Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1831-10-29

A paper in the North American Review, on the
Auburn Cemetry, recently established near Bus
ton. thus commences its appeal to that feeling
which all living entertain towards the dead:
There is no feeling stronger or more universal
than that which insists upon respect Tor the dead.
II is found in every are and nation. The savage
shows n Kindness aud reverence to the dead,
which he never pays the living; and enlishten-
ed man ranks il among the most sacred OF his du-
ties, to offer the last sacrifice of affection at the
grave. Ii the belief prevailed nov, as IN ancient
DAYS that the spirits of the unburied suffered Tor
the neglect of their friends this feeling might be
more easily accounted for; but it does not seem
to partake of superstition; it is rather sentiment,
eniish; shed, Just, and manly sentiment, infuenc-
ing not ony The intelligent, but many beside, who
in general seem to be strangers to strong and de-
licate feeling. The iSht-hearted soldier, at the
grave of his comrade, feels heavlneSs which
makes him better man tor the time; The rough
seaman leans thoughtfuly over the side OF his YES
sci, till the waters which the plunge OF the corpse
has broken, are calm and unconscious again. AT
every village funeral, when the dead lies in the
midst of the living, with fixed and calm serenl
ty on his brow, with an unsearchabie depth OF
mps Diny in his features, which no mortal eye may
read-if it be only 4 child perishng in the day
break of its existence, whose loss will be as Ut
Il. felt in the world at large as the whitening OF
= uarden-hower-still he is for the time invested
with the commanding majesty OF death; children
Join their hands and look timidly around them;
old mel, lean upea their slaves sGd ponder; though
among them, h. seems no longer OF them; the
air of gentle and firm reserve on his countenance
wives the impression that he sees what we can
not see. hears what we cannot hear, and is alrea-
dy acquainted with those mysteries Of the future,
which the living desire and yet trenlble to know.
Neither does this interest in the dead cease
when thew are hidden from our eyes. 1t follows
them to the grave, and makes US regard as sa-
cred the place where we have laid them. The
burial place is the retreat of the thoughtful; the
shoes Of care and passion are put Oft by those
who enter the lonely ground. 1t has good ct
feet upon the feelings; it makes the unfortunate
more recuuciled to this world: and The gsx Earrs
me scufrrureu s"Sry! 1Is ufifegardcd legends of
fEe ancient dead, the various Inscriptions show
ing. sometimes, what the dead were,. bu' sill of:
tener what they ought to have been, subdue the
heart to sadness, though not 10 gloom. And
what lion in the path is the public feeling. to all
who would disturb the repose OF the tomb! 1t
is easier to rifle the mansion Of the living, than
the narrow house Of the dead; for the living can
protect the mselves and therefore are less regard
ed, while the whole moral force of u wide region
is at once in arms to resent an insult offered to
the dead. This feeling may be excessive-per-
haps it is--but no one can deny that't is ener-
getlc and strong. We do not condemn nor de-
tend it; but the thirsty vengeance with which it
pursres offenders, shows how deep is the rever-
snce OF the living for the dead.
One reason why the home of the dead is thus
sacred, is, that this is the place where we lose
them Up to this place we follow them through
the changes of life and death; but at the gates of
the tomb, they are taken and we are left. We
are forcib'y driven back, and the mind loses IT.
self in earnes. conjectures respecting their dest
nv-what It may be,nOw it is thus widely separted
from ours. The most striking view We ever saw
Of the great cataract Of our country. represented
simply the waters above. and the long line where
they lean to dash below; the rest was left to the
Imagination. which made out for itself more
profound impression of the grandeur of the scene,
than representation or description by measure
could possibly have given. Thus 1t IS with the
surface Of the ground where the dead are laid:-
hitherto we come, but 10 further; We see not how
nor where they are gone; this is the boundary. be-
ycnd which the living cannot 60 nor the dead re-
turn; and 1t arrests aud chains the imagination,
like the place in the ocean where some gallant
wreck went down.