PARK AND CEMETERY 
101 
Ohio, and all future meetings are to be held com- 
mencing on the second Wednesday in June. 
The Executive Committee for the next year is as 
follows: Frederick Green, Cleveland; George Gos- 
sard, Washington C. H. ; Edward Bechler, Lima. 
In the afternoon the members and wives were 
driven around the city, and from there to Calvary and 
Woodland Cemeteries. After an inspection of these 
cemeteries, Mr. and Mrs. J. C. Cline entertained the 
guests at their home. 
An Enterprising Cemetery Association. 
Editor Park and Cemetery : Reading in your late issue 
of the meeting of American Cemetery Superintendents in 
Rochester, N. Y., it inspired me to give you a little history 
of our Cemetery Association in Cisco, Tex., and how we 
began our work with very little money. It may be a help 
to some other small association which is struggling along, 
not knowing what to do. First, it is our intention to some 
time in the near future call a meeting, in some place in Texas, 
of the superintendents of cemeteries, for the purpose of or- 
ganizing a State Association, believing it will strengthen the 
work all over the state, as many small associations are strug- 
gling along as we did ; consequently their cemeteries are 
sadly neglected. It has always been a mystery to me how, 
when one of our loved ones is laid to rest, the living can close 
the gate of the cemetery on them, and leave their graves to 
grow up in weeds and grass. No person leaves this world 
who has been devoid of pride, and why not appreciate that 
pride by remembering them after they are sleeping beneath 
the sod? It will take but a few minutes each day to cultivate 
some flower on their grave which they loved during life, and 
how much better do we feel when we have done our duty to 
the dead ! Our little Cemetery Association was formed three 
years ago last March, with ten charter members. Our first 
attempt was to raise money to work with (as we had not 
one cent to commence on). We gave a public dinner on 
election day, and netted $76. Then our soliciting committee 
went to work, and our good citizens responded to their ap- 
peals, and soon funds were raised to fence a ten-acre plot. 
Outside of this plot were three and one-half acres, owned 
by the Texas Central R. R. Co., and after reading your Park 
and Cemetery, I decided we needed this piece of land to 
beautify our cemetery; so I asked the company to donate it 
to us, and they kindly did so. We have that enclosed now, 
and planted in trees, evergreen, shrubbery and many pretty 
flowers. We have planted 250 trees, have all the streets laid 
out, and each corner marked by posts, and have marked all 
the unknown graves. We have all kinds of sexton’s tools to 
work with ; a wagon with a tin tank that holds 48 gallons of 
water for the use of those who wish to attend to their own 
flowers ; we have 2,750 feet of water pipe and the water is 
contributed by our city. We have a fine iron gate that will 
compare with many in larger cities, hung on huge stone posts 
contributed by the owners of the Lenders Quarry, about 70 
miles from Cisco, and the transportation was given by the 
ever-obliging Texas Central R. R. officials. Our marble men, 
Messrs. Aycock & Allen, saw the necessity of having them 
capped with some of their work, and so they donated the 
caps. We have received donations from every part of the 
state and from several firms in St. Louis. When this associa- 
tion was organized our dead were conveyed to the grave in an 
express wagon ; now we have two handsome hearses, and 
all the equipments for funerals. We employ a sexton, and 
keep our work moving on all the time. We often receive 
inquiries from different parts of the state, from those who 
have heard of the progress of our work, asking us to tell them 
how to proceed to make a success of their work. I always 
tell them to keep at work, and never let the work lag, or let 
their members continually bring excuses why they have not 
done what was assigned them to do. If they will let the peo- 
ple know they are in earnest, they will soon meet the co-opera- 
tion of' every citizen in town, and their cemetery will be a 
public pride. I am proud of the members of our little band, 
who have answered to every call made on them. 
Mrs J. D. Ai.exander, Pres. Cisco Cemetery Association. 
* * * 
Some Questions of Cemetery Practice. 
Editor Park, and Cemetery: There are several points about 
a superintendent’s work on which I should like to have the 
views of members of the association. Do superintendents at- 
tend all funerals, or as many as possible? Those who have 
a large number we know cannot attend all, and when they 
do, what part do they take in the exercises? My way is to 
always be present and have full control. I take charge of the 
alighting from the carriages, while the undertaker accompa- 
nies the pallbearers to the grave. I am always at the grave 
during the lowering of the casket, and if a lowering device 
is not used, I assist in the operation. Should an accident hap- 
pen, which, we are happy to say, is very seldom with us, all 
interested come to the superintendent with their troubles. 
Not all persons make good pallbearers, which requires prac- 
tice and nerve. In regard to the care and use of the device 
for lowering, who does all this extra work, when they are 
owned by the undertakers, and how much is charged for care? 
We have two devices owned by undertakers, but only one 
is in use, and I am not in favor of them. We wish to have 
all neat and tidy; the grave is lined and the dirt taken away 
or covered. We line graves with white; it is appropriate, 
and reasonable in cost ; the same will often serve several 
times ; our undertakers supply it. When and where do the 
duties and responsibilities of the undertaker end? Tf after 
the casket is lowered, has he the right to have control in the 
grounds exclusively and he held responsible for mistakes and 
accidents? 
C. D. Phipps, Supl. Franklin Cemetery, Rocky Grove. Pa. 
* * * 
In the case of J. M. Bottorf vs. the West View Cemetery 
Association, at Kirkville, Mo., Judge Vermillion recently ren- 
dered a decision restraining the defendant company from 
opening any street in the old part of the cemetery which 
would run over an improved grave or lot without the written 
consent of the lot owner or the nearest relative of the dead 
buried there. 
5 {« 
“Fernhill, the City of Sleep,” is the title of an attractive 
little folder issued by Fernhill Cemetery. St. John, N. P>. 
It contains a poem, an appropriate descriptive quotation and 
two illustrations. Fernhill is a tract of much natural beauty, 
and has been greatly improved during the past year. Next 
year Superintendent J. P. Clayton will devote a portion of 
the grounds to the cultivation of the native wild flowers. 
j}i 
A company is reported to be forming to open a new cem- 
etery on modern lines at Lewiston, Me. It is expected to 
spend $10,000 in building a chapel and making other im- 
provements. Perpetual care will he given to all lots. 
