193 
PARK AND CEMETERY* 
riodical flower shows, some judicious advertising 
would not be out of place and would afiford infor- 
mation at present quite difficult and uncertain to 
obtain. 
INTEREST 
IN SMALL 
CEMETERIES 
One of the most serious drawbacks in 
the way of improving our small ceme- 
teries is the difficulty of creating suffi- 
cient interest in their welfare even among those 
most particularly interested. It is a matter of com- 
mon protest from those actively struggling to pro- 
mote better conditions in the small burial places, 
that the directors, trustees or others at the head of 
affairs, manifest utter indifference, not only as to 
the question of providing funds, but in the actual 
material well-being of the grounds. To remedy 
such a deplorable condition of things it would be 
difficult to advise owing to varying local conditions, 
but it should be possible for the Improvement So- 
ciety, if such exists, — a development of present day 
progress, — to shake up the dry bones in the case, 
and demand change, or a campaign of education 
undertaken to enlighten and convince the commun- 
ity of the truth of Franklin’s words that he could 
determine the character of a community by the 
condition of its graveyard. There is enough reflec- 
tion in this to rouse the dormant enthusiasm of any 
individual interested in the cemetery, to healthy ac- 
tion. 
CARE OF Iri another column will be found the 
STREET Massachusetts Tree Warden Law, de- 
signed to protect and provide for the 
street and public trees throughout the state of 
Massachusetts, and it affords many a suggestion 
for similar action in other states and localities. 
Where sentiment has not been active or wise enough 
to give due attention to this important subject, all 
local conditions wherein trees play a prominent 
part have suffered. Trees are a very much more 
important factor in communal well-being than they 
are given credit for, a fact everyone can readily 
realize by observing the difference between a tree- 
less and foliage embellished village or town, and 
there are many of the former practically in exis- 
tence to-day. And it is a matter for congratula- 
tion that the general government itself has taken 
up the subject of reforesting the country, a question 
of wide import and one intimately related even to 
the decorative and shade giving trees of the city; 
for the general knowledge disseminated will greatly 
increase the understanding of the value of a tree 
as a necessary part of our daily existence. To 
protect and care for the trees is the duty of every 
community, and it is an investment giving large in- 
terest. 
THE One of needed reforms in connection 
^UNE^L cemetery management is that of the 
Sunday funeral, which has been under 
discussion now for a number of years, and which 
resulted in some diminution of the evil, though there 
remains ample grounds for still further reform. It 
is a good sign however for the cause, wTen the 
parties chiefly in interest, viz: the clergy, cemeteiy 
ofificials and funeral directors join hands in the 
movement, and were this to become more unani- 
mous, there is no doubt but that the Sunday fun- 
eral throughout the country would be a thing of the 
past, except in extraordinary cases. It is necessary 
that there must be exceptions in the complete abol- 
ishment of the practice, for instance in the case of 
contagious diseases, or where the welfare of the 
community might in any way be imperiled by a 
postponement of the ceremony, but this iseasilypro- 
vided for. There are so many reasons why the 
Sunday funeral as a custom should be discontinued 
and so very few in its favor, that to urge co-opera- 
tion among those having the opportunity and 
power to encourage its discontinuance becomes a 
duty. One has only to remember such incidents 
as may have interested him in a visit to the ceme- 
tery on Sunday where possibly several funerals 
were in progress, to enlist his conviction against 
the observance — the unruly intruders, the unseemly 
movement from one grave to another, the absolute 
disregard of the rights of lot owners, the damage 
to the lots, and the general lack of a becoming 
sympathetic demeanor — this and much more ine- 
vitably serve to prove that Sunday under present 
cemetery conditions is not the day for such a ser- 
vice. This does not take into account the rights 
of those called into the extra service on the Sab- 
bath, and this is a very important feature of the 
question. Take it all together the Sunday funeral 
except in rare instances serves no useful purpose, 
while it infringes on the rights of many and im- 
poses unnecessary and irksome extra duties upon 
those necessarily called upon to serve. Attention 
to this needed reform is especially directed to the 
clergy, funeral directors and cemetery officials of 
our small towns and villages. In such communities 
it is often difficult to inaugurate such a movement, 
but it is quite as necessary there as in the large 
cities, and the man who starts such a reform and 
carries it to success may be sure he is working in a 
good cause and is deserving of the good will of his 
neighbors. Here is a suggestion for the clergy. In 
connection with the general question great credit 
is due to the Catholic church for the active part it 
has taken in promoting and encouraging this much 
needed reform. 
