Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1849-1856, 1849-08-23
VOL. XXX. NO. 20
Friday, dug. IL,

UPThe accounts in the New York papers
relative to the present condition OF Potters
Field, is truly horrible they harrow up all
the feelings of our nature, and make humani-
ty weep. Hundreds of bodies are lying on the,
ground, uncovered, with not an inch oil dirt
over them. The stencil is so horrible mat
one can hardly breathe within half a mile Of
the place. 1t is shocking in this so called en-
lighlened age, to know that the d. ad are de-
MED decent burial "a covering, alter death
from the gaze of the world and the knawings
of Buzzards. In Heather Mythology we
learn that Charon, a god of Hell, and son of
Erebus and Night, conducted the souls OF the
dead in boat over the rivers Styx and Ache
ron, to the internal re .ions. But he convey
ed no one without their tribute, and 1t was a.
custom among the ancients in preparing the
dead for burlal, to place piece of money un'
der the tongue for Charon
When departed soul presented herself ior
passage in his boat, he first inquired wheth-
er the traveller could furnish the requisite fee;
and if il should happen that the obolus had
been forgo ten, the poor soul was left to wan
( der on The gloomy shores hundred yeas be-
fore being conducted over the river and such
as had not been honored with funeral weIc
subjected TO the same penalty.
"A hundred years they wander on the shore,
At length, their pennance do'e, are waited
o'er."
4Eneas, Lib. G.
Among the ancicnts, it IVES considered an
inexpressbe cruelty to deny to the dead
burial and for this reason, all great comman-
ders were careful, after battle, to inter the
= bodie. of those whose lives had been lost IN
their service. No living person was received
into Iha,on boat, unless he could show q
golden bough which he had received from the
( Sybil as passport. Yet II is said that I'm
cas- by his pie,y, Hercules and lheseus by
their yal,.r, and Orpheus by his music, obtain
ed the privilege OF passing TO and fro IN old
Charon's ferry boat.
If such was the custom ofthe Ancients, as
taught in Mythology, ought we not, in mod
ern times, and in this age of refinement and
Christian civilization. to be ashamed OF the
condition of our burial grounds, in the large
cities, and the brutal manner of dlsposing o'
the remains Of those who are dropping OF
atouni US, like the folinge OF the forest IN Au'
tumn. Even poor De Begnis would have
been deprived the rite ETA decent sopulture'
few days since, al Greenwood Cemetery, ha'
i, not been for his brother artists, who, VIII
their own hands, caleiully threw the earl'
upon his body. But the poor and the trend
less, oh, they are hurried uncerimoniou7i
along, amid the noise and confusion OF til
crovd. with no moistened eve TO take Las
look at the beloved, no warm hand to pres
the cold forehead, and no true beating hea'
,o swell with deathless devotion TO the depar
ed. and with warm lips to imprint the las
kiss OF affection upon lips that can return
no more.
The common feeling is,
There's grim horse hcarse in a jolly roun
Y trot,
To a church-yard paupcr is going wot;
rhe road it is rough and the hearse has
springs
, And bark to the drgc the sad driver sings.
Rattle his bones over the stones,
He's only a pauper wi lom nobody owns.
oh, vbere are the mourners alas there q
none,
lie has Icf, not gap in the world, now h
gone
No, a, cat in the eye of child, woman or mar
Z Tothe 9, ave with his carcass aS tas! IA you c'
Rattle bis boncs over the stones,
He's only pauper whom nobody own
Wha, a jc,tirg and er,aking tnd Il la.h'
and din,
The wnip how it cracks-thc wheels how Il
spin;
How the dust, right and left DER hedges
huri'd,
The ptupcr at length makes a noise in the wo'
Rattle his bones over the stones,
Hes ONLY raupcr whom nobody owns
Yet there is spark till alive in some
SONS. and there are a few hearts that
shuddtr over such inhumanlty, and WHO
with the poet in hl- concluding verse;
But truce TO tins strain ior my soui " " sau,
To think that heart in humanity ciad.
should make like the brute such defolate Q
And depart from the light without leHvin
friend.
Bear softly lis bones over tho stones
Though paupcr, he's ono Uho~ a" Ma@''
OpHA
No matter what may be mans cond'
or his standing, in the name OF heaven
for human ,y's sake, in clviiiaed age an
christian and pny le, him have earhs