The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1853-05-31

ceueserv. 10 the use TO which " 10 oe'e ]
W. s..l.xs,v hour more and more that We ".'e
,;.h, in our imposition. This Cemetery nc.
- = ,.s ns,b of the growing city, ana u
~. n.nv;,,s and Central railroads, sha'l a"
-. .x.s,,a,;ons of their friends, and the
I.n,es River canal reach its osis'ha' oes',"a'
r.,;ou. we NAV rest satisfied 'ha'' In a &c"
,.s cemetery will have become an intra-
.,smr.i b,rying ground, liable to all the objec.
.:.ns which have been urged with SO much
nth and force against that species OF nui,
..n.e. Thatportion Of the suburbs OF Richmond
WILL in truth, be the very heart OF the city, and
the ravine which runs through the centre oil
the burying ground, presents advantages for a
system Of sewerage which it is impossible to
Sud any where in its neighborhood. We re.
pret. therefore from the bottom Of our hearts
tina, the gentlemen who made this selection,
should have thought SO little of the future,
should have SO little considered the inevitable
obstruction which their burying ground mus,
offer to the legitimate growth of the city.
We design, in this article, however, to speak
of Hollywood Cemetery as i, is, not TO com
plain of what we find already past hope. The
spot selected is very beautiful-was indeed a
favorite resort of those who love the pic
turesque long before any idea was conceived
of converting it to its present uses. 1t over
hangs the falls, and commands view OF one
of the most romantic scenes 10 be found IN all
this country-a scene which only wants the
finishing touch of historical association TO rem
der il as impressive as any TO be found on the
banks of the Rhine OF the Danube. The uti.
litaran ideas of the present age, and the pro
gress of improvement ~ will soon entirely al
ter the face of Nature SO far as the river and
her hundred isles are concerned. The scream
of the steam whistle will frighten every Naiad
from her haunt, and the puff of the engine will
scatter the gilded clouds of romance. But
the lofty position of Hollywood, overlooking
a boundless extent of land and water, will al.
ways remain tine same. Art has already be.
gun to anticipate the breach which will shortly
be made in nature, and as it cannot retain the
green isle and the sparkling stream in their pri-
mitiye freshness and beauty, it espires 10 sub
stitute its own triumphs in their stead.
Thus far, as we learn from a synopsis Of the
report of the fifth annual meeting which has
been furnished us, the means of the company
have been chiefly expended in levelling, that is
in cutting down and filling up, paving, enclos'
ing, &c. The ornamental work is yet TO begin,
and, as COED beginning is all important, we
hope those who are u take the initiative step
will at least be guided by the principles ofgood
taste. Of this latter quality, there is less, per.
haps 10 this city, than in any other corner OF
the globe this side of Congo, as the construc-
ton of our public buildings, and private too,
abundantly testifes. This is strange, con.
sidering the beautiful scenery, in the midst OF
which we live. One would think taste for
the beautiful would be drunk in at every breath
we inhale, but it seems to be far Otherwise
AS, however, the cemetery has not as yet been
deformed by any Of the usual enormities, let US
hope it will not be. Let the lot holders, and
others concerned, affect virtue if they have
it not. Let them not fall into the fatal delusion
that every thing hich is big is imposing, and
every thing which is costly is elegant Ges
nuine taste is far more simple, and by many
degrees less costly than most of them are apt
to imagine. Let them distrust their own judg-
ment in matters connected with the arts, and
consult some one, in every instance, who has
an eye to the beautiful. We Lope to see no
ties-no incongruous assemblages of figures
which have no recommendation but price-no.
thing Of the shabby genteel, which aspires to
the grand, but reaches only the vulgar. When
you bury friend or a relation, first settle in
your own mind how much you are willing 10
pay for monument, and then get some person
of taste to design and execute it for you. If
you aim to get too much for the price, you in
fallibly perpetrate a vulg arsm, marring the
solemnty of the place, while you sin against
the dictates of taste.
One of the fundamental rules of the asso
citation is that after the original subscribers
shall have been reimbursed, the funds shall be
devoted exclusively to the establishment of
the grounds. They will be amply sufficient
Tor all useful and ornamental purposes, we
presume, as the demand for lots is very rapid.
ly increasing. As we are in the humor for
giving advice, We care not if we expend little
upon those who are to have the general direc.
ton of affairs. Our first and our las, admoni
ton is, do not aim at mure Than Won can do
follow the advice given by Horace to the poet
about to undertake work of imagination-trv
what load your shoulders can carry, and what
they reject. To use vulgar, but expressive
phrase cut your coat according to your cloth
Every thing is in your favor. You have but tc
!, consult nature, and your work is done, Ma.
ture' herself, has already performed the mos,
important part of the labor, in giving you a 70
mantle situation, where flowers. plants an,
trees will spring almost without your care, an,
she asks you but TO spare, instead of DESTROY
ing network. But, above all, do not see k to d,
more than your funds will allow. Pere I,
ohaise was not the work of day, or of a cit,
- small or 80 poor as this.
We observe that after the original sinh
scTibers shall have been paid off the IL
holders are to constitute the Hollywooa q
Inesery Company, and that then the alta;
will be managed by Board of Direc,o,
nine in number nnuua,v 40 l.. -