Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1844-05-24
our yILLACE CEMETERY.

The return Of Spring has reminded US Of a
subject which has long occupied our own thoughts
and 10 which we wish 10 call the attention of our
citizens-the present condition Of our village burial
ground. No place In our village is 80 frequently
visited, both by citizens and strangers, this, and
yet there is that is more unsightly in ITSELF or
that brings so much reproach upon our good taste
and cultivated feelings. II 10 visited from that UNI
versal desire Of the living to lnger about the rest
ing paces Of the loved and lost, and from the mag
nfcent view TO be seen from IT,
Our lovely village, scattered over its irregular
ierraces-the bold and rugged mountain, that rock
ribbed, ls itself so precpitatey from the river bed
on the east--the Connecticut and West rivers wind
ing il placid beauty beneath the rocks that wildly
oyerhane, and the trees that sweetly fringe their
banks.-tbeir highly cultivated valleys, dotted with
flrm.houses, hocks and herds,--the hills, whose
knobby pinnacles rise between the two streams,
and which repose in such majestic quiet against
the northern sky, their sides covered with beautiful
farms, and their SUBMITS crowned with their ma
tive forests-and all forming combination Of wild
and beautiful scenery, scarcely surpassed in New
England-can no where be seen at great an adj
vantage as from the cemetery.
But il is only the view from the cemetery that is
delightful. The view Of it, gives any thing but
pleasure. If the earth ever covered with soft
green grass, !, has long since been rooted out by
the noxious weeds and ugly briaTs, that now cover
its surface. Not tree sends forth IFS grateful
shade invites the warblers of the grove there 10
tune their wood notes Wild Except in a very
few instances shrubbery or flowers have been
planted around the homes Of the departed, by
mourning friends. There is system in the d.
vision of the grounds or the arrangement Of the
graves, and many of the latter left in a rude,
unfinished, uniasteful condition, that seems disre-
spectful to those who occupy their narrow cells
All this is revolving to that instructive respect for
the dead, that is universal feeling Of natures
and has exhibited itself in all nges, among all ma
TONS in every stage Of civilization, and under eve
nv form of religion The effect upon strangers is
extremely unpleasant, and any thing but favora.
bic impression Of the refinement aud good taste Of
our citizens is produced, while know this state
of things is a of deep regret TO many of our
own village.
1t appears to MS that two things required
One is, every person who has friends deposited
there should that the spot that they occupy il
properly cared for. Let the soil be prepared, lei
grass seed be sown, and let flowers, shrubbery, and
trees be planted and nursed until they take root
and grow In this way the cemetery would loose
its present shabby and rePulsive appearance, alho
from the confused arrangement Of the graves, and
the difficulty Of improving burial place already
occupied, il might not be made very beautiful.
The other, and much the most important, is nc
new suggestion. 1t is, that we should have a new
cemetery, enlargement Of the old one. The
wood opposite, on the west side Of the road. is
most admirably fitted for the purpose II has fine
growth of young and thrifty trees. The soil il
light and sandy, of little value for any other pnr
pose. The view from the spot is fully equal 10 tina
from the old one, and the surface Of the ground it
decidedly better. With comparatively little ex
pense il might be made most lovely spot, one tina
would be an ornament TO our place INSTEAD Of re
tproach. VIII not some Of our public spirited cti
zens to this. We shall again adver. to the sub
| ject.