Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1842-12-09
DECORATING THE GRAVE WITH
FLOW Frs,

DECORATING THE GRAVE WITH
FLOWERS.
There is a kind of pathos and touching
tenderness of expression in these sweet aud
fragrant emblems of affection, which language
cannot reach and which is calculated to per-
petuate kind Of soothing sympathy be-
tween the living and the dead. They speak
of chords of love, too strong for even the
grave to break asunder. This practice no
doubt gave rise to the ancient custom which
prevailed in the East of burying in gardens,
and is one which conduces to the grati6ca-
cation of the best feeling of our nature 1t
prevailed generally in and about the Holy
City, and also among the Modes and Per-
SLAMS, Grecians and Romans. The Persians
adopted it from the Medes--the Grecians
from the Persians. In Rome, persons of
distinction were buried in gardens or fields
near the public roads. Their monuments
were decorated with chaplets and garlands
Of flowers.
The tomb Of Achilles was decorated with
amaranth the urn of Philopemen was COW
cred with chaplets the grave of Sophocles
with roses and ivy; that of Anacreon with
ivy and flowers. Baskets of lilies, violets
and roses were placed on the graves of hus-
bands and wives, white roses on those Of
unmarried females In Java, the inhabitants
scatter flowers on the graves Of their friends
This custom is of very ancient date. The
natives Of Surat scatter fresh flowers on the
graves of their saints every year.
In Tripoli, the tombs are decorated with
garlands Of roses, of Arabian Jessamine, and
orange and myrtle flowers
In Schwytz, village in Switzerland, the
graves are covered with little oblong boxes,
which are planted with perennial shrubs, or
renewed with annual flowers aud others are
so dressed on fete days Suspended from
the ornaments Of recent graves, are little va
SEES filled with water, in which the flowers
are preserved fresh. Children are often seen
thus dressing the graves of their mothers
and mothers wreathing garlands for the
graves Of their children.
There is beautiful little church-yard in
Wirin, in the valley Of Salza, in Germany.
A late traveller, on going early in the morn
into this church-yard, saw six or seven per-
sons decorating the graves Of their friends,
and Of some who had been buried twenty
years. What a delightful and profitable
school for the affections, would such scenes
afford the visitors Of American cemeteries
This custom also prevails in Scotland and in
North and South Wales. An eptaph there
says -
"The village madens 10 her grave shall bring
The fragrant garland each returning spring.
| Selected sweets emblem of the maid
Who underneath this hallowed turf is laid"
| In Wales, children have snow drops, prim-
roses, violets, hazel bloom, and shallow bios
SONS OH their graves. Persons of mature
years have tanzy, box, ivy and rue In South
Wales, no flowers or evergreens are permit
ted to be planted on graves, but those which
are sweet scented Pink, polyanthus, sweet
williams, gilli-fowers, carnations, mignion
cite, thyme, hyssop, chamomile and rosemary
are used.
In Easter week, most graves are newl,
dressed, and MANFRED with fresh earth. Ii
, Whitsuntide holy days, they are again dress
sed, and MANFRED with fresh earth In Whit
suntide holy days, they are again dressed
weeded, and if necessary, re-planted. NJ
person ever breaks or dsturbs flowers thu
planted. 1t is considered sacrilege. To tn,
shame of some depraved.. wretches, | saw
evidence that it is not so in New Haven.
In Cabul, buryng-grounds are held il
!. great veneration, and called "Cities of tn
Silent" The Jews call them "Houses o.
the Dead" The Egyptians visited the grave
: of their friends twice week, and strewe,
sweet basil on them, and do to this day
While the custom of decorating grave
and grave-yards with flowers, and ornamen
q tai trees and shrubs, has prevailed so lon!
S and extensively among ancient and modern
t civilized nations, some Of the American alb
y origines will not permit weed or blade O
t grass, nor any other vegetable, to grow upol
e the graves of their friends. With few eS
d ceptons there has hitherto been in our coun
: try strange remissness on this subject, whc
# would surprise the heather. Graves an
: church yards are left to the course Of grad
c ua diapidation and decay, which ever fol
v lows in the train of moral degradation.
;, Ne0 UdUen Palladium
= LAwYERs.-The October number of tn
u Democratic Guide, in reviewing the proceed
: ings of the late long session of Congress