Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1865-12-23

The following article taken from the
Richmond Examiner, will be read with
interest -
THE TWO CITIES.
On one of those still, balmy Indian
summer days. inciden, to the autumn
time. with mind weary a. the strife OF
men, our feet slmos, unbeknown 10 our
senses, struck the broad pathway that
runs unIrodden from this buslling city OF
the Iving.,o that ancient city Of The dead
hollywood. Before US was The varIega-
ted autumn grave, with here and there
arising cut Of it's midst the white marble
monuments and spires that marked The
abodps Of The dead behind US looms the
smoky city, with spire and tower that
rose above the roar of the surging street.
the strife Of living men and feet. And
what are these avenues but streets. these
tombs but The houses Of the dead, and
these inscriptions but the names oil The
,speechIess dwellers therein
|. 'For death is but change Of residence,
To one new fitted up, not far away"
And here. as in yonder city. the opu-
Ilence, wealth, or taste Of the dweller can
be detected in the surroundings. Here
the marble pile
"The storied urn and animated bust"
and dead mementoes reared by the hand
of love, find their parallel in the palallal
dwelling. Of tie living rich; while the sun
ken unleuered graves how painfully typi-
cal of the homes Of he poor. AS one in
living city seeking the ABIDE OF friend.
SO we. single pedestrian upon desert
ted street. wandering up and down lhe
avenues of the dumb. voiceless city, read
ing as i, were the doorplates on The por-
tails OF these narrow houses OF the dead.
But unlike the portals Of the city OF which
this is the silent counterpart. death has
written over each. "no ahmiIlance. Be-
yond the thresholds none may pass; but
gaze, weep, place the offering OF affection
at the gate. as it were, and depart. The
dweIIers are asleep; the blinds are drawn;
the portals are barred This sleeping
city awaits the dawning of the eternal
morning. the blast Of the trumpet from the
skies. Then shall these iron and marble
ga,eways burst; these low deep mounds.
upheave the dead, arise to dwell within
the city Of our God.
VAULT AVENUE.
The direc, approach to the Cemetery
is by way of Vault avenue, which takes
lis name from the fact that several public,
and number OF private vaults are located
thereon. built in the beautiful hill which
overlooks them.
In the public vault rest the remains OF
the gallant General Gregg, of Texas. and,
prevlons 10 the war, an eminent jurst and
Judge Of that State. Subsequently, tina,
State gave the bes, OF her blood and bra.
yes, of her sons 10 the Confederate cause,
and General Gregg became conspicuous
aueng them. He was taken prisoner a,
the fall Of Fort Donelson, and fell. sho,
through the heart at the storming OF For
Harrison, near Richmond. His body
awaits removal TO the "Lone Star" State
but Virginia soil drank and draws naIture
from his blood.
The bodies of several other Confeder-
ate officers. from other States, are con-
tanned in this vault. All arc embalmed,
contained in air-Ggh. metallic cases. en-
closed in strong. close boxes. The vault
door was unclosed, affordiug view Of the
interior. but the gate was locked.
The next and mos. imposing vault is
that OF j. G. Shafer and his wife, Char
Iloue Potts, and wherein they both sleep.
|, is msssively constructed of granite, oval
in form. ribbed, and supported by plain
slabs of the same material. The inscrip
lioas commemorative Of the life and death
of both are 10 be seen upon tablets through
the open door.
The family vault of Wiilism w. Dun
nsvsnl, buit in 1858, is in Roman style,
with child in relief, playing with The
lion. .emblemalical OF the coming of Christ,
and underneath. the scriptural inscription,
land the lions sshall lie down with the
lamb" &c.
The beautiful vault of A. ]. Fosrd. in
the Dorick style, and others tina, we have
not space to notice. while they are so
many sombre and mournful ornaments OF
these grounds. serve 10 attest mans be-
lief in the mulsbiliiy of man. the certainty
of death, and these last earthly prePara'
lions for i,-this building Of an house in
the city Of the dead Tor
sMan goeth to his lone home,
And the mourners 60 about the streets"
THE TOMB OF MONROE.
is the Mecca Of every patriot, and the frs
inquiry of most visitors is for lis locality.
The pageant incident upon the removal
Of The illuslrious remains from New York,