Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1861-02-28

~ u7asc for perSoosDAs
Aagag - sAssgAtiess .Ay cay. B.s IL = q
49, nSv~shssss. in which vs all i've 60
eoa ssssw.. asA xAirh owes .seh e lie doc
i.ss - repsisiss character to IL Act. dat
We do sos Ghnfiiariss our nipds With t. But
our oejset in The Prrssns remarks i. not 10 much
W invoke the ed Of divine christian ph,lo.e-
ply !. sxsrsrsins ~ sting ef dsa,h snd ssl<su
ing III terror Of ths grave. ~ 70 isves. ,As hab
isatioa q he dead With the outward array Of
ehe~rfsisess better corresponding with bright
hops Of an asdless life beyond the grave.
sksrs w~s nsskisg sssfsl q shs avail ess
n'e' - Tie ssassri,g esas-qs-scs of death. or
in the Ozark solit6d Il the tomb. the sssdicd care
with vh'ss Ne ezsSs ssrsclves TO invest every
shsg Psrts.a.g sodessAwih the usaoss drsar-
iness ssd gioe.. voeId lp<losd The very sun
shine of Chris,iaa snjoyssn and darhs. the
brightest pa.sages of human sshs~.cc. IA h.s
bs<s ss'd . tAousssd ,ime.. that ,ssA is . sol.
enn and terrible thing, and ,ha, esrefor. The
resting place OF the dead and all N seconps.
nianea,s Of death should wear the a,,,et OF
black and rsyless sadness, caleulaset,s =. inn.
Press the human mind with saiatsry sofsuni.
~. This reasoning 10 un.ound. for q. we -,
minated, 20 faniiiarixe the tho.ghts wia
death u the nost important single step in the
work Of preparing for death. but by rssterine
our graveyards ana cemeteries repuIsi,e to all
and the supreme terror and dread to the young.
We take cour,e we'll calculated to repel frvm
the mind all thought Of death 20 Gar ~ such
thought may be rrpelled. Or suppose this cf
feet should not follow, % the full extent; sup
pose the young should not carefully avoid the
gravey ard. and should even pause and look up.
on the DARK scene the wight Of ,unkea grsves
and unsodded heaps Of clay max ed grav..,ones,
projecting up and giving the idea. in grey ,~i-
light. Of aeoagrcgation Of ghosts. might impre..
the mind with terror. but not probably with
profitable moral rvdection. Such . scene Of
drsoiapon might give color to the chilling idea
Of annfhilation. but not naturally TO . cheering
hope Of Immortality. But let order. ncstness
and tsste prevail in our cew~tcries. let the
gra,eyaris be shrubbcry and flower garden
let spreading shade trees defend from the
beat Of summer-let undecaying eyeryrccns be-
guile winter Of its drearipess- fowers bloom
TO shed fragrance on the tomb Of the Just and
10 smile at the short triumph Of death. and then
shall the calm beauty Of the scene attract while
it. solemnity deeply impress. the heart. A
pleasing awe il felt, not unlike that e, perinced
in looking upon the corpse Of the good man, up
on whose icy fatures beam Of tranquility lin
gers sfier the spirit has left il. prison. And
then, too, while death is rendered no les, solemn.
its aecompaniamcnts invite US to more intimate
familiarity with its serious realities And
while the white obelisk indicates the mortality
Of the body, the fresh csergrecns among which
Il rises, remind Ne Of the Immortality Of the
soul and while the sculptured tomb tells Of
the sorrows and suferinss Of earth. the flower.
that bloom around il tell Of the hopes and bliss
Of heaven. The doctrine that 10 add ARTIFICIAL
tsrrors TO physical death, is productive Of moral
benefits, 10 upsound IN theory and mischiesoas
IN effect Death physically considered, 10 an
object OF terror TO all beings having conscious
existence And the shocking rrpul.i,ene,. Of
our Grayeyards actually causes additional ter
TOR and shrinking from death. even On the part
Of the good man, and thus to some extent. add,
bitterness to the lasi hour, Of life. if not pang
10 death itself True. this may bs regarded as
weakness, but such q weakness M few can
overcome, and should therefore be indulyei and
accommodated.
These remarks are addressed 10 the officer,
aad managers Of our burying grounds " no have
committed TO them their carr and protection.
with the hope that they may have their destined
and Desired eject. But more particularly do
we address the ladies because to them IL espe-
eialy pertains to feel right on this subject. and