Jeffersonian Republican. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1840-1853, 1841-10-27
From the New Orleans Picayuhe.
Potter's Field.

ol Inc lIlendleSS--the nome or the StraDSer-
this repository of the unknown dead! All
there is TO be seen sight which would bring
tears into the eyes of the most stolcal phioso-
| pher--a sight which would summon up thoughts
OF hereafter in the mind of the most hearlIess
| scof1er of virtue and relgon There are 10 be
seen hundreds of w-made graves, with the
earth fresh and negigentIy thrown over them
looking as if they who slept the sleep that new
er wakelh, underneath, had been but just in
urned. Then there are 10 be seen the rows of
newly dug graves, ready 10 receive the first
customer---the sexton, like cunning trades
man, showing himself an adept in the business,
by having excavations open 10 accommodate all
sizes.
But we were struck on perceiving that those
distinctions which pervade society III this coun.
try Notwithstanding our boasied republicanism,
is even observed in Poter's Field The differ
ence or distinction TO which we aIlude 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 dissoue his habits,
| is buried in grave separate and apart from all
others. With The unfortunate unknown who
died in The hospital, or is sent there by the cor
poration, it is different; for all such large dixie
is dug, capable Of containing two collins abreast,
and into that the American freeman, because ne
has fallen the victim of mIslortune's poisoned
darts, is huddled in common with the most ab-
iect negro slave! Well, indeed, may the scoG
fer at our institutions pronounce that truly A
merican axiom. --"all men are born free and
equal"--a humbug.
But our purpose is not to write an essay on
tLoea n 4 ,Ybich tba
stickIers for democracy often uphold, but to
speak of Potter's Field as ii Is. OF all those
buried IN The dikes, of course, nothing is known,
and there they lie, covered with the clay Of for
getfulness 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 small, rudey constructed pine cross. On
this is inscribed with perfect Indifference Of
the rules of photography, some memento Of
living friend---the epltaph, in most cases. being
the name alone of the deceased individual. In
some instances. however affection runs riot, and
virtues are ascribed 10 the deceased of which
the most rigidly righteous might well be proud
We saw two things while in the Pouer's
Field yesterday, which made more than a mo-
menlary Impression on our mind. Que told of
the uncertain tenure by which we hold lfe---the
other bespoke pure and unaIloyed affection.
The first is white painted board al the head
of grave, on which was inscribed, in black
letters, an epiiaph in this wise:
Sacred TO the memory OF John Dunn, a ma
tive of Edenderry, Kings county, Ireland, who
departed this life -, aged -. Erected
by his afectonate brother, Patrick Dunn"
why is that grave so high" said we, to
the polite sexton, who went with us through
the grave yard
Because" he said, "there are two brothers
buried there, one over the other; it done
at the request Of him who died last, and by or
der Of the Mayor who so far gratified his dying
wish"
The denouement Of the story briefly is, the
letters were not well dry which told of Johns
death and grave, before Patrick himself gave
him the lraternal embrace in DEATH and shared
the same grave with him!
The second incident 10 which we have allu-
ded is this. While looking over the coarsey
covered graves. there was one which we stood
to admire. 1t was nicely smooihed over, and
covered with green turf, which was already be-
ginning to grow on H. While there, woman.
young, bat dressed in coarse mourning suit,
which told she was widow, came up. We
saw sorrow in her eye, vel could not but ad-
mire the mechanical manner In which she
1fevineed her affection for, and paid reverence
10, the dead
She dropped an evergreen, which she car
.lEied by her side, and throwing herself over the
gfayeusfs slteE husband, fqrsuch the deceased ap-
peared to be, she @esl in he fulihess of her
heart, and most bitterly. There was species
of poetry, mixed with poignant sorrow IN her
language. as she spoke Of The merits OF her dear
deceased partner, and OF the torlorn and isolated
position which she now occupied in The world
After copious shower Of tears thus shed
over his grave, she pulled her beads from her
bosom, and told we know not how many paterS
and aces for the repose of his soul. This done,
she planted The evergreen at his heat and left
Poiier's Field as she entered il---lhe emblem of
unsophstcaied sorrow and pure copjugal afiec-
tion
Descending from mind 70 matter, we could
observe ,hal the Mayor very properly has or
! dsrcd that the graves he all covered with lime.
(