The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1839-08-07
From he NJ r. Erpress
THE GREENWOOD CEMETERY.


We rejoice to be able to say that at last New York
and its suburbs have fit place in which human be-
ing can be intened,-a place safe from the mania OF
"imI rove ment, beyond the rage OF streets and
dwellings, and yet within view OF our whole city. i.s
noble harbor, its beautiful rivers and the ocean Itself
Greenwood Cemetery in the suburbs OF Brooklyn
towards the Bay, the Of this place so long
the desire Of every rational being who has been panied
by many horrible spectacles it has been the misfortune
Of every to witnsss, who, in this city, paid any
attention TO the interment Of the dead. Greenwood
Cemetery is to be the Mount Auburn,-the Pcrc ic
Chase Of New York The to kalon is found at last
There is hazard in making the prediction though the
place but just opened, and not body there buried,
that this is TO be the great City of the Dead.
But few topics Of late years have engrossed the
attention Of the rejecting few. than this Of selecting
proper Burial ground for New York city and its suburbs
The promiscuous manner in which thousands Of our
relations and friends have been huddlcd together in
vaults and pen,-up church yards where there was no
ssncty Of association and often much to disgust, has
bctokened recklessness Of those sentiments that do
honor to human nature and many Christians who
have reflected upon the moral influence OF the death
bed the death and the burial and the inspiration Of the
tomb, have to the conclusion that this divesting
the grave Of the holy influences OF spiritual association
creating impression that man was but matter to
be turned into the earth aud forgotten. Painful, how
ever, such reflections have been there has been
something absolutely horrible IN many well known
occurrences, in which have had the demonstration,
that mans grave is safe The city and that such is
often tho value Of the foot soil OF the grave
that before one decomposed, another thrust
into the place. Such things have set men thinking,
and Manhattan Island has been explored for proper
cemetery, we believe in vain. But fortunately at last
Terra iaeognifa almost has been discovered in the
suburbs of BROOKLYN.
The Greenwood Cemetery Association fortunately
once more, is not specializing concern The division
Of the grounds into lots, photographic survey
fnrs he anfEl ~.
who have interested themselves in this subect-but
purely benevolent association from beginning end
The Land is held in Trust,and every cent Of income
from it, to be spent for the decoration and improve.
ment of the grounds. Thus what Of profit arises from
it. will only add to its beauty The money devoted to
purchase in fee simple the soil in which ourselves,
or our relations are to rest undsturbcd also mpart
grace and elegance to the around
Now for a few words Of introduction to this Green
wood Cemetery,-and when readers are once in
troduced, further words will be necessary from US
The place is present but Just opened and all there is
10 see is-Nature ITSELF except the roads which to the
extent Of nearly four miles, including all their invou
tions, have been cut out There are who'd and dale
hill and valley the cultivated field and the utter wilder
ness,-also Mount and Lske-in which, or on which
be seen the picturesque view Of the soest or the
widest scenery visible OH Long Island and while from
Mount Washington can be the surges of the sea
at Rockaway, the Palisades Of the North River
Brooklyn, New York, Staten Island and the whole vas,
sheet Of water,-you have but to pass the Sylvan
Water" and there wild little lake exists in
the heart of Maine. The ground rolls aud swcls, and
divides itself into hill and vale, that seems to
have been fitted almost purpose for the to which
II is destined The roads now run charmingy through
the woods; and the exchange Of the streets of crowd
ed thoroughfare, ride, to the wdness of the
little country carriage way, is delicious change as
transfer OF sudden from Broadway to Vermont
What this City Of the Dead will be,-when its beau,i-
ul natural capabilities fully developed tonbs
line its pathways. and monuments mnge with its trees
when bridges span its valleys and gondoas are upon
its akes-when thousands and thousands in veneraiion
make pilgrimage there to honor the Dead it is beyond
power TO describe. We trust, however, the noisy
population OF this busy Babylon will pause for an hour
to look upon this last fitting home Let him who has
time to i've take time to look out his grave,-or if he
Will not think OF himself let him think Of that sweet
commingling the living may have with the dead in
the midst OF charming rural sceneyunjer the shade
oil some welcome ,ree,-where no roll Of carriages
over the pavements-no obtrusiye love Of abor-uo
turbulent tyrannous world turn ones thoughts from
the soft reposc Of the tomb to the reckless current Of
life The place is but about two miles from the south
Ferry. Already it is the resort of the tasteful eaupapes
of Brooklyn.