114 
who was producing stones in 1723. About 
this time American slate began to be 
used. Sandstone, freestone and syenite 
from our own hills were also employed 
to a limited extent. Alarble came into 
use about 1810, but was not common 
until 1840. 
A stone typical of the period and one 
of the best, may be seen in Fig. 1, dated 
1689. The outline of the top was very 
popular and today is more often em- 
ployed for adaptation than any other, the 
type shown in Fig. 2 probably being next 
in favor. As on most stones prior to the 
middle of the eighteenth century, capital 
letters were used for the inscription, with 
minor letters for abbreviations of smaller 
size above the line. One also notices with 
interest the quaint old custom of joining 
occasional letters where convenient — as for 
instance, H and E, T and H — doubtless to 
lend individuality and incidentally to save 
laborious work and expense. The Roman 
lettering is legible, distinctive and pleasing 
to the eye, though the designer of today 
would leave a wider margin about the 
edges of the die that the space might not 
seem crowded, as in Fig. 7. Indeed this 
would be the inevitable result of the mod- 
ern method of spacing inscriptions which 
consists in dividing the text into logical 
phrases and using each as a line centered 
in the space from left to right rather than 
the old method of dividing the text some- 
what arbitrarily, as in Fig. 1, or spacing 
words widely apart, as in Fig. 2, wherever 
necessary to make a virtually square block 
of lettering to fill the tablet. 
Although the delicately incised border 
about the die in Fig. 1 is excellent, it is 
not so effective as the simpler double 
moulding of Fig, 2, which provides a de- 
lightful foil for the more intricate bands 
of scroll and flower motives about three 
inches wide, which constitute the chief em- 
bellishment of stones of this character, 
also it serves to define the die more sharp- 
ly and draw attention more directly to the 
inscription. In The Essex Antiquarian for 
December, 1899, Sidney Perley reproduces 
drawings of eighteen decorative bands and 
sixteen different circular ornaments from 
the upper corners, Modern methods in 
drafting the design and stonecutting, of 
course, will result in greater delicacy and 
precision which in turn will enhance the 
effect. 
The ugly death’s-head and wings oc- 
cupying the semicircular part of the stone 
above the inscription is typical of most 
seventeenth century work. A century later 
the skull had been replaced by angel faces 
and winged cupids in bas relief, somewhat 
grotesque because of their crudity, it must 
be admitted, yet these very stones have 
provided the inspiration for some of our 
most beautiful child headstones. In mod- 
ern adaptations the winged cupid in full 
relief, with truly cherubic countenance 
and wings having broad, sweeping lines. 
PARK AND CEMETERY. 
as in Fig. 8, combines with dainty in- 
cised bands and borders on a scale much 
finer than could have been attempted 
two centuries and a cpiarter ago when 
the art of hardening steel drills was in 
its infancy, to form a memorial of pleas- 
ing and refined character whether in 
pure wdiite marble or warm toned granite. 
FIG. 12. MOSES PORTER HE.\DSTONE. 
Walnut Grove Cemetery. Danvers, Jlass. 
Angels, especially with the death’s-head, 
lost their popularity before the Revolution. 
Indeed, there are several late seventeenth 
century stones on which the death’s-head 
is inconspicuous, as in Fig. 7, which vir- 
tually marks the date of appearance of the 
urn as a decorative ornament in American 
monumental work. This stone, with its 
two cherubs and attractive flower scrolls, 
reproduced on fine grain granite with the 
greater delicacy and precision of work- 
manship of today could not be greatly im- 
proved upon. 
Fig. 8 presents an interesting double ( ^ 
stone of similar character and suitable for \ J 
adaptation though not reproduction. A 
V V 
decorative band across the bottom seems i:- 
necessary unless the stone is to stand on 
a broader base which will provide strong 
horizontals. There is sufficient embellish- ^ 
ment without the head and wings w'hich 
should be omitted; and if the contour be . 4 ; 
retained a taller, more slender urn should 
be employed and placed higher with the 
necessary readjustment of the scrolls to fill 
the space. 
In Fig. 10 may be seen a stone always 
pleasing in contour when not too large. 
Aside from this a milled edge and the in- 
scription form the only decoration. The 
clean cut incised lettering is excellent yet 
shows conclusively that lower case letters 
render a lengthy inscription more easily 
read than capitals. 
Passing on again to headstones dated 
approximately a century later, one notices 
the introduction of epitaphs, _which were 
rare until the Revolution, and the appear- 
ance of hymns by Watts, stanzas from 
which were often quoted, as were Latin 
phrases such as Memento mori (Remem- 
ber the dead). 
Fig. 12 presents the urn as the only or- 
nament aside from the pleasing contour of 
the stone, which is of the large size in 
common use early in the nineteenth cen- 
tury. A small stone of this shape with 
plenty of margin about a well spaced in- 
scription would be far more satisfactory. 
Indeed, all adaptations of colonial head- 
stones benefit greatly by a considerable re- 
duction in scale except in the case of 
coarse granite, thereby emphasizing beauty 
of form, nicety of proportion and precision 
of workmanship. 
Fr.vnk Cousins .and Phil. M. Riley. 
WANTED. 
Every cemetery in the United States and Canada to be repre- 
sented at the coming Convention of the Association of American 
Cemetery Superintendents to lie held at Norfolk, Va., August 22, 23, 
24, 1916. Consult your local ticket agent as to routes, fare, stop- 
over privileges, etc. This is one time when you will have a chance 
to combine business and pleasure. For further particulars apply to 
J. M. Broughton, 
Norfolk, Va. Chairman of Convention Committee. 
FROM THE SECRETARY. 
To the Members of the Association of American Cemetery Superin- 
tendents : 
Gentlemen : 
The close of the present year will make six years that I have 
served you as Secretary-Treasurer. During the past two years the 
demands on my time have been increasing so that it is impossible^ 
to do justice to the Association by continuing in office. Under these 
conditions, I will not be a candidate for re-election. Trusting to 
meet you at the Norfolk Convention, I am. 
Yours very respectfully, 
Bellett Lawson, Jr. 
