Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1855-09-03
ST. NICHOLAS HOTEL, NEw YORK, !
August 2s,b, 1855.


August 2slh. 1855. !
In writing only one or two letters from thi'
grea, world ola city. one finds himself 50 besc
with subjects, each claiming with equal importu
nifty his attention, that. bewilaered by their mil
tiplicity. be is almost forced to throw down hi-
pen, and relinquish the intended task. Such i
somewhat the coalition which find myself in
but it is partially relieved BY the circums stance
that have not yet Owed sufficiently deep into
the wonders, the mysteries and magnlcene'
of Gotham, to produce an inextricable eniange
ment amid wilderness oftopics.
Prominent among the objects which have come
under my observation. and one which was TO mo
of intense interest. is that spot Of sad reputc,
but surprising beauty. GREENWOOD CEMETERY;
and if the subject is not too sombre TO suit the
taste of your readers, will devote short letter
10
A RAMBLE IN TIE City OF THE DEAD
Whether the magnificent beauties bestowed up
on this place by the profuse hand OF Nature. or
the exquisite embellishments and decorations it
has received from the hand of Art be considered,
il is equally enchanting has the projections of
both From the one, the most appropriate ar
rangemeut of hill and dale amid which the
tiers of number Of miniature lakes rest in nn
disturbed quiet, and upon which groves of varied
and beautiful trees stand, waving and murmur
ing to the touch of the breeze, and giving out
the melody of many little songster hid amid
their foliage; while everywhere The green carpet
of Nature is embroidered with flowers which grow
aud bloom in rich profusion. Ano then from the
other, what muni6cient endowments The tomb,
the vaat, the monument, the arrangement of the
grounds-for all these unlimited wealth. geuu,
and-ingenuty have been placed in rcqnisition,
and have performed noble part towards zen
dering it Il spot lovely beyond descriptions aud
Nature and Art having thus combined and done
so generous part for this favored spot, it may
readily be imagined that the result Of this com.
bination is onenot often met with in lifetime.
The observer finds here all Gusts Of taste REP
rescnied--from the modest, unpreiendng head
stone 10 the great, massive monument, towering
in carved and gilded splendor, Ike an imperial
mausoeum,
One monument, rather group of muna.
ments, mention especially: and it may be taken
as type of many others. 1t is that of Charlotte
AaHea' u sNhhE nHp was hll4tu ~ ''iHE
thrown from carriage in1he Eth year of her
age. The principal monuments of stately pro.
portions and of curious construction. 1t Is
somewhat of a triangular form. with three sep
arate spires, and is most elaborniely and beauti.
fully wrought In the centre isa large recess
in which stands life size statue of the deceas.
ed All around are a number of smaller mont
ments and illustrtve ornaments, cons picuous a
mong which stand two large statues representing
angels. The whole is princely display of grief
not more poignant than thousands have felt,
whose sorrows are told by some simple flower
unIettered stone. Another monument of much
beauty is one erected by the Fire Department
of New York,in memory OF their companions who
persisted in the discharge of their duty in l5l5-a
noble memento ola noble set of men.
But it is impossible 10 particularze The
Cemetery contains four hundred acres, and it is
everywhere beautiful, almost causingits visiters
to fall in love with DEATH did they know they
could there lay down and be at rest.
The day fed rapidly away, and with my ram
bic unfinished, was compelled reluctantly to
turn away from the quiet City of the Dead, to
the great thronging and busting City of the lv-
ing. A. Med.