Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1838-08-30
WHOLE No. 439.
From the Boston Courier.
MOUNT AUBURN.

I We believe that very few strangers who
come to our city for other purposes than
those Of trade and business, depart without
making n visit TO Mount Auburn. II is pro-
baby true that most Of those 10 whom this
exception might apply, snatch few mo-
menls from the calls Of merely secular trans
actions, to look at spot Of which Bostonians
are Justly proud, and which is endearcd to its
owners by numberlcss allectionnte rccOllcc-
tions and emotions. We should hardly feel
respect for the taste, or the heart, Of any man,
who, having visited this scene Of unrivalled
beauty, did not foel il to be a theme Of ad-
miration, and a source whepce he might de-
rive a volume Of moral reflections.
! We noticed in the United States Gazette
of Wednesday letter FROM correspondent.
dated at Boston, aud giving an account Of his
visit to Mount Auburn, a considerable por-
ton of which we have annexed. The writer
is gentleman Of education, taste, and moral
feeling, and we respect bin the more, that he
has given uttorance TO so many thoughts IN
unison with our own, and to emotions which
meet with responses in many heart, The
'memorials of whose affections may be seen
IN that consccratcd ground. There arc ia
the sketch several mistakes--the result, un-
! doubtedly, Of erroneous Information gwen to
the writer--which we have corrected at the
notes at tho ond.
Il BosroN, July 26, 1883.
Il My DEAR rnIcSD CnaNpLEH.--I have just
4 returned from visit to Mount Auburn Gene
Itery, which is, among tho lions OF Boston,
like the noon among the lesser stars.
went in company with an esteemed Trend
under tlo lIospItabe escort OF the Hon.
II Richard Fletcher, Of whom, as he is public
man, may perhaps be excused tor saying
Hand crave his pardon II this sentence ever
4 meets his eyc) That he is eminent alike ior
his ability as lawyer, his purity Us poll
,tician, and his worth as a man.
Il We set ufi with raised expectations oi the
! chnrnis we should encounter. We had heard
| ltwho has not y much in praise OF The beauty.
J AZ well of the drives in the neigbborhood of
( B ,ston, as Of the spot to which we were go
Hing. Our course lay tIirosgh Camb:ids!s.--
ll'rhal part of tho ride between Boston and
! Cambridge disappointed us greatly, and
! I,brran TO fear that should be under the dsa-
greeablc necessity of opposing niue to 'be
! general taste But was soon relieved rom
AL such apprchrnsions, after we had r2:=GI
: the ancieat and venerable balls at Harvard
III University. The country now presented u
> iuxuriant appearance, the views III every c,-
= Lection were extensive and picturesque, aud
the country seats of opulent citizens, which
J'jmed either side Of lhc broad avenue over
which our steeds were rolling us, gave indn-
Ilbitable tokens of the wealth and tuste AMI
A. comfort of their occupants. The distance
~ seemed scarcely more than stones throw,
Ilbcforc we drove up and halted I'D front oi
the gateway which forms the entrance To ibe
II Cemetery; noble in every thing but the pal
il,ry deception which meets YOU in the shape
iIof wooden granite, even here III the gates oi
ildcath, Where will not men deceipe =
ll"1Yn,eo Dcnaos,"&c. Might not "hon,tnem."
rs gonerc term, be substituted for "Danaos'
! IN the reading. without unjustly sairizing
1.-The human ra :e? For my part in references
| to this gateway, perfectly agree IN opinion
and sympathlzc IN feeling with Fanny KEN
llbe Butler. as, by the way | do on several
llother points, from which some OF my coun-
trymcn dissent Il was said That the expense
was, in the infancy Of The enterprise, an oh
/, s,aclc in the way OF MI entrance more wor-
: thy Of the place In city like Boston, rich
beyond most others aud proverblai for lis
( 'IlIberality, this mcar ought to havo been nh
. obstacle: il cannot be- now, when vast sums
c have been realized from the sale of lots.
As Mr.. Fletcher is owner of lot IN the
Cemctcry, the gate was opened by the lanllor
/, aud we permitted to drive through. have
i,ceDsurcd the taste that could paint wood IN
c imitation of granite at the entrance OF CITY
T iorthe Dead. II you were man to ENJOY
> such things, as rejoice TO know you are not.
toll In, mn cl-
I 10 your hearts content; 1t is the only one
! you will get from my pen on this sweet place.
| But how To approach the description; how to
compress within the Iihits Of letter " hat
might be said, and what desire to say; how
TO convey in words any thing like an ade-
iquate idea Of this lovely and delightful abode
of the Departed, this is indeed labor. IT
I embraces an accumulation nnd variety of
l,classcal beauties, aud presents scenes OF
\ rcadan lovellness, both within its own en-
! closures and in The charming vistas you cate h
I in every direction through the openings VA
its deep and overlanglng groves, which Ger
IiaiDly no spot in Amerra can match, and
which probably few places can equal in any
par, Of The world. One can scarcely res,st
/ the impression in walking over this ground,
that it was expressly designed by the Creator,
/ for ils present use, aud, though corruption IS
not less foul here than elsewhere, and the
worms are az sure TO banquet upon the poor
remains Of humanity, yet death would seem
disrobcd Of half lis tcrrors, IL one could DC
assured of final resting place beneath the
deep shadows of IT'S trees, ubd and its pro-
fusion of flowers, with the pure breszes oi
heaven sweeping through It's delicIo"s eiaoes'
and mIngling their music WIN '"a' " '"e
huppy birds. r
II What is It that constitutes the eh"nns W
, Mount Auburn? Nature aud Ar hs'e mar
| mopize with each other, nnd ming'e thc'r
I bowers. .'to lend eochantment Ia the scene.
|, The Cemetery covers M extent VI aoou'
IIbundrcd acres. Where can another hundred
ncres be- found, embracing such diversity
\ Ioi surface. aud such proiuslon of beauties
Swelliue hills, rounded knolls, deep rav'nes,
secluded del's, opening g!odes, steep aee'Ivi-
lies. princvaI forests, tiny lakes, and even
,oui,c n lolly mountain, arc all features oi tho
lsnd-cHrr. The whole of the surface 10 IN
tersecled by broad and gravelled avenues for
carriages, and by foot. paths, gravellrJ N like
nlanner. running ~ every conceivable dwcc-
ton. The foot paths are named sltcr the
trees most abundant in their negliboshood
a and what struck tue not q liule was t,e