Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1856-05-24

wlfe, and below Is large daguerreo-
type set in the marble. The effect is
very pretty and the design appropriate.
Elbridge Gerry, formerly Vice Presi-
dent, who died in 1914, at the age of
10, while on his way to the Capitol, to
take his seat as President of the Senate,
has a richly ornamented monument in
the old style, which was erected by Or
der of Congress. He realized his own
memorable words, which constitute the
epitaph engraved on his tomb, and were
as follows 1t is the duty of every
citizen, though he may have but one day
to live, to devote that day to the good of
his country"
Near by is another, erected to tho
memory of George Clinton, also once
Vice President 1t consists of massive
granite pedestal and obelisk surmounted
by an iron torch holder the taste dis
played in which is to be doubted.
PGsi-ma-ta-ha, Choctaw chief who
died at Washington in 1924, has plain
granite cenotaph, erected by his brother
chiefs.
The celebrated eccentric Lorenzo Dow
is said to have been buried here, but |
was unable to find any clue to his resting
place
Many of the stones contain no names.
and are probably on family lots. The
inscriptions on such are sometimes very
pretty and affecting Among these I
noticed the following: "My wife and
children" (This neat little shaft, orna-
mented with doves and roses, contains
six simple names, and tells the mournful
story Of some husbands and fathers ter
rible bereavement.) I" My Dear Wife"
is repeated in several parts of the ground.
The single word Willie" stands alone
on one tasteful slab; my Husband and
our Children" on another; " Our dar-
ling Boy" and "Our Father" with no
other record, are to be seen on various
stones and monuments, of all sizes and
designs, while kneeling cherubs and
sleeping lambs, in marble and plaster,
are scattered profusely around.
Some of the epitaphs or inscriptions
are exceedingly pretty and suggestive.
! can give but few. One stone contains
only the following sentence. peace to
the spirit of i s." Another.
81 know that he shall rise again" A
third, His sun &ent down while it was
yet day" On the monument to a Rus
sian lady, "She lived to sec troubles !;
she died to comprehend God and eterni-
/ ty." Another reads as follows: my
husband thy memory is to me what the
dew is to the rose"
But | have reserved for the last what
to me was the most interesting and af-
fecting of all the scenes on which / ac-
cidentally came during the half day
spent in this holy ground In retired
spot small space is entirely surrounded
by high brick wall, much dilapidated,
and showing that no care had been be-
slowed upon it for years There is no
mound inside, and a few rose bushes
have been suffered to grow wild and I'M
trimmed in either corner. just against
one side Of the wall, as if carelessly
thrown down, leans a small square slab
of marble, on the upper portion Of which
is engraved, in capital letters, the single
word q Gentle" Beneath this are the
following lines:
. The cup Of life just 10 his lips he pressed,
Sgpnd the draft bitter and declined the rest "
This is certainly a strange and weird
record, but of what, and whom could
have mused for hours beside this singular
sepulchre, and fancy would have recrea-
ted many a romantic history; but spec
ulations were in vain, and the shades OF
evening warned me that must leave the
quiet and peaceful habitations of the
dead, and retrace my steps 10 the abodes
of the living, 10 ininglc again in the pas
sions and duties of those who might become
better and wiser if they would do as
have done, pass an occasional halliday
in the Congressional Cemetery at Wash
ingtOn.