Litchfield enquirer. [volume] (Litchfield, Conn.) 1829-current, 1836-01-14
1-FMETERY AT NEW ORLEANS.
NS" 80, ne SOufhwese-tya Yanfee.

The Cemetery IL quite out Of the city; there
Icing no dwelling Or enclosure Ut any KIND
beyond ii. On approaching II, the front IN
the street presents the appearance Of lofty
brick wall Of very great length. with spa
eiOns gateway 10 the centre. This gateway
IL about ten feet deep; and one passing IhrO'
IL. would imagine the wall Of the same solid
thickness. This however is only apparent
The wall which surrounds it, or is Ia SUR
round the four sides Of the battle-ground. flor
it is yet uncOm2letrd.l is about twelve feet IN
height and ten in thickness, The external
appearance ON the street is similar 10 that of
any other high wall. while to the behOIder
within. the cemetery exhibits three stories OF
oven like ton1hs, constructed in the wall, and
extending on every side Of the graveyard
Each Of these tombs is designed TO admit on
~ single coffin, which is enclosed IN the
vanlt with masonry, and designated by small
marble slab fastened in the face of the wall at
the head Of the coffin, stating the name. age,
and sex Of the deceased. By a casual esti-
mate, judged there were about eighteen
hundred apertures in this vast nile of tOmbs.
This method, resorted to here fsona necessity,
90 account Of the nature of the soil. might
serve as hint TO city land economists.
When entered the gateway, WAS struck
with surprise and admiration. Though des-
iitute Of trees, the cemetery is certainly more
deserving, from its peculiarly novel ana oo-
ique appearance, Of the attention OF strangers
than with the exception Of that at New ma
ven, and Mount Auburn.l any other m TIE Y.
States. From the entrance to the opposite
side through the centre OF the graveyard, n
broad avenue or street extended nearly an
eighth Of mile IN length; and on either side
ofthis are innumprable isolated tombs, of all
sizes. shapes and descriptions, built above
ground. The idea Of Lilliputian city was
at first suggested TO my mind on looking down
this extensive avenue. The tombs in their
various and fantastic styles Of architecture--if
may apply the term to these tiny ediHces.
resembled cathedrals with towers, Moorish
dwellings, temples. chapels. palaces, mosques,
substituting the cross for the crescent-and
structures Of almost every kind.
The idea was ludicrous enough; but as
passed down the avenue, | could not but in
dulge the fancy that was striding down the
Broadway Of the capital Of the Lilliputians.
! mention this not irrevcrent!y, but to give
you the best idea can of the cemetery, from
my own Impressions. Many of the tombs
were constructed like. and several were, in
deed, miniature Grecian templesi whilst 9th
rrs resembled French or Spanish ediices, like
those found in old Castile.' Many Of them,
otherwise plain, were surrounded BY a tow
er Supporting cross. All were perfectly
white, arranged with the most perfect rrgu-
lsrity. and distant little more than a foot
from each other. At the distance of every
ten rods the main avenue was intersected by
others Of less width, crossing it at right an
giles, down which tombs were ranged in the
same novel and regular manner. The whole
cemetery was divided into squares, formed by
int,
avenue. 1t was in reality City of the dead
But it was city composed of miniature pal
aces, and still more diminutive villas.
The procession after passing two-thirds OF
the way up the spacious walk, turned down
one of the narrower alleys. where new tomb
built on a line with the Others gared wide 10
receive its destined inmate. The procession
stopped. The coffin was let down from the
shoulders Of the bearers, and rolled on wood
en- cylinders into the tomb. The mOurners
silently gathered around; every head was
barred and amid the deep silence that sue.
eepG4d, 1.-The calm. clear, melancholy voice OF
the priest swelled upon the still evening air,
in the plainiive chant Of the last service for
the dead. "Reqoiescat in pace r. was slow
ly chapted by the Priest-repeated in subdu.
ed voices By The mourners. aud echoing.a.
mong the tombs, died away in the rsn,otest
ECCeSS VI tDe cemetery. ss So f.,s. -,,, 4
The dead was surrendered 70 the compan-
ionship Of the dead-ihe priest and mourners
moved slowly away from the spot, and the ST.
lence Of the still evening was only hr"ken by
the clinking Of the careless mason, as he pro-
ceeded to wall up tho aperture in the tomb.
As night was fast approaching. fastened
10 leave the place; and taking shorter route
than by the principal avenue, I came sudden
" upon desolate area. without tomb to re-
lieye its dark and muddy surface. dotted with
countless mounds. where the bones of the
friendless stranger lay buried. There was
no stone 10 record their names or county
Fragments Of collins lay scattered around,
and new made graves, half filed with water,
yawned on every side awaiting their unknown
occupants; who perchance may now be clay
ing up store for many years" Of anticipated
happiness. Such is the soil here, that it is
Impossible 10 dig two feet below the surface
without coming 10 water. The whole land
seems to be only thin crust Of earth. Of not
more than three feet ia thickness, floating up
90 the surface Of the water. Consequently.
every grave will have two feet or more DIVA
ter IN II, and when coffin is placed therein,
some OF the assistants have to stand upon il
ana keep II down till the grave is re-flled with
the mud which was originally thrown from 1t.
or It would float. The citizens. therefore,
having very natural repugnance to being
drowned, after having died natural death
upon ther beds. choose TO have their last rest
tag.p place dry oue; aud hence the great
number of tounbs, and the peculiar features of
this burial-rlace. al
Returning, ! glanced into the old catholic
cemetery, 10 the rear Of the chapel before AL
"d~dso. II was crowded with tombs. though
without displaying the Systematic arrange
men, msnt observed 10 the one bad jost lsft.-