Pomeroy weekly telegraph. [volume] (Pomeroy, Meigs County, Ohio) 1860-1866, 1861-08-02
PoMEROY oHIo FRIDAY AUGUST 1861

In the process of widening one of tn
old streets of New York, in the winte
of 1S47, the line of improvement run
ming through the edge of church yard
a most remarkable incident occurred
that seemed at the time little short Of ;
miracle. Among those who had occa
sion to attend to the remains of friend:
or kindred, lying in that portion of tn.
yard, was resident of one of the street:
leading from the Bowery, whose mother
had been inferred there eighteen year:
previously. On opening the ground
the coffin was found to be in a remark
able state Of preservation, and in pla,
cling lines around it and raising it to
the surface, great surprise was excited
that its weight exceeded that of newly
buried corpse. Surprise was changed
to absolute wonder at the spectacle that
greeted the sight on removing the lid,
for there lay the body, like statue of
marble or alabaster, fuller in its pro-
portions even than in life, the entire
flesh changed to pure inodorous sub
stance like the whitest wax or sperma-
ceti. 1t was placed in coffin, at hand
for the purpose, removed to Harlem and
buried; but the story found its way into
the newspapers, and the son, fearing
| that some Barnum might be tempted to
steal away the remains of his parent,
had them again disinterred and re-
moved to his dwelling, until such time
as the excitement would die away, and
it would be safe to recommit them
to the earth. Instances Of this kind, it
is said, are Of very rare occurrence, and
this is. perhaps, the most remarkable
one on record. y quantity of adipose
matter, similar to that referred to above,
was discovered in the brea king up of a
cemetery, at Paris, a few years since,
and the experiment was tried Of con-
vertlng it into cundlcs; novel mode,
truly, of making H7M ef the departed
Greenwood, the Oldest of our cemo-
teries, still continues to take precedence
Of its many rivals in the vicinity Its
first visitors, in the summer Of 1889, at
tracted to its quiet shades by an elito-
rial in Nooh's Eccning Star, while
charmed with varied loveliness around
them when in little else than state of
nature, did not dream to what pcrfec-
ton nature and art combined could
bring this beautiful city Of the dead. "
Seven years ago it seemed past improve
ment, but each succeeding year has
added something to its grace and beauty.
\ volume of choice engravings Was once
published, entitled The Beauties of
Greenwood.' It was but the preface to
what would be required in such work
now, to do anything like justice to the
subject. There seems 10 end to the
number of tasteful memorials Of the
dead, from the most minute mcmento
apon the grave Of child, to the lofty
and richly scrlpfurel column. Every
variety OF mateai sIitc,i for mouumen-
tai architecture, Including specimens ot'
lie grained and doIicatcly shaded stone
formerly unused for such purpose,
have been brought into velnsi1ion; even
the rough m4teriaI, granite, wruugh,
into the most graceful forms. with a
tnish little inferior to that O.. marble.
Flowers, i'll their various seasons,
From the lis. white snow-droa to tho last brown
flower
Fh..; leans lis win .r eli 'c> autunn's breast"
are in perpetual bloom; anl even at ni4-
winter, III their fullest perfect, brought
t!"m the cUAservatories Of the city and
vicinity, tlleT may be seen unon the
graves, al instance OF this occurs to ne
AS | write. Upon the slope Of the high
oamk near the Sylvan Water is the grave
81 Il young lad y, descendant aud who
bore the name uf one OF the naval heroes
of 1872. The seasons OF ten successive
years have PASSED since she was laid in
her place Of repose, but no week has
gone by. even when the ground was
covered with il mantle OF snow, that has
not seen some fragrant memorial upon
her narrow home, placed there by
mothers hand, prompted by that most
undyiny Of all earthly passions,
mothers love.
The visitor, on leaving the grounds,
hnls it impossible to retain even faint
Of how much there is, at
every footstcp, to charm the eye No
one who enters them for the first time.
however high his anticipations may
have been excited, ever comes away
with a feeling of disappointment. Even
to Bostonlins, carrying with them fresh
memories Of Mount Auburn, cannot see
how Greenwood could be improyed-
The most favorable time, above all
others, for visit, is the latter part of
May and the first Of june, when, in ad-
dition to the freshness OF the spring ver-
dure and the numerous flowers of the
season, the dogwood trees, Profuse!y
scattered III every direction, are covered
with their snow-white blossoms. Much
has been said at various times, and by
many writer's, of the charms Of Green
wood, but to my mind, nothing has ever
excelleI the following, by William Ross
Wallace, an occasional contributor to
the current literature Of the day -
'Hcrc a re the houses of the dead. Here Youth
Ard Age, and Manhood stricken in his strength,
Hold solemn state, and awful silence keep.
pause aad think
\ mong these walks lined with the frequent tombs
For it is very wonderful. Afar,
ihc, ropnloUs. city L'ts its tail, bright spires,
\ nd snowy sails Giancng the bay,
As il in mcrrim 2ut.-but here all sleep.
They sleep, these c.In, pale people Of the Past
: Spring plants her rosy feet on tn .r dim homes
They >ic"p.--Swecl Summer comes, and calls, and
With all her passionate poetry of flnwcr',
Wed to the music Of the soft south wiId--
They sc"p!-'rhr lonely Autumn AMI sobs
md the cold white IOmhs as t her heart
Would brcak-thcy sleep!-Wtd Winter comes and
y requiem o'sr< the dying year,
They sIu'nosr srI!-%ietpGss; o, passion"s' dead;
And majesty the living never own.
The sire shall come.