The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-02-27
CURIOUS GP1TAPHs.
BY HENRY t. WILLIAMS.


is difficult to trace the date OF their commence.
ment.
1t has been disputed whether the ancient Jews,
before the time OF Christ inscribed epitapbs on
the monuments of the dead; but il Is certain
that some Of very ancient date are found among
them. ,,
After the Jews came the Greeks. The Greek
epitaphs were very simple, and consisted only
OF the name and short character, as "a good
man." 80 good tcOmdn."
The Athenians put only the name OF the dead
with the epiChet good, or hero and word sig
nttying their good wishes.
The Laced@monians allowed epitaphs to none
but those who had died in battle.
Herodotus has preserved 10 as those which the
Amphlctyones caused TO be inscribed on the
columns which they raised in honor of the
heroes OF Thermopyln, and that which Simonides,
from personal friendship, placed over the tomb
OF the prophet Megistias. The general descrlp-
tion Ior tie whole OF these was to this effect:--
'Four thousand IRON Peoponnesus once
fought on this spot with three hundred mvri-
ads" and that which was special to the spartanss
was still more remmkable:-' Stranger, go tell
the Laced@monians that we lie here obedlent
to their commands jrsII
The Greeks, Instead of the inscription, some
times engraved the instruments OF the protes-
sion of the buried one; often, also, emblems
which marked their character and temper, or
symbols and figures of that which they liked best.
The bas-rellef thus used was very curious.
Trimalchio in Petronius, desires that the like
ness OF his dog Symbol OF fidelity may be
formed at the feet of mis- statue, and the monu-
ment be adorned with garands aud representa-
tiOns of the combats which should take place at
his funeral. Upon the monument was to be
carved snip under full sail, to show that he
obtained his wealth as merchant, in which
ship he should be represented sitting, clothed In
maglsterial robes and insignia, pouring out
riches upon the multitude; also a trichnium
(court with painted walls), and the people feast
ing therein; at his right was to be placed his
wife, Fortunate, with a Sicllian dove, and hold
ing dog with chain; dlo dmphore immense
vases), well secured, while one was TO appear
broken, and upon 1t boy weeping for the mis-
fortune. The whole was TO be surmounteJ by "a
sundal, that the eye OF the traveller, willing or
unwilling, might be attracted to the inscription
recording his name. Elpenar says to Ulysses:-
"Put an oar on this sepulchre with which l
used TO row with my companions"
A symbol OF girl holding water-vase de-
noted that the detunct was unmarried. palm
and olive branch is the symbol OF immortality.
A bow unbent, or with broken strings repre-
sented the extinction of lire. dove, simplicity
of manners. Crowns held in the nands show
that the dead one led an innocent lite. A nest
of BIRDS with the old one feeding them, repre-
sented the care of mother to bring up her
children.
The Romans inscribed their epitaphs to the
'Manes,n Dits Mdni6us, and frequently intro
duced the dead as speaking to the living. Ac,
cordingly, down TO the eleventh century, all
epitaphs we're in the Greek or Roman language.
From the eleventh TO the fifteenth, the French
and Latin predominated, and in the fifteenth
commence those of the English language.
None exist TO prove whether they were used
by the SaXons or Danes before that time.
The French mind is peculiarly adapted to the
epigrammatic form; very felicitous examples
may be quoted as of the Count de Tenia, who
had enjoyed every form of temporal prosperity,
and caused to be engraved on his tomb the words
"1dndena telir,' "Happy at iast.n And also the
touching ePitaIPh I to mother, "lG premiere du
TendezUOuS,n " 1.-The first at the rendezvous"
o A large portion of the earlier monuments, and
consequently of the epitaphs, of the mother
country, England, were, destroyed at the time of
the Reformation, and subsequently by the
iconoclastic rage of the Puritans and Presbyte-
rians.
But when we come down to later date, the
literature of no people, either ancient or modern,
can we with those IN our language in this pecu-
liar branch.
For, whilst English epitaphs possess the point
and terseness without which no epitaph can be
successful, they exhibit feature almost un-
known in those OF other nations-that, viz, OF
wit or humor.
1t seems as if the wittiest people of the world,
as those who speak the English language un-
questionablY are, had found 1t impossible to
confne their rallery to the living, and accord.
ingly we ind that the harmless pecuiarlties of
the dead have often been hit of on tombstone
with felicity which has rendered immortal
what otherwise the next generation would have
forgotten.
The epitaphs of modern times too often consist
OF fulsome compliments and expressions of re.
spect winch were never applied TO the deceased
while il life. Hence the English proverb, HE
lies like an eptaph.n
The Germans have proverb "He lies like q
tombstone, and is as impudent as a newspaper"
The simplest epitaphs are, alter all, the most
charming, and touch the affections quickest.
The column erected to the memory OF General
Massena, who ID buried in the "Cemetiere de
pEst," in Paris; contains only the word "Mas.
sena" and simplicity is equally essential to give
effect to the record OF the gentle virtues of do
mestic lite. The single word Mother" can call
tear, whep four lines OF beautiful metre might
fail to move us.
The following extract from an elegy on Doune.
by distinguished clergyman OF England eX-
hibits another IDEA connected with the epitaph,
and beautifully illustrates the character OF his
subject
'he that would write an epitaph for thee,
And do 1t well, must first begin to be
Such as thou vert Tor none can truly know
1hy worth, thy life but he that hath lyed So"
Bishop Sprat, writing sonnet to the memory
OF the Lord Protector Cromwell, brings forth
yet another idea concerning the epltaph, arguing
there is no need of any epItaphs except to those
who have died without lame; that the memory
OF the distinguished dead will always live in the
hedris oil posterity, even ii their graves are un-
marked by single stone:-
They only want epitaph
that do remain alone
Alive IN an inscription,
Remembered only ON the brass or marble stone. p
have gathered from varions sources the fol-
loving collection. This subject is rarely made
the occasion OF any extended article In the ne
papers, and the interest which am sure the
reading of these herewith given will excite will
repay their publication in these colunns. And,
although in some instances they may seem to
mock or trihe with things sacred or religious,
vet their antiquity and curious nature will en-
title them TO place in every ones memory.
Elhu Yale, che founder of Yale College, at
New Haven, Connecticut, was buried at the
church in WIeXham, Wales. His monument q
plain altar tomb, bears this inscription