The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1863-04-30
For the Telegraph.
Giim pses i'm Dixie Lnmd-NO. g..
MEMPHIS, March IA, 1868.

Aside from being a snug built city with a
lively business air about it, also surrounded
by many beautiful suburban private residen-
ces, there is nothing peculiarly attractive in
Memphis. 1t is, however a city that has a
positive character, and this arises no doubt
from its great wealth and the aristocratic tone
it gives in all political and social circles at
the South.
The city contains about fifty thousand in
habitants its markets are very superior. 1t
has two one in the northern and the other in
the southern part, and each of them are very
large. Here are found in abundance all that
the appetite of man could crave, from a fine
cup Of coffee or tea to an uncoOSed quarter of
beef. Everything is neat and cleanly and en-
tirely free OF those unpleasant odors so COM
mon to most markets. This is produced by
good ventilation and a studious effort on the
part of the proprietors of the different portions
Of the entire building at n~eatness and cleanli-
ness.
There is one spot near the city that well
pays the visitor to see. 1t is the cemetery
about three miles to the east. 1t is quite new
and the grass has hardly grown green over
the grave of him who made the municipal gift
of the plat to the city.
The cemetery is a brisk hours walk from
the city. In the pleasant companionship of
young w. ST. visited it the second time. 1t
is said, with much truth, although the remark
is liable to some degree Of criticism, that the
degrees of civilization are marked by theman-
ner of interment of the dead. Few nations
from the most barbarous to the most refined,
but what have some forms and ceremonies
on such occasions. The great cemeteries of
Pierre La Chaise and Montmartre far excel
those Of Greenwood and Mount Auburn, still
| have yet to learn that in point of social, re-
ligious and intellectual refinement the Parish
ans rank higher than New York and Boston.
Speaking Of these things reminds me- as
President Lincoln would say, Of a somewhat
novel scene | saw near the ancient city Of
Alexandria. Riding on my donkey one day
to Pompey's Pillar, | saw in the distance, a
procession raising a dust that assembled hum
dreds Of feet. Pointing to it [ made a mo-
ton to the boy who was running behind
holding on by the tail of the donkey, to steer
for it. He V a certain twist to the tail
which he and his donkey understood, could
not comprehend, and away we went over the
desert on the double quick" There was no
fenccs-not a living thing, animal or vegeta-
bic, but barren sand and at the South and
East the sky closed in as upon the trackless
ocean. At a distance | saw what appeared
to be a vast flock of sheep Of thousands and
tens Of thousand. On nearing the procession
| could not tell whether it was one Of mirth or
mourning-some were playing on rude in
struments like a fife and drum-butt the sounds
were any thing but musical. Others were
dancing and skipping along while still again
in another grOupe, sand was sprlnkled and
thrown upon the heads of their ompanions.-
This | soon learned was a funeral, and we
-e,, o-,rooob;pr +ho ,Croo+ NTozlov, .,o,oo+ary-
of Alexandria. The manner Of burial is sim
ply to scrape a shallow hole in the sand and
deposit the corpse. Over it is then hauled a
slight covering of sand and then is placed
over all a slight mound of lime mortar I'M
mixed with sand. This extends over the
whole length Of the body slightly elevated at
the ends. In the hot sun this soon becomes
hard. At the heads of numerous graves, for
they are all alike, both rich and poor, l saw
numerous old haggish looking women wailing
particularly if any one is near to hear them.
They sit all day long making amost unpleas-
ant and dolorous noise and at the same time
waving their bodies to the time of their ugly
sounds. For this is indeed getting into "a
weaving way"
For all this noise they are paid about one
penny a day. The English custom Of hiring
mourners was borrowed from the Egyptians.
For a stranger to see a funeral cortege pass
ing along in England, the hearse and horses
all covered with tall waving plumes and long
black pieces of Grape falling from the hats Of
the mourners down over their backs, he would
come to the conclusion that some one had
been called home who was deeply mourned.-
But it is all show. They are all Peter Funks
to use an auction phrase, and show as little
feeling in the subject as the horses who draw
them.
/ do not wish to be understood but what
the English mourn the loss of friends as much
as we do, but custom has changed entirely
their manner of showing it. 1t is a very ex-
pensive matter to die in old England.
a good story is told of an undertaken there
not long since, and one of his men, Of whom
he complained for not keeping a straight face
at funerals. His reprimand ran something
after this fashion-~Av'nt l raised your wages
from time to time and it happears that the
hoftner | raise your wages, the more you
! laugh"
But | am getting astray from my subject
E the resting place Of the dead of Memphis.
Is as beautiful as one could wish
who feels his drapery about him
Aud lies down US if to quiet slumber