The Portland daily press., 1865-06-05
Mouut Auburn, Go.
BOSTON, June 1 1866.

To the Iitor Of the Press;
The great Musical Festival closed with the
performance of HANDLES Messiah an orato-
rio of extraordinary power and deep religion
feeling. As have before stated, it was pers
formance that did ample Justice to this great
work OF master whose fame is worlo- wlde
and more durable than monumental brass
Such music may well prepare one to visit the
'city Of the dead" While the song, kno0
that mn Reiesmer liueth,' is fresh In the
memory. one can stroll among the tombs and
feel some what reconciled to the shortness of
human lie. A visit to Mount Auburn at any
time will always have tendency TO make the
heart better and to improve the taste. This
beautiful cemetery was consecrated in 1881 and
contains one hundred aud thirty acres. Dur
log the last thirty years 1t has been constantly
improving, and now presents splendid pic
ture. A vast amount Of money has been ex-
psnded In making avenues, enclosing graves
and erecting monuments.
These burial grounds have substantial as
well as tasteful appearance. The massive
granite gateway, that opens to the cemetery
affords evidence of the substantial nature of
the work. Its not made Tor this generation
alone, but for all coming time. have never
seen the grounds look so well as they do now.
The grass wears beautiful green, the flowers
are in blossom and the trees are In full Leaf.
The walks are kept in ine order, and every
thing is as nice as the best cultivated flower
garden.
There Is great variety OF tastes displayed
in enclosing the graves and In erecting marble
and granite memorials. Many of these are
very expensive and exceedingly beautiful
From the granite tower, standing on the high
est land in the cemetery, a splendid view of
the grounds and surrounding country will re-
pay him who ascends its winding stairs. The
prospect is truly magnificent. Every day when
the weather is favorable, crowds are strolling
about these grounds, and children are seer
with baskets of flowers to set out over moth
er's or fathers grave.
l saw a young mother, with two little boys,
one carrying basket of flowers and the other
spade. She had taken the wrong avenue,
become somewhat bewildered, and could not
find her husbands grave. She enqnired if
knew where certain avenue was. told her
was stranger in the place. She was anx-
ious, and had been wandering about for some
time in search of the spot SO near her heart.
This shows the extent and the many walks in
this cemetery. 1t is not surprising that one
should become lost among SO many winding
ways a.3si,.. 3 3o,st stess ~, ..as,.st
Among all the beautiful and highly cultivat-
ed places in Boston and its vicinity, there is
no place like Mount Auburn. 1t is one of the
most beautiful spots TO be found on this con-
tinent, and ranks well with Greenwood Gene
terry, or any other "city of the dead" in our
country. A ter viewing these burial grounds
l strolled over The College grounds in Old
Cambridge, and visited S. P. Shaw's residence,
our former townsman, who has located him
self among the Professors of Harvard, and en-
joys life in a reasonable way. He has a fine
residence and a splendid and spacious garden.
Portland was sorry. to lose him, and he says
he finds no such places for snorning rides on
horseback as Munjoy Hill afforded him.
Cambridge is a forest of trees, and there are
many beautiful residences, but the land is too
level, aud there is no such land and water
prospects as Portland affords.
notice the apple trees in the vicinity look
as il they had been singed by hot fire. There
is not green leaf left upon their br anches.
The canker worm has deprecated upon them
tosuch an extent, both last year and this, that
many are cutting them down as cumberers of
the ground. These worms touch no other
trees, but iced altogether upon the leaves of
the apple tree. Great damage has been done
by these pests; for there were wany fine orch
ards ia the vicinity Of Boston, and the pros
pect now is, that these trees cannot survive
such ravages. These worms are confined to
somewhat narrow limits--that is--they do not
extend over the State. Their rayages reach
some ten miles into the country, and beyond
that the apple trees give good promise OF an
abundance OF fruit the easaiss aatunIn.