Southern pioneer, and Carroll, Choctaw and Tallahatchie Counties advertiser. (Carrollton, Miss.) 1840-1842, 1841-10-23


most heartess scoffer of virtue and religion
There are to be seen hundreds of new-made
graves, with the earth fresh and negligently
thrown over them-looking as if they who
slept the sleep that never waketh, underneath,
had been but just nurned Then there are to
be seen the rows of newly-dug graves, ready
to receive the first customer-the sexton, like
cunning tradesman, showing himself an adept
IN the business, by having excavations open to
accommodate all sizes.
But we were struck on perceiving that those
distinctions which pervade society in this
country, Notwithstanding our boosted republ-
canlsm is even observed in Potters Field
The difference or distinction to which we al
Jude is this: the man for whom burial fees are
paid by his friends, no matter how vicious may
have been his course of life, or how dissolute
his habits, Is buried IN a grave separate and
apart from all others. With the unfortunate
unknown who died in the hospital, or is sent
there by the corporation, it is different; for all
such large dixie is dug, capable of containing
two collins abreast, and into that the American
freeman, because he has fallen the victim of
misfortuhe's poisoned darts is huddled in COM
/, mon with the most abiect negro slave Well,
indeed, may the scoffer at our institutions pro-
nounce that truly American axiom call men
are born free and equal" humbug.
But our purpose is not to write an essay on
these artificial distinctions which the greatest
sticklers for democracy often uphold; but to
speak of Potter's Field as it is. Of all those
buried in the dikes, of course, nothingis known,
) and there they lie, covered with the clay of
e torgetfuness With those inferred by their
friends, and for whom the burial fees have been
} paid, it is different. At the head of almost
every corpse is a small, rudely constructed
]. pine cross. On this is inscribed, with per-
: feet Indifference of the rules of photography,
/ some memento OF living friend-the epitaph,
in most cases, being the name alone of the de-
! ceased individual. In some instances, how
x ever, affection runs riot, and virtues are as
d crbed to the deceased of which the most ri
n gidly righteous might we'll be proud.
k We saw two things while in the Potter's
5 Field yesterday which made more than a mo-
) mentary impression on our mind One told
5 of the uncertain tenure by which we hold life
l. the other bespoke pure and unaoyed affec.
l. ton.
81 The first is white painted board at the
head of a grave, on which was inscribed, in
: black letters, an epitaph in this wise:
0 /" Sacred to the memory of John Dunn, ma
4 tive Of Edenderry, Kings county, Ireland
e who departed this life -, aged --
, Erected by his affectionate brother, Patrick
f Dunn
Why is that grave so high9" said we, t.
c the polite sexton, who went with through
d the graveyard.
i'd Because" he said, there are two broth
ers buried there, one over the other it wa
" done at the request of him who died last an
at by order of the Mayor, who so far gratified hi
dying wish" The denouement of the stor
"a briefly is, the letters were not we'll dry whic
y, told of Johns death and grave, before Patric
n. himself gave him the fraternal embrace j
death, and shared the same grave with him!
OF The second incident to which we have a
re luded, in this. While looking over the coarse
re ly covered graves, there was one which w
10 stood to admire II was nicely smoothed owe
and covered with green turf, which was a
ready beginning TO grow on it. While there
women, young, but dressed in coarS
ot mourning suit, which told she was widow
ID, came up. We saw sorrow in her eye, "
lly could not but admire the mechanical name
he in which she eVinced her affection for an
3D. paid reverence to the dead.
&c She dropped an evergreen, which she ca
nd ried by her side, and throwing herself owe
ry the grave of her husband, for such the decea
10 led appeared to be, she wept in the funess
10 her heart and most bitterly. There was
le- species of poetry, mixed with poignant so
be- row in her language, as she spoke OF the meri
rst of her dear deceased partner, and Of the 70
ose orn and isolated position which she now o
no cupied in the world
no After copious shower of tears thus sht
ow over his grave, she pulled her beads from h,
YES bosom, and told we know not how many pate
of and aces for the repose of his soul. This don
TO she planted the evergreen at his head, and l.
ley Potter's Field as she entered 1.-THE emble
&c. Of unsophisticated sorrow ard pure conjug
len affection.
ali Descending from mind TO matter--we cou
nes observe that the Mayor very properly h
ity ordered that the graves be all covered wi
lie lime. It is done, and this prevents any u
ost pleasant effluvia which would otherwise ari