ashes of the sinner, or the saint, that lays under it, and is now forgotten in his bed of darkness." all the far stretched greatness, all the pride, cruelties and ambition of man, and covered it all over with these two narrow words-Hic jacet." Yet Knowing, as we do, that such must be the end of one consolation still remains; for though "An angel's arm can't snatch me from the grave, Legions of angels can't confine me there." all earthly things, how vain and empty must appear all the fame and glory and wealth of this world! Instead of seeking the "bauble reputation" and the honors which genius or knowledge or gallantry can bestow, it is true wisdom to seek only, in this scene of probationary trial, to be prepared for that inevitable event which awaits all living things. Alas! for all We so much doat on, and wherein we trust, But after all, according to Sir Thomas Brown, "man is a noble animal, splendid in ashes and pompous in the grave, solemnizing nativities and deaths with equal lustre, and not omitting ceremonies of bravery in the infamy of his nature." There are few who do not wish to leave behind them a name, the memory of something they have done while in life that may save them from oblivion. It is, however, but a poor and frigid ambition. The great There is, perhaps, too much neglect shown in mass of mankind must be as though they never had the grave-yards of our country. We are too apt been, and will be found in the register of God and to forget those who have left the busy scenes of not in the records of man. "Divinity is the dream life, or too much occupied with the cares of the and folly of expectation." Few of those who once world,' to think of the last resting-places of the filled the world with the fame of their deeds are dead. It was not thus among the Greeks and nanow remembered by the present race of man. Look tions of antiquity, nor is it thus among some of the at the memorials of the dead in the burial-ground modern nations of Europe. The Greeks, the creain which we are now musing, where repose in eter-tures of genius and sensibility, ornamented their nal silence the remains of those who once figured cemeteries with tombs, trees and flowers, and on the stage of human life and made admiring visited them frequently, with feelings of the deepest senates hang with wonder and rapture on the elo-veneration and respect. Though placed on the quence which flowed from their lips. How many highways and unenclosed, they were held sacred, of these are now remembered? The eye coldly glances over the brief mementos on their tombs, and turns away with indifference to rest on some equally forgotten name. Mors sola fatetur and no one presumed or dared to violate the sanctuaries of the dead. To bury within the walls of cities was strictly prohibited by the Greek and Roman laws, and the Emperor, Constantine, was the first who introduced the custom of interring in temples, churches, &c. Being the founder of the church where he was buried, he thought himself We drop a tear over the graves of those we once entitled to this privilege, and his example was soon loved; it is a melancholy tribute to buried affec-followed by the bishops, and afterwards by all who tion; but the rest of the world look upon them as had enriched the church. Its effects, however, upon a mouldering heap of earth. We, too, soon were found to be so deleterious to the health of the pass away and mingle our ashes with the forgotten living that the custom was finally abolished. The dead-and even our marble tombs are consumed by Greeks and Romans would not even allow too the corroding tooth of Time, that edax rerum, the insatiable devourer of all created things. are fallen," says the eloquent Jeremy Taylor, "from our privilege, and are returned to the condition of beasts and buildings and common things; and we are temples defiled unto the ground, and they die by sacrilege; and great empires die by their own plenty and ease, full humors and factious subjects, and huge buildings fall by their own weight, and the violence of many winters, eating and consuming the cement which is the marrow of their bones; "We and Princes die, like the meanest of their servants, and every thing finds a grave and a tomb, and the very tomb itself dies by the bigness of its pompousness and luxury, "Phario nutantia pondera saxo Quæ cinere vanus dat ruitura labor." "Nor time destroys the mouldering corps alone, But e'en the Mausoleum's Parian stone," bodies to be deposited in one grave or tomb, Why do we precious ointments shower, The ancient Greeks ornamented their burial and becomes as friable and uncombined dust as the grounds with cypress and elm, and the modern Greeks and Armenians pursue the same custom : 24 feet-and in Fonteregall church-yard, in ScotAnd these elms, after a long succession of ages, land, there is one which measured 56 feet in cirhave formed, in their cemeteries, the most delight-cumference. The people of that country held it ful groves, through which it is a source of melan-sacred and were accustomed to carry its branches, choly pleasure to rove. in solemn procession, to the graves of their departed friends, and deposit them under their bodies. Camden relates a singular story of a yew tree in a village called Horton, in Yorkshire, to which a priest had suspended the head of a young woman, which he had barbarously cut off in consequence of not being able to move her to compliance. The vil In Europe, from the remotest antiquity and among the oriental nations of the present age, the elm has been selected to ornament the repositories of the dead, as the most appropriate symbol of sorrow. It is preferred because it bears no fruit and affords a fine shade--and should, with the cypress, be introduced into burial-grounds, in those parts of lage afterwards became so great a resort for stranour country where they will flourish. The cypress, that gers, that buildings had to be yearly erected for their accommodation, and thus originated the great manufacturing town of Halifax, or Holy Hair, fax Fidele ami des morts, protecteur de leur cendre, being used on the other side of Trint to signify has in every age, and almost in every country, been hair. The gloomy aspect and peculiar properties cultivated as the symbol of mourning. Every of this tree seemed to fit it for the repositories of classical reader will recollect that Cyparissus, the the dead. It is said that plants will die in its shade, favorite of Apollo, was transformed into this tree, and if any one sleeps under its branches his head from the sorrow he indulged, in consequence of becomes affected and he feels violently ill. It was having accidentally killed a cherished stag of the with a branch of the yew that Tell formed his bow, god. "Apollo sad looked on and sighing cried, with which he dispatched the tyrant of his country, and in Switzerland the peasants still retain a great veneration for it, and call it "William's bow." The yew tree," says an English writer, "seems to address us thus: Fly sorrow! it cankers the heart as I exhaust the earth that affords me nou The Turks, who plant this tree in their graveyards, believe that the nature of its growth indi-rishment. Sorrow is as dangerous to man as my cates the condition of the souls of their departed friends. The arbor vite is another funereal tree, and gives, by its sombre appearance, a pleasing effect to grave-yard scenery. But in England, the most common and gloomy ornament of cemeteries is the sacred yew, so often sung by poets- Beneath those rugged elms, the yew trees' shade, Where heaves the turf in many a mouldering heap. [Gray. This tree was originally planted in grave-yards, because it is an evergreen and a symbol of immortality. Its dark foliage, long duration and outspreading branches render it a fit companion for the mouldering dead and give solemnity to grave-yard scenes Cheerless, unsocial plant that loves to dwell 'Midst skulls and coffins, epitaphs and worms, &c. Ainsworth has given a happy description of this tree. A noxious tree is the church-yard yew, The English yew attains to a great elevation. shadow is to the traveller." As this tree, however, does not grow in this country, it can, of course, never become a grave-yard ornament. But the silver fir might be a substitute, and is, moreover, a beautiful tree, with deep green leaves, silvery beneath. The finest burial ground ornament, however, and at the same time, the most beautiful emblem of affection and tenderness is the rose "the sweetest flower, That ever drank the amber shower." This shrub was early used for this purpose by the Greeks and Romans, who frequently made it their dying request that roses should be yearly planted and strewed upon their graves. Et tenera poneret ossa rosa. "The rose distills a healing balm, The Turks sculpture a rose on the tombs of all of spring. In the romantic burial ground of Pere, the sweet influence of a useful life in gardens of la Chaise, they have reserved the fine old custom unfading beauty." of planting flowers on the graves of their departed The following description of the Congressional friends, a custom which, as it tends to strip death burial-ground is taken from a work written by the and the grave of some of their gloom and terror, writer of this article, and published in 1842. I should be adopted by every nation. How pleasing can add but little to it. This cemetery is under must it be to see the hand of filial affection, or pa- the direction of the vestry of Christ Church in rental love, thus employed in decorating and beau- Washington and was formerly called “The Washtifying the spot, where the ashes of a tender mo- ington Parish Burial-Ground." It was first prother, or a beloved child, repose. It is a spectacle jected in the year 1807 by a few of the respectable that must charm the feelings of the most callous inhabitants of the eastern part of the city of vaand excite the admiration of the most thoughtless. rious denominations, who selected the site of the In this particular Pere la Chaise furnishes an ex- cemetery and put the price of the lots so low that ample worthy of imitation. "It is impossible," the most humble were enabled to provide graves says Phillips, speaking of this celebrated cemetery, for themselves and their families. After the amount "to visit this vast sanctuary of the dead, where expended, in the purchase of the land and the imthe rose and the cypress encircle each tomb, or the provements which had been made, was reimbursed, arbor vitæ and eglantine shade the marble obelisk, the cemetery was placed, as above stated, under without feeling a solemn, yet sweet and soothing the direction of the vestry of Christ Church, which emotion steal over the senses as we wander over was an incorporated body. This cemetery is situathe variegated scene of hill and dale, columns and ted about a mile and a half east of the capitol and temples interspersed with luxuriant flowering embraces an area of about ten acres, surrounded shrubs and fragrant herbs that seem to defy the by a substantial brick wall, with two handsome most profane hand to pluck them. We ascended," gateways leading into the cemetery, through which he continues, "the height, where our attention was attracted with the most odorous white flowers, such as the orange blossoms, jessamine, myrtle and white rose. At each corner stood white porcelain vases, filled with similar flowers, all of pure white; the whole was covered with a fence of wire work, and the monument was without a name and had only this simple and pathetic inscription: run several fine avenues and smaller walks, ornamented with trees and shrubs that are now beginning to give it a gardenesque appearance. The site of this burial-ground has been most judiciously chosen. It commands a fine view of the surrounding country and the Anacostea river which flows at a short distance below it, and which, in a calm summer evening, when the water is still and placid, reflects from its glassy bosom the beautiful land'Fille cherie-avec toi mes beaux jours sont passés.' scape on the opposite side of the river. A spaWe were told that the afflicted parent still con- cious and tastefully constructed general receivingtinued to indulge in the sad duty of replenishing the vault stands on the western avenue. It was erectgrave with fresh flowers at the earliest opening of ed by the order of Congress for the reception of the gates of this melancholy garden of graves." the dead, for whom graves may not have been preSuch should ever be the attention paid by the living pared, or whose bodies are subsequently to be reto the last resting places of the dead. Decorated moved to some other place of interment. This by the hand of affection and taste, the grave-yard vault is surrounded by a neat iron railing the front would become the resort of those who love to in- is of free stone, the door of iron-the arch, formdulge in solemn and salutary meditation, and tending the roof of the vault, is covered with green to strip the grave of some of its horrors. It has sward, with grass of luxuriant growth, and the been beautifully said by one, speaking of the Mount area within the iron railing ornamented with shrubAuburn cemetery-" The weeping willow, waving bery. Bodies are allowed to be kept in the vault its graceful drapery over the monumental marble, for two months, after which they must be removed and the sombre foliage of the cypress should shade; for interment. This course is frequently adopted the undying daisy should mingle its bright and by families and strangers who have no vaults, to glowing tints with the native laurels of our forest. prevent those outrages which are sometimes comIt is there I would desire to see the taste of the mitted in other cities, upon the dead, by resurrecflorist manifested in the collection and arrangement tionists. The body of Gen. Harrison reposed in of beautiful and fragrant flowers that, in their bud- this vault for some time before it was conveyed to ding and bloom and decay, they should be the si- its final resting-place on the banks of the Ohio. lent and expressive teachers of morality and re- In one instance, however, the body of a distinguishmind us that, although, like the flowers of autumn, ed citizen was suffered to remain for upwards of the race of man is fading from off the earth, yet, ten months, in expectation that a tomb, or monulike them, his root will not perish in the ground; ment, which his friends had promised to erect, but will rise again in a renewed existence to shed! would be prepared for its reception. This was the * Phillips' Solva Florifera. * Z. Cook, jun. body of the eloquent author of the British Spy, to Congress has assembled in this city, there have whose memory his friends and the members of the not been more than forty interments of its membar had agreed to erect a monument, provided his bers. Two of those were buried in a rural churchfamily would consent to permit him to be buried yard a few miles from Washington, having died in in this cemetery. But this pledge, as in the case the infancy of the city, when no public burialof WASHINGTON and MARSHALL, has never been ground existed. The remains of these were transredeemed, and the remains of the illustrious WIRT ferred, a few years ago, by order of Congress, to were finally thrown into an obscure grave to moulder this cemetery and interred among those who had with the forgotten dead around him. been previously buried here. After this lapse of time, but little could be found of what once constituted the bodies of men who had, perhaps, while in being, been gifted with physical beauty, and who had been animated with all the hopes and joys and pleasures of life. All had mouldered away, except a few bones which were collected together and deposited among those who had subsequently sunk into the long sleep of death, and been honored with a public funeral and all the "sable mockery of wo." But here repose the statesman, the orator In the south-west angle of this cemetery, the eye rests upon a broken marble shaft, which indicates the spot where the remains of the brave Brown repose. It is simple, but expressive "The paths of glory lead but to the grave." What thrilling events does not this mute memorial of the dead recall! How exultingly did the mind once dwell upon the heroic actions of Brown, and glory in the gallantry and patriotic devotion of the American army. But these, too, are fast pass-and the warrior, the distinguished and the obscure, ing away from the memory of their countrymen, and the succeeding generation will know them only from the page of history. Yet still, The good, the learn'd, the generous and the just, Leave something of their glory in their dust." "And all that beauty, all that worth e'er gave" alike crumble into and mingle with the common elements from which they sprang. Among those who "lie in cold obstruction" in this burial-ground are two, who, wearied with the world, or in a fit of frenzy, sought the repose of the grave. They are honored with the same memorial as those who had the courage to live out their term of life on earth, and their dust commingles with that of the mighty dead around them. De mortuis nil nisi bonum is not always a correct maxim. The vices as well as the virtues of the dead should be recorded as examples to be shunned, or imitated, by the living.* "Censure," says the author of the life of Dr. Young, "is not heard beneath the tomb any more than praise. De mortuis nil nisi verum—De vivis nil nisi bonum, would approach, perhaps, much nearer to good sense.' While strolling through this cemetery, one cannot but exclaim "How populous, how vital is the grave! In the north-east corner of this burial-ground, stand two neat marble monuments erected to the memory of men who once filled a large space in the public mind, GEORGE CLINTON and ELBRIDGE GERRY, who died in this city while in the discharge of their official duties as Vice Presidents of the United States. These are at present the principal monuments in this cemetery. Almost in a line with these and also on the western side, ranging from north to south, are the tombs of such members of Congress as have died at the seat of government, and been buried at the public expense. They are built of free or sand stone painted white; each has four panels, on one of which are engraved in black letters, the name, age, time of death, &c. of the deceased, and is topped with a small pyramid. A brick wall is formed at the bottom of the grave, in which a rich mahogany coffin, decorated with plated escutcheons and containing the body of the deceased member, is deposited, and over which a brick arch is thrown and the whole surmounted by judges, and held its sessions usually upon the banks of a the very plain and rather tasteless tomb of which lake. Accusation was free to all, but whoever sought to I have spoken. Some more beautiful design might be substituted without adding much to the expense and the material should be marble instead of the very ordinary sandstone of which they are now constructed. As a burial-ground, great architec-mummies, and it sometimes happened that the dead were tural might be united to fine horticultural taste and thus form a retreat to which the stranger, as well as the citizen, would feel a melancholy pleasure in repairing to tranquillize the agitations of feeling and passion, while meditating in solitude amid the silent repositories of the dead. * Among the Egyptians there was a singular tribunal, called the Tribunal of the Dead. It consisted of forty-two tarnish the life, or injure the character of a virtuous man, was severely punished. If the decision of the court was favorable, a boat received the coffin to conduct it to the eternal dwelling of silence. The houses were filled with not judged till long after death. The tribunal was placed on the boundaries of life to grant the rites of sepulture to virtue and refuse it to vice-a tribunal before which kings themselves made their appearance, who could not avert the awful decision even by the corruption of despotism, which paralyzes every virtue but obedience. The hope of a future reward and the fear of a future punishment might be aided in their operation by the certainty of the honor, or disgrace, In the course of forty-three years, during which which awaited the dead even in this world. But a few years have elapsed since this spot was covered with a primeval forest, the haunt of the savage, the lurking place of the wild beast; and now how populous with the dead! the last abiding place of those who once fascinated and led the mind captive by their eloquence-who charmed the eye with the splendor of their beauty, or excited admiration by their bravery and patriotism. Here rests, too, the body of the Indian warrior, whose last wish was, that the big guns might be fired over him to waft his spirit in triumph to the region where wander the souls of his fathers. Pushmataha's wish was gratified and a tomb has been erected over his body to indicate that he was the friend of the white man. Would that it could be said, that the white man has always been the friend of the Indian. This brave son of the forest died as he had lived the lofty and fearless warrior and, like Outallassi, he "Would not stain with grief The death song of an Indian chief." THE BLAND PAPERS. Being a selection from the M. S. S. of COLONEL THEODO- This is a Virginia book, in its matter, its Editor and its publication, and on this account it might be supposed that we would commend it. It does not follow that we should necessarily praise a Virginia book; but we confess that our desire to witness any exhibition of literary spirit and enterprise amongst us would tend greatly to blunt our "critical acumen;" whilst some may have neglected and others abused it for no better reason than that it is such. The first volume of these "Papers" was offered to the Public in 1840; but, not being aided by inflated puffs, nor preceded by any descriptions of the illumination about to visit the Literary world, The rude child of Nature and the polished oc-merited. At that time, we had the pleasure of beit did not receive the attention which it most justly cupant of the drawing room—the Demosthenes of the Senate and the humble laborer of the field-coming acquainted with the persevering Editor, the old and decrepit, and the young and beautiful, and sympathizing with his tastes and hopes, soon felt an interest in the success of his work. The repose together in the bosom of their common publication of the second volume depended somemother. What a leveller is death! But what upon the reception with which the first met; but the second, which we had the honor of then reading in M. S., was far more interesting and would greatly tend to introduce the first to the reading community. At length, the diligence and perseverance of Mr. Campbell have overcome every obstacle and the whole work, two volumes in one, is now offered to the Public, in a plain, unpretending form and at a very reduced price. Sometime since, a harsh and not very liberal "Were death denied, to live would not be life, Were death denied, e'en fools would wish to die." Those who have the superintendence and management of this interesting burial-ground have done much, aided by appropriations by Congress, to beautify and improve it. A convenient brick lodge, or edifice, has been erected near the western wall for the accommodation of the sexton. Avenues and walks have been laid out, gravelled and ornamented with appropriate trees and flower-critique upon "the Bland Papers" appeared in the ing shrubs. The tree of heaven, the Babylonian Boston Post. The Editor very summarily deswillow, the elm, linden, silver poplar, cedar, fir, &c. patched it, by asking who Colonel Bland was, proare beginning to afford shade and give beauty to nouncing him too little known to fame for his writhis cemetery. The arbor vitæ, rose, calicanthus, tings to be interesting to the public, declaring the myrtle, &c. are also planted and nourished by the work dull reading, perhaps without testing its hand of affection and tenderness. Several neat quality, and ridiculing one short sentence, nay, one and substantial private vaults and mausoleums have word, in the introduction. Whether a work of been erected within a few years, at considerable less historical, or literary merit, issued from the cost and exhibiting no little taste; and though this Northern press, with its usual appliances, would cemetery may not be compared at present to Pere not have received a very different notice from that la Chaise, or Mount Auburn, there is no other bu-Editor must be left to conjecture. Certainly we rial-ground in this country superior to it in beauty of site, the neatness, cleanliness and arrangement of the grounds, or the number, and, in a few cases, the beauty of its monuments and tombs. Washington. hear much of the reminiscences of the "olden time," of Bunkerhill and Lexington, which are no less interesting to us; and the praises of many secondary characters in the glorious struggle for Independence are proclaimed in no measured terms, by our Northern neighbors. If there be any interest in the lives and writings, as we believe there The principles of great men illuminate the whole universe certainly is, of any of the actors in the past scenes above and below. The principles of the superior man comof our country's history, besides the first and foremence with the duties of common men and women, but in most, then must Colonel Bland's claims be acknowtheir highest extent they illuminate the universe-Confucius. ledged. By the testimony of Washington himself, VOL. IX-83 |