The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1836-1851, 1840-07-25
FOR TIE c.,sIl.rH JOURNAL.
CONCLL DED.

| FOR TIE cAMrrN JOURNAL.
| CONCLUDED.
1t is evident that ali nations at differ
ent periods seem to have delighted to
deck the graves of their departed rela-
tives with garlands Of flowers-emblems
at once of beauty al-d quick fading into
death. The Greeks crowned the dead
with flowers, and the mourncrs wore
them at the funeral ceremonies. The
first of these ceremonies was religiously
observed by the Romans, as appears from
some old criptions in which roses are
ordered to be yearly strcwed and planted
upon the graves OF the testators; and by
some lines of Virgil applied to Marcellus,
the lamentcd youtll-"Give me lilies in
handtuls; let me strew the purple blooming
flowers" /. is mentioned in the "Se-
pulchral Antiquities" that the flowers
strewed over graves by the Greeks were
the ancranth and poiyganthus; practice
that was reprobatcd by the primitive
christians, who subsequently adopted it.
The ancients planted the asphodel around
the tombs Of the deceased, in the belief
that the seeds Of this plaat--atforded
nourishmcnt to the dead. In Persia the
basil adorns tombs and graves. At Tri-
poli-the tombs az. garlanded with fes-
toons of the Arabian Jessamine, with
Ross and &c &. ~4.&- i the c. aiIge anaa
Myrtle. In Italy the periwinkle, flor di
morto, or deaths flower, is used to deck
their children who die in infancy. In
Germany and in the German Cantons of
Switzerland the custom of decking graves
is very common. At Leipsig shrubs and
flowers, are cultivated in little Enclosures,
round the graves of the burial ground is
a public walk rcsorted to by those whose
relatives arc inferred within its precincts.
In the beautiful little churchyard at
Schwitz, almost every grave is entirely
covered with pinks. The usual fashion
| in Germany and in Switzerland is to have
the ornaments of wood or iron wrought
in arabesque forms. At Wirfn; in the
valley of the Salza, the graves are cover
cd with little oblong boxes, which are
either planted with perennial shrubs, or
renewed with annual flowers; and in ad-
dition some graves are daily strewed over
with freshly gathered flowers, and others
are so in fete-days. Pendent from the
ornaments of most of the recent graves
are also like vases filled with water, in
which the flowers are preserved fresh
Children are seen thus decking out the
grave of lost mother, and mothers
wreathing garlands to hang on the grave
of child. Again, servants thus show
their gratitude ard regret for the loss Of
some kind master or mistress. A tourist
who visited this little village says, that on
going into the churchyard at an early
hour, he found persons employed in these
gentle offices. Ne informs US that the
graves most recently tenanted were not
alone the objects Of this afectionate pur-
suit, but that SONIC which had received
their occupant twenty years before were
covered with fresh nosegays.
It is observed in the "popular antiqui-
ties" that in Glamorgand, South Wales,
it is a very ancient and general practice to
put out flowers on the graves, SO that ma
ny churchyards have something like the
splendour Of rich and various parterre.
mo flowers or even evergreens arc used
but such as are sweet scented: the pink
and polyanthus, sweet williams, gillifow-
ers and carnations, mignianette, thyme,
hyssop, camonile and rosemary, make
up the precious decoration Of this conse-
Grated garden. Turnesolcs, peonies,
the African marygold, the anemony, and
many others though beautiful, are never
planted on graves, because they are not
sweet scented. The writer of the work
above mentioned observes, however, that
this tender custom is sometimes converted
into an instrument Of satire; so that where
Ipersons have been distinguished for their
pride, vanity or any other unpopular qua