
make the convention in the City of Elms and its 
Sister City one long to be remembered. 
The business sessions were held in Warner Hall, 
and on the opening of proceedings prayer was offer- 
ed by the Rev. E. S. Lines of St. Paul’s church, 
and the visitors were cordially welcomed to the city 
by the Hon. Cornelius T. Driscoll, mayor of New 
Haven. 
After theusualpreliminaries of roll call, admission 
of new members, etc.. President Hobert read his 
annual address from which the following para- 
graphs are given: 
“It is not my purpose to tire you with a lengthy account of 
the work of the association and the good it has accomplished in 
the past, as that is already familiar to you all, but rather to 
make a few recommendations which I think will be of per- 
manent value.” 
“Our association is one which has exerted a powerful influence 
for good in matters pertaining to cemetery work and manage- 
ment, it has been the leading power that has caused the great 
and beneficial changes in methods of constructing and main- 
taining modern cemeteries and we must all strive to maintain 
its present standard. To do this it will be necessary for all in- 
terested to assist, when called upon for a contribution to our 
programme, instead of declining on the grounds of incompetency 
or lack of time, each must respond with his best effort, thus 
encouraging other timid ones to take part.” 
“There are also to-day many good men engaged in cemetery 
management who have not seen fit to give us the countenance 
of their presence who are not members of our association, and 
some of whom believe, or affect to believe, that individual is 
equal to or better then concerted effort. I cannot too strongly 
urge upon these men to join us; our work, so well begun, is far 
from finished, and on behalf of our Association, I extend to 
each and all who are yet without the fold, a cordial invitation 
to come unto us, and be of us, and with us in the good work yet 
to be done.” 
“I think that by well directed efforts that we should be able 
to increase our membership very materially and be assured of a 
regular attendance of not less than one hundred. There are 
large cemeteries in all the eastern cities not represented in our 
association and there surely must be some way of reaching them.” 
“Nor must our efforts for the good of the association be con- 
fined to work among members alone, but we must make it a 
part of our duty to bring the ideas conceived at these meetings 
directly to the attention of the trustees or directors of our re- 
spective cemeteries, also to our lot owners, thus showing them 
the value of our work and the wisdom of having a representative 
attend each meeting.” 
