108 
PARR AND CEMETERY 
Flower Day at LaKewood Cemetery, LaKe City, Minn. 
The highest forms of art deal with the religious and 
pathetic. What sublime pathos is to be found in the 
well-kept cemetery ! What profound religious senti- 
ment grows out of the observance of certain days set 
apart for general remembrance and honoring of the 
dead ! How sad the thoughts which arise because of 
the desolation that is to be found in many neglected 
cities of the dead ! 
The beautiful and appropriate custom of remem- 
bering the dead bv setting apart a day of special ob- 
servance is rapidly growing in favor. In those places 
where such days have been established, the custom 
may first have been jegarded as an innovation, then 
with apprehension or doubt, only to be supplemented, 
however, by feelings of respect, reverence and duty, 
a discordant note to nature unattuned. A cemetery is 
an indication of the character, manners and customs 
of the people composing the community, a milestone 
marking its civilization, a silent witness that time fash- 
ions into an unwritten memorial. It is more eloquent 
than a monument, more true to conditions than his- 
tory. 
The cemetery at Lakewood is most beautiful in lo- 
cation, as though nature had fashioned and set apart 
this spot and put her seal upon it that it might be used 
for no other purpose. With the high bluffs for a 
background, a broken valley for a perspective, and 
groves of trees scattered here and there, the location is 
ideal. The past year, improvements aggregating more 
than $2,000,000 have been made. A water main has 
NOS. 1 AND 2 SHOW WELL-KEPT SECTIONS 
, NO. 3 A NEGLECTED PLOT IN MARKED CONTRAST. 
VIEWS IN LAKEWOOD CEMETERY, LAKE CITY, MINNESOTA. 
SHOWING FLOWER DAY DECORATIONS. 
until from choice the people would not discontinue 
the custom if they could. 
The third Sunday in June is the day set apart for 
flower day at Lakewood Cemetery, Lake City, Minn. 
It is a union service, held at six o’clock, almost the 
hour of twilight in this peaceful valley. Appropriate 
remarks, music and scripture readings are given, and 
this year, the day being perfect, many people were 
present. The grave decorations were beautiful, the 
floral offerings lavish, yet showing the most exquisite 
taste. The graves were decorated with wreathes and 
bouquets, or strewn with flowers. A favorite design 
is the cross, several being made from flowers of differ- 
ent kinds. A scroll, a shield and urn decorations all 
make a variety interesting, attractive and appropriate. 
One thing to lament is the neglected grave, which can 
be found here and there, a blot upon the perfect page, 
been built, extending from the city nearly three-quar- 
ters of a mile distant. The furthering of the plans was 
made possible through the organization of the Ceme- 
tery Association, and could have been effected in no 
other way. United interests, united sympathies and 
united efforts were all required to make the work a 
success. 
Most of the lot owners in the cemetery have availed 
themselves of the privilege accorded them through 
•the Perpetual Care Fund. The fund now amounts to 
nearly $6,000.00, the interest of which goes toward 
paying for the improvements and expenses. As the 
amount is small which is required of each owner to 
insure the perpetual care of his lot, keeping it tidy 
and attractive, it is expected and hoped that in the near 
future every owner will become a member of the asso- 
ciation. E. A. Smith. 
