Minnesota weekly times. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1854-1859, 1854-07-04
THURSDAY, JUNE 20, 1854.


OAKLAND AND GkEENWOOD CEMETERIES
Nothing more strikingly illustrates the charac
ter of people, than the attention they pay to tn,
sacred spot where repose the remains of the
dead. There they meet to commune with the de.
parted-there they are made sensible of the frail.
ty of life-there Hope buoys up the heavy-heart.
ed, and whispers words of comfort-there
alone, shut out from the noisy yclamor of the world
the mourner watches beside the tomb, and guards
the flowers that bloom uponit. The spot is sa-
cred-sacred to all, for all alike must soon peo-
pie its vaults.
Often have we been grieved in passing through
some busy village or bustling city, to behold the
grave yard desecrated by vile interlopers, whose
jeers and obscene language made us turn away
with disgust. And often too, have we seen the
rude cattle trampling down tn. little mound, per-
haps erected by mothers careful hand, or the
marble slab, mutilated and defaced, leaving no
mark whereby the orphan boy, in distant lands,
can trace out the place wher slumbers the last Of
his kindred, or even her, wlo in infancy Graded
him upon her bosom. And there too, is the tomb
of the stranger friend, far from his own dearly
loved home-from his affectionate parents, his
gentle sisters, his manly brothers-there it is, in
some lone spot, desolate and deserted. This
should not be so. The grave yard is place of
thought, and although We may try to stihe our
feelings, still the heart sciu 60 back to the past
"reminiscences ariN crowd in upon the mind, and
forms once familiar to the eye will again and
again fit before the vision. 1t is here that we
hold converse with the departed-it is here that
we love tog go, away from the busy scenes of life
it is here that at last we must all slumber and it
is here the kindly hand of remembrance should
adorn the tombs beneath which sleep those who
were wont to mingle with us in the scenes of our
existence.
Thoughts such as these were suggested on read
ing the advertisement of the oakland Cemetery
Association in another column, which association,
it appears have been moved to purchase forty
acres of beautiful undulating land, studded with
trees, groves, &C., lying within mile of the city,
and which is admirably adapted fo: the purpose
for which it is intended. Here, it is the intention
of the association to lay out the groundwork for
q cemetery, such as becomes civilized, intelli-
gent, refined community, and to facilitate their
operations, DR.. THOMAS FOSTER, a gentleman we'll
and favorably known to our citizens, has been
appointed actuary and general agent for the sale
of lots. A plat of the ground can be seen at the
office of DR.. Foster, on the second feor of the
Times Building, where he can be consulted rela-
tive to the matter.
By reference to the advertisement it will be
obseved that this is not speculative concern, for
the money procured by the sale of the lots is to be
applied towards ''fencing, improving and embel-
fishing the grounds" and also to ''defray the ex-
penses in the management and care of the same''
An enterprise so laudible is worthy the attention
of our citizens, and it is a source of pleasure to
us to know that a sufficient interest has already
been manifested to induce the Association to 90
on in the consummation Of their original plans
With early and proper attention OAKLAND GENE
Terry can be made to equal GREENWOOD, and who
that has wandered through the beautiful groves,
silver lanes and over the mossy mounds of this
enchanting place, would not be willing to contrib
ute literally towards theadornment of Cemete-
~ of like nature in our midst? We cannot call
the attention of our readers to the beautiful mon
uments in Oakland Cemetery, our territory is too
young and healthy for his, but we can 60 to
Greenwood and there loiter away an hour or two
in useful meditation. Go with us, and when you
return we hope you will feel more favorably dis
posed to embellishing the spot which sooner Or
later must coutain the mortal remains of many
who now tread the thoroughfares of life.
About two years ago, in company with young,
light-hearted cousin of Is, Tin whose domestic
circle death had never entered) we passed over
the rough thorougfare, in an omnibus well filed,
on our way to GREENWOOD CEMErERY-the City
of the Dead Then, the joyous laugh sent a
thrill of rapture to the heart, and life wore one
bright CLEAN of sunshine and joy. No dim rec
election of the past threw shadow over the fair
brow of her whom we speak, for then the heavy
tread of Death had not yet echoed through the
chambers of her old homestead-nor had the fu-
neral bell toed forth its sad requiem, telling that
loved one had passed away! Two short years
how changed the scene! Again we stood at the
portal of the massive gate that shut out from the
hoarse jests of the scofer, the sleeping dead =
Again came the sound of the death-knell and
again we entered all was hushed and still
We will pass silently along, (for this is no place
to others to be seen, but rather holy place
for thought,) and as we ramble, let the reader
follow us. The first attractive feature as you en-
ter Greenwood, and which renders it so lovely, is
its uneven yet beautifully and symetrically mould
ed surface. 1t is located on prominent piece Of
land, tending upward, (what pleasing idea) fal
above the level of the sea and the noise of the
yilla-e near by. The gentle and invigoratine
breeze from cid ocean, whose expansive bosom il
overlo,;sLs, and the murmuring of whose waves
fall upon the Cd. of the listener, and the delight
full breath of the sea, cnspire to give the place
pure and healthy atmosphere, un..iike that always
found in the city burial grounds. vide, wei
graded paths lead to all parts Of it-over hll,.
through the dale, shaded by the branches of the
tall native forest trees, who lovingly clasp each
other and shut out from the weary mourner, the
rays of the noon-day sun, or the chilly dews Of
evening. On the sloping sides of every mound
are sprinkled graves, around which bud and bios
som the violet, the pink, the lily and the rose
watered and nourished by the tears of affection
Above them rears the lofty tablet; or, if humbl,
in life, the plain marble slab, impressing upor
the mind of the beholder, oh how forcibly i'm
pressing the fact, that he too in little tim,
must come and make his bed with them! Fa
above the lowy tombs, lifting its very peak to tn
blue heaven, that smiles serenely over it, stand
yonder stately monument! Let us draw near ant
ascertain whose memory it commentaries. Reat
= Erected by the Firemen's Association of New