The Massachusetts spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1821-1823, 1822-05-15
MISCELLANY.
From the (LO'sdon> .SsV Monthly Magdsine,
for February, 1892.
The Cemetery of Pere La Chaise.

The Cemetery of Pere La Chaise.
Qpid sis, esse retis, nihilGue malis
Saansam nee metttds diem, nee optics.
am half disposed 10 admit the asser-
lion OF lively authoress, that the French
are grave people, and absolutely de-
termined upon contradcting the receiv-
ed opinion in England, that in the vola-
tility of their character their sympathies,.
however easily excited, are generally
cvanescenf7 and that the claims of kin
dred or friendship, so far from awaken
ing any permanent sensibility, are quick
iy superseded by the paramount domin-
ion of friyolity and amusement. Let any
man WHO'S labouring under this mistaken
impression pay a visit to the Cemetery
ofPere La Chaise and if he % not hate
France more than falsehood, be will ad-
nit that IN the precincts of this beautiful
and affecting spot there is not only
more striking assemblage Of tasteful dec
Grafton and appropriate monumental
sculpture, but more pervading eviden-
ces OF deep, lingering, heart-rending af-
lection for the dead, than could be paral-
leled in Engirs1 or any other country Of
Europe.-The tomDs s.sewhere seem to
be monuments Of oblivion, no. remem-
brance-they designate spots to be avs;d-
ed, not visited, unless by the idle curios-
ity Of strangers: here they seem built
up with the heart as we'll as with the
hands; they are hallowed by the fire.
quent presence of sorrowing survivors,
who by various devices of ingenious and
elegant offerings, still testify their grief
and their respect for the departed, and
keep up, by these pious visitings, a sort
OF holy communion between the living
and the dead. Never, never shall
forget the solemn yet sweet and soolh-
ing emotions that thrilled my bosom at
the first visit to Pere La Chaise. To-
men were in attendance as we approach
ed the gate, offering for sale elegant
crowns, crosses, and wreaths of orange
blossom, xereanthemum, amaranth. and
other everlasting flowers, which the
mourning relatives and friends are ac-
customed to suspend upon the monu-
ment, or throw down upon the grave,
or entwine among the shrubs, with
which every enclosure is decorated. -
Congratulatlng myself that ! had no
such melancholy Office TO perform. |
passed into this vast sanctuary of the
dead, ard found myself in variegated
and wide-spreading garden, consisting
OF bill and dale, redolent with flowers.
and thickly planted with luxuriant
shrubs and trees, from the midst of
which monumental stones, columns.
obelisks, pyramids, and temples. shot
up in such prOfusion, that ! was I'M
decided which path to explore first.
and stood some time in silent contem-
plation of the whole scene, which oc-
cupies space of from sixty TO eighty
acres. A lofty Gothick monument on
the right first claimed my attention, ard
on approaching il found that it con-
tained The tomb In which are the ashes
Of Abelard and EIoisa, united at last in
death, but even denied that rest and
repose, TO which they were strangers
IN their unhappy and passionate lives
Inferred after various removals. AT
Soissans, in the year 1920, they were
transported, in the year eight of the
Fepublick, from Cbaons sur Saone 10
the museum of. French monuments al
Paris, and thence 10 romantick spot
which they at present occupy. We
learn from the inscription, that with all
his talents Abelard could not compre-
bend the doctrine Of the Trinity, and
on this account incurred the censure Of
contemporary hierarchs. Subsequently,
however, be seems to have seen the
wisdom ola more accommodating faith /;
+. and having evinced his orthodoxy by
the irrefragable arguments Of causing
three figures to be sculptured upon one
stone, which is still visible, being let
into the side of his tomb, he was restor-
ed to the confidence and protection Of