The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1855-08-18
OBJ Weeklg Miunssutian.

obj wseklg Miunssotiun.
From sur Philadsiphia Correspondent.
PHILADELPHIA, July Fl, 1855.
There are many beautiful cemeteries around
Philadelphia which are as much to be noted as
objects Of attraction to q stranger as many OF
her public buildings and handsome parks.
The custom Of 'nterring the dead in the city
has almost passed away. We now rarely see
The fresh made grave as we GO by the old bury
ing grounds to be met with on some OF the
streets and in connection with the churches
ereetea in the earlier settlement OF the city.
We rather look upon these as the sacred re-
positories of the ashes of former generations
the resting places of our fathers-while the
present generation prefer to select some spot
IN those of more modern date, which have
been adorned ond beauti6ed by the taste and
skill Of man. There are many honored names
to be seen upon the tombs in these old grave
yards, and we sincerely trust that no wanda
lion, however valuable foot Of ground in the
city may yet become, will so far possess those
claiming an ownership in them as to induce
them to disturb the remains of those buried
there. In referring to these grounds we may
mention fact which is not generally known
even in Philadelphia, mean in reference to the
spot where Benjamin Franklin, the printer and
philosopher, is buried. On simple slab Of
If Christ
Church grave yard, which occupies the south
side of Arch street, between Fourth and Fifth
streets, may be seen his name and his wife 8
with no inscription only their ages and the
time when they died. Very few of the hun
dreds that pass daily along by the old brick
wall on that corner are aware that within
few feet of them lie the remains of one so dis
tinguished in his days, and whose name we
still love to cherish and hold up as an exam.
pie Of selfculture to the young man just start
ing out In the world to work out for himself a
career of usefulness and eminence.
Among these modern abodes of the dead
which are an ornament to the city and objects
of interest to those visiting it, Laurel Hill
ranks as the first. Indeed it may. for beauty
Of location, scenery and plan of arrangement,
compare with any other in the country. 1t has
claims, we think, which are not connected with
ola higher style of Improvement, but wanting
the wild romantic appearance that always
gives greater degree Of attraction TO place
Of burial. Originally Lawrel Hill only con-
tanned twenty-seven acres, though more have
been added since it was first constructed
Greenwood Cemetery, on Long Island, which
think includes four hundred acres, and Mount
Auburn, near Boston, another Of the largest,
must Of course be laid out on more extensive
plan than any in Philadelphia; but yet
neither of these have any scenery so pictur-
esque as Lawrel Hill. Nature has given it an
attraction which the improvements of art rath.
er destroy than create. It is one of those re-
tired sweet spots that seems as if it was de-
signed by nature as place of repose for the
dead.
It is situated about four miles from the more
thickly built portion of the city, lying on the
banks Of the Schuylkill with ledge of rocks
extending along down on tho sido ncxs the
river. In these rocks vaults have been made
In many places or tombs hewn out, reminding
one of the old mode of burying the dead in
Eastern countries. This side of the cemetery
is also shaded by growth Of trees planted by
the hand of nature, and interspersed among
the rocks and along the sides of its winding
paths may be seen the wild shrubbery growing
with the wild flower here and there in bloom,
while just below glides the gentle Schuylkill
as if murmuring requiem to the dead buried
on its banks; SO that everything around, while
one fingers here, is calculated to make you
forget the busy and exciting scenes Of the city
and awaken feelings and sentiments of better
things. The many beautiful monuments in
this cemetery show high degree of taste and
skill in their design and execution, as we'll as
the affectionate remembrance of the dead by
surviving friends. But while we mention
Lawrel Hill more infinitely, the others are in
some respects, if you except the natural scene
~ connected with it, quite as beautiful.
One of these ia Woodland cemetery, com.
prising eighty acres, also located on the banks
Of the Schuylkill on its western side. It is not
yet filed with many tombs or monuments, be-
ing only few years since it was first planned
and opened for the sale of lots. It is surround
ed by substantial stone wall, and the own
ers of the grounds are now putting up a
very handsome and costly entrance way. 1t
will In time be very generally used as place
of burial by many in the city. 1t has new
some very beautiful monuments, and the walks
and ratings around the tombs show that no
pains or cost will be spared in making it rank
among the most attractive in the country.
A new one, eaid to be used by some in pref
erence to those nearer the city, and regarded
a. q retired and charming spot, has been
opened within the last two years just hey ond
the Woodlands" called Mt. Moriah. Besides
these we have "Gleenwood," the "Odd Eel
lows Monument" and others, all embracing
very beautiful grounds and arranged with
much taste. 1t is pleasant to see so much at
tention paid to the remains of departed frinds
No where in Europe, it is said, have they so
large and beautiful Cemeteries accessible to all
classes able to purchase a spot, and Europeans
are surprised when they visit our Greenwoods
our Laul ell Hills and our Mount Auburns. to
zee the care displayed in those Settles of the
dead" to keep alive the memory of our buried
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