Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1827-06-13
DECORATING GRAVES.

The custom Of decorating graves was oGce
universally prevalent in England, as well as a.
monp nations of The highest antiquity; and even
Lin The present, day, in ireland, France, and Other
catholic countries, the traveller viii Frequently
Gee the offerings Of relatives and friends left up.
on tombstones and graves.
Tie celebrated Washington Irving, in very
ADMIRAL pa3er called Rural Funerals, thus al
ludes TO the subject. The naura! elect Of sor
row over the dead is 10 refine and elevate the
mind: and we have a proof Of tin the parilyof
sentiment and the unaffected elegance oflhpuch,
which pervaded the whole Of these iuneiaoh
seryances. Thus it was an especial precauOp
that none but sweet seemed evergrsens and low
CPS should be employed. The intention seems
n have been 20 soften the horrors OF the tonic
10 bepuiIe the mind from brooding over the de.
ISOLATION of perishing mortality, aud to associate
The memory Of the deceased with the most de.
licale and beautiful objects in nature. THERE'S
dismal process going on in the grave, ere dust
can return 10 lis kindred dust, which the Inn.
eination shrinks from contemplating; and we
seek still to think on the form we have loved,
with those refined associations which it awak-
ened when blooming before US in youth ard
beauty. clay her i The earth says Laertes," Of
his virgin sister;
"And from her fair and unpolluted fesh
May Holets spring"
The enterprising and amusing traveller, Mr.
Buckingham, states, that The custom OF decora
ling graves is still practised in the East, in the
neighborhood of Damascus; he says: "Not far
from the spot al which we halted, was an exlt.n
sive cemetery, at which we noticed the custom
SO prevalent among eastern nations, Of visiting
the tombs of their deceased friends. These
were formed with great care, ard finished with
extraordinary neatDess; and at the foot OF each
grave, was enclosed small earthen vessel, in
which was planted sprig Of myrtle, regularly
wa.ered every day by the mourning friend who
visited it. Throughout the whole OF this ex
tensive place of burial, we did not observe sin
gle grave 20 which this token OF respect and sor
row was not attached; and,. scattered among
the tombs in different quarters OF the cemetery
we saw from twenty TO thirty parties Of females
sitting near the honored remains Of some re.
Gently los, and deeply regretted relative or
friend, and either watering their myrtle plants
or strewing flowers over the green turf that clos
ed upon their heads This interesting office Of
friends or L,yers snrrowing for the dead, is con.
signed entirely TO females, as if from conyic.
tion that their hearts are more susceptible OF
those tender feelings which the duties Of such
az Office necessarily implies, and their breasts
filter abodes for that pure and affectiona,e sor.
row which is INDUCED for the loss Of those who
are dear 10 US, than The sterner bosoms Of men.
II is great advance from savage life to know
and to acknowledge this; and where such an adj.
mission OF the superior purity and fidelity Of
HE female heart and character exists, their ul
innate advancement TO that rank which their
sex should hold in social life cannot be alloge.
ther Aepelrss. For this, as for most other
blessihessy increased knowledge is the most cf-
frciuaEseclrity; when this shall take the place
Of Ignorance, he{aomesric slavery of women,
which now disgraces the East, will dlsappear
as certainly as that abominable slavery OF mea,
which for so many years disgraced the name Of
Christians in the West"