The Alleghanian. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1859-1865, 1863-09-03


week we paid visi: to this spot of "hal-
lowed ground" and were really astonished
at the want of improvement and good
,o.te therein manifest. The entire enclo-
mrs has been suffered to grow up in nox-
tou. weeds and brambles, until now it
,resents the appearance, almost, Of a
bowling wilderness. About the only fea-
stures which redeem it from this imputa-
ton are the imposing shafts and stones
that mark the last resting places of NOR
tails who have put on Immortality, and the
grassy mounds that cover them. All the
rest is "disorder unredeemed This, in
spublic cemetery-a cemetery within the
confines of which many of US expect to be
laid for our last rests a wrong state of
affairs. a decent respect for the memory
of relatives and friends who have ''gone
before" should make it incumbent upon
Us to cause the place to be beauti6ed and
adorned. Outward professions and dem
oustrations may not generally be considered
10 constitute very reliable criterion of that
which one really practices or feels but
where one beauties the tomb of father,
or mother. or sister, or brother, or friend
-wreathes chaplet, or plants shrub, or
drops flower upon the same-it is strong
presumptire evidence that he bears within
bis bosom a recollection ot the virtues of
the deceased and of sorrow at his bereave-
nent.
Death, in his most inviting aspect, is
repulsive. But his coming may not be
deferred. He levels alike, at his own
good time, the high and the low, the rich
and the poor, the learned and the un-
learned-dN We can only, therefore,
chant . sorrowful song at his each sue
oeeding visitation, and put on outward
manifestations of grief and mourning
One Of these manifestations, and fit, is
proper besutifyipg of the spot wherein
Is enclosed tho caseof casket of q never
dying soul.
By ,judicious system of adornment,
the Cemetery might be made to prove an
attraction to draw US, once in time, from
the allurements of pleasure and the per
ple1ites of business, to hold solemn, in
s,ructive communion with the dead. And
thus, the lesson might be impressed upon
Al
day, must be called upon to become an
inmate of some city of the dead-warDing
rs to prepare ourselves for the change
from corruptible to incorruptible, "before
1t be forever too late"
A sequestered spot, on gentle emf
hence, where the pure winds of heaven
kiss the dewy fragrance from of the
grassy mounds, and the solemn old forest
n continually sending forth requiems for
departed worth, the natural location and
surroundings of the Cemetery are unsur>
passable. What is needed is little arti-
hclaI aid. Let the weeds and brambles
ee rooted out; let grass s-plots and flowers
spring up in their stead let tie willow
and evergreen be allowed to rear their
heads; open out carriage-drives and foot
walks give the enclosure a thorough
renovation and overhauling-let these
and any other improvements which may
suggest themselves be performed, and
.nen, and not until then, will Ltoyd's
oemetery fully answer the purpose for
which it WAS intended.
1nasmuch as these proposed improve
ments would necessarily involve consider
able expense, and as the sum total thereof
might prove an insuperable obstacle to
'ne pcrfecting of the same by the associa-
'l0a having the Cemetery in charge, it
strikes US that good course to pursue in
'ne premises would be to lift a public
collection. No one, at least no one who
has relative or friend inferred therein,
would refuse to donate a small sum for
'ne purpose herein indicated.
Since the rains of last week, the
oogdays have been at an end The