Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1856-08-01

rrho bonorohv sustained and raised his family by
the pursuit of his calling is not of the peoples
unfriendIy to Mechanics Who can think So
LACKING ont, the air throbs and p,lpitates with
heat while an occasional faint breeze comes in from
the street. hot and parchng as the breath OF the 81
rocco bringing rather torture than relief Now and
then linen clad pedestrian passes, generally at a
brisk pace, for few walk unless compelled by bus-
ness or il pursuit OF some object while at Intervals
a mounted negro punges along at gallop' DONG his
utmost to nure his owners property--all negros are
cruel in their treatment of the brute creation NOW
and then stray vehicle raises dust, which noa's
along hot and sitting and then sinks down. for there
is not sufficient air stirring to keep it long in motion
II is past twelve and after culng over dull ex-
changes, and cudgelng weary brain' we have sue
ceeded in closing the Journal for to-day, and resi-
from our rutess labors, for we feel that our issue is
feeble one, and we care not even to see no" Inc
" form " has been I" made up" Let II 60 Tor the
present We feel almost inclined to " babole o
green fields" and leave behind the dust OF towns ana
the fgura,ive heat and turmoil OF politics.
Week before last we visited quiet spot in the
little town OF Salem, which dwells pleasantly in our
memory. 1t fills our conception of village grave
graves are lowly and over them grows the green
lurf and above them waves the green shade, while
the pomp of monuments and the vanity OF costly
tombs is excuded and all meet TO the eye as hey 10
10 the heart, on common level
Passing through the square in front OF the I'M
mense female school, you go out at Inc upper
corner by quiet back street, and in square or wo
reach what seems to be grove, separated from the
head of the street by fence and gate. Entering
YOU find yourself between two magnificent rows OF
ancient ce lars, which completely over-arch the beau
tfullv raised ian walk in the centre, and the richly
verdant turf on each side The alley is some squares
in length, and is shaded and cool at MONDAY The
burying ground occupies portion OF the space on
one side of this alley, and is entered through PLAIN
wooden gate in plain common fence. All INSIDE IS
plain and even common, but for the natural beauty
the quieu!e and simplicity Of the place. Noble old
cedars stand around, planted in quaint array, regular
but not giving the impression of Stiffness while the
graves deeply grass grown, lie in regular rows, ele
waited uniform height fitted with stones laid fiat on
the head of EACH and of uniform siZe-say IA By 10
inches, and none larger save now and then the dmen
sions seem to be exceeded by some deceased Epsco-
pus" of the Moravan persuasion. The little monu
the wealthiest citizen places over the remains of his
deceased relative nothing larger snowy, nor
expects aught else TO press his feess clay, at
ter it shall have been placed in the bosom OF our
common mother. lvey apd the creeping box here
and there indicate peculiar care, and twining around,
ami mating a grave, generally mark where
some one has lied young and the gentle hand OF a
mother or a lister had planted and watched over the
graceful creepers which cover their last resting
place.
In looking over the square plas in which sleep
the earlier settlers, we were struck by the great
average age reached by those old Germans, coming,
as they did from their quiet DORIS in the Mora
Wan upland, or from Prussia, the minor States.
From seventy to ninety, and upwards, was inscribed
upon very many tombs as the ages OF those who
| sleep below. The present of Salemites live not
so long. Why, we hardly know. Their habits
although we suppose, steady enough, are not SO
simple IN hearty those Of the original settlers.
CivHi=ahon has progressed and with it narrow
chests.
The ruling passion strong in death marked The
manners and habits of these people. We noticed
leaning up against the fence, something resembling
window frames of different sizes, which, after
|
the upheaved graves are modelled into the proper
length, breadth, squareness, and height. Even the
sexes are divided in death, they had been in holy
places during life. On side of the passage OF
pathway the males, on another the females
while the grounds again subdivided into married
and single Juvenile and adult
Perhaps there may be nothing in the place where
one is laid So far or understand
there is nothing the departed but there is much tc
the living. We pass over the lessons it teaches Of
human frailty, and the certainty of death, for it
quires tombstone graveyard to teach us these
things but if abstracted from the world, quiet anc
with nature ii impresses US, if only for time. with
purer and better feelings, makes us camer and more
tranquil and contemplative and it is in this way
that amid the fight ana struggle, and heated interes
of election campaign cooped up in our little den
with the noise of presses and politics around u.s.
til they almost form part of ourselves, we turr
away weared and worried to dwell for time eve:
in thought, amid the peaceful shades where,
Each in his narrow tomb forever laid
The rude forefatherS of the hamlet Sleep
We killed with Brummagen artifcality.
follows to the grave, and barbarous brick ant
morter, and stone and iron at so many dollars
usurp the place of those humble adornments which
best comport with the mouldering of dust 10 dust
ard ashes to ashes. This Moravian grave yard form
a refreshing contrast to such things, which adds
charm 10 the impression not actually found in tn
reality.
y An1o Of ID r.