The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1853-08-30
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pcopic nave entrusted with the pro-
lection of the lives, the health, and
prosperity of the citizens, We be-
licvc that there is no functionary who
will not be justified, nay, applaudcd,
for assuming the necessary powers to
supply whatever deficiency there
may be in the law, in meeting the
demands Of this present affecting vis-
itation.
we take pleasure in saying that
his Honor, the Mayor, was on the
ground at this cemetery, superintcn-
ding and Fastening the work of in.
tcrmcnts.
With heavy heart, and a
gloomy mind, We left this lazarctto,
only to encounter scenes of affliction
and death, even more narrowing with
ont. For the disposition Of the
body, when the vital spirit has aban-
doncd 1.-THE mere clayey tenement
OF the 5oul--wc confess that VIC do
not feel that sentimcntalism which is
a prevalent feeling. We think that
the system of burials, as practiscd in
this city, is calculated to render that
molc of disposing Of the dead, which
permits their bodies to rot and
melt away, food for filthy worms, and
sources of pcstilcntial cdors, far less
agreeable to the thought and feelings
of a refined, intelligent being, than
the Roman custom of burning the
dead and lnunrlny their ashes. In
this city, the introduction of this
system, rcpulsivc as it IS to a
prejudice, which has no reason
to rest upon, would be a public ben.
eft.
Bnt the scenes which touch on:
hearts more deeply and nearly, arc
those which met our Wow, as we
passed down one Of the thorough
fares to this cemetery, (Which is but
one of a half dozen in our city.).
7lIearses, without a solitary mournef.;
:dtlyerlhgsne :5roes. e, lln auena hale,
asleep, and drawn BY horses near.
ly foundercd by the severity Of their
toll; others, that were followed by
trains, Of iliends--by women car,
rying their children, and bv men
with countenanccs too often display
ing more lcvity than sorrow! Now
and then there would be corpse fol-
lowed by single carriage, contain
ins the small circle of the dcccascd's
family and friends, who, in their mis-.
cradle, woc,begonc countcnanccs,
exhibited real distress.
But the most moving of all sights,
was that of the corporation carts
driven by rough cartmcn, in some
cases by boys, bearing, generally
three grim black collins, upon
one end of which sat the driver.
These we're the collins of the dcs.
t'tutc, the forlorn poor, who had no
friends to mourn for them. and who
were consigned to the horrible burial
OF the corporation. But even they
sometimes have their mourncrs.
There, at least was one, which we
confess drew tears to the eyes of ma
ny a bcholdcr. In one of the COR
poration carts was solitary coffin; it
was driven by boy who cndeavorcd
to accelerate the progress of a la
zy horse, by blows and oaths; behind
the cart, i'll the blazing sun, walked
q girl grown. clad in an old mourn
ing dress, and leading by the hand
small boy, ten or twelve years Of
age. They were all that were left of
family, which, last week, numbered
some half a dozen members; this was
their father, and they were accom-
pany him to the grave!
Poor creatures! they were incon.
solablc and all we could say to dis
snadc them from their weary iourn.
cy of more than two miles, through
the hot sun, to the Lafayette GENE
terry only elected the plaintivc
cry: "Alon pauvrc pcrci mon paure
PEREZ They were immigrants, who
had arrived but a few months q.
60 from France.
Such incidents, and others equal.
ly distressing, met our eye in cv.
cry direction. They proclaimed what
alas! is too apparent in q hundred 9th.
er forms, that New Orleans is now
groaning under one of the most
awful pcstilcnccs that ever scourgcd
a community.
A Hint FOR IIoUsEKEEpERs. -