The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1866-01-04

| On one OF those Still balmy Indian
summer days, incident to the autumn
time, with mind weary at the strife Of
men, our feet, almost unbeknown to our
senses, struck the broad pathway that
runs untrodden from this bustling city
of the living, to that ancient city of the
dead, Hollywood. Beforcsus was the
variegated autumn grave, with here and
there arising out Of Its midst the white
marble monuments and spires that
marked the abodes 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 in
scriptions but the names of the speech.
less dwellers therein
''For death is buta change OF residence
To one new fitted up not far away.
And here, as in yonder city, the opu.
lence, wealth, or taste of the dweller
can be derected 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 pala-
tial dwellings Of the living rich; while
the sunkcn unlottered graves how pain.
fully typical Of the homes Of the poor
As one in living city seeking the
abode of a friend, 30 we, single pc.
dcstrian upon deserted street, wan.
dering up and down the avenues Of the
dumb, yoicclcss city, reading as it were
the doorplates on the portals Of these
narrow houses Of the dead But un.
like the portals Of the city Of which
this is the silent counterpart death has
written over each, mo admittance. -
Beyond the threshholds mono may pass.
but gaze, weep, place the offering Of aiTcc.
ton at the gate, as it were, and depart
The dwellers are asleep; the blinds are
drawn the portals are buried. This
sleeping city awaits the dawning of the
eternal morning, the blastof the trumpet
from the skies Then shall these iron
and marble gateways burst these low
deep mounds unheaye the dead arise
to dwell within the city of our God.
VAULT AVENUE.
The direct approach TO the Cemetery
is by way of Vault avenue, which takes
its name from the fact that several pub
lie, aud number of private vaults are
located thereon, built in the beautiful
hill which ovcrlooks them.
In the public vault rest the remain.
of the gallant General Gregg, Of Texas
and, previous to the war, an eminent
jurist and judge of that State. Subse.
quently that State gave the best Of hcr
blood and bravest of her sons to the
Confederate cause, and General Gregg
became conspicous among them. He
was taken prisoner at the fall of Fort
Donelson, and fell, shot through the
heart, at the storming of Fort Harrison
near Richmond His body awaits re-
moval to the "Lone Star State, but Vir,
ginia soil drank and draws nurture
from his blood.
The body of several other Confeder.
ate officers, from other States, are con.
tanned in this vault. All are cmbalmed
contained in air.tight metallic cases, en-.
closed in strong boxes. The vault door
was unclosed, afording view of the
interior, but the gate was locked
The next and imposing vault is that
of J. G. Shafer and his wife, Charlotte
Potts, and wherein they both sleep
1t is massively constructed of granite
oval in form, ribbed, and supported by
plain slabs Of this material The in
scriptions commemorative Of the life
and death of both are to be seen upon
tablets through the open door
The family vault of William w Dun.
navant, built in 1858, is in Roman style
with child in relief, playing with the
lion, emblematical of the coming oi
Christ, and underneath, the scriptural
inscription, "And the lion shalllie dowr
with the lamb" }" &c
The beautiful vault of A, j. Foard
in the Dorick style, and others that w
have not space to notice, while they arr
so many sombre and mournful ornaments
of these grounds, serve to attest man.
belief in the mutability ofman, the GER
tainty of death, and these last earthly
, preparations for it-this building Of al
house in the city of the dead-for
"Man goeth to his lone home,
And the moIrners go about the streets. !"
THE TOMB OF MONROE
! is the Mecca of every patriot, and tn
first inquiry of most visitors is for it
locality. The pageant incident upol