The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1867-03-07
THE SOLDIERS ANp SAILoRs' MoN-


vicinity to the brave soldiers and sail-
ors who had given up their lives in
defense of their country. There was
considerable enthusiasm on the sub
iect then, and some money, we be-
slieve, was subscribed, and grand
Fourth of July celebration was held
in aid of the patriotic project. Of
late we have heard nothing on the
subject. What is the cause? Has
the enterprise been abandoned? or
is the patriotism Of the people, and
their gratitude to the defenders of the
old flag, fading away?a We cannot
believe it. tits true that mans grief,
and woman's too, however deep at
first, becomes gradually soothed and
assuaged, and the enthusiasm, in
spired by first grief, gradually dwin-
dies away, until carelessness and in
difference takes its place. This is
trait in human nature, which the
tombstone men have rare oppor-
tunities to observe and study. They
are familiar with the graduations of
woe, which begin with monuments
that costs great sums of money, and
end with a cheap tombstone. A CO.
temporary says:
A dealer in marble tributes to the
memory of departed worth says recent
and overwhelming afliction is utterly
Indifferent to expense. There is
nothing in the monumental line too
costly for them, many times. But
they are impatient of all delay. They
want the monument erected immedi-
ately-almost before the body is COM
fortably settled in the grave After
time has assuaged, somewhat, the first
violence of their grief, they conclude
ment will do, and rescind their first
| order; sometimes they change their
minds several times as they become
more and more resigned to their loss
concluding at length that a neat but
| plain marble slab, with suitable in
scription, of course, will answer the
purpose. N
"Once upon a time, says the tomb
stone man, "a gentleman came to me
utterly bowed down by the weight of
his affection. A greatly loved father
had died, whose virtues and worth
/ the afflicted son could not extol too
highly. He desired to have those ,vir-
tues commemorated by monument
that all connected with the good man
should be proud Of He intended to
pay the entire expense himself he
was abundantly able-and he WASH t
particular what the expense was. A
couple of weeks after he called again.
His grief had moderated. He WASH t
cheerful, exactly, but there was a calm
about him. He spoke in low, quiet
tone of his departed sire. He hoped
and believed he had gone to the land
of the best" CA lifting of the eyes,
a sigh and pause.)
oh" said he, at length, about
that monument. | think the expense
of the one we were talking about is q
little too heavy. Now a plain monu-
ment like that, for instance, (pointing
to one costing about half the amount
of the one he had talked about on his
first interview, would be more appro.
pirate to put over his grave. It il
plain and simple like the life and vir.
tues of him who may sleep beneath it.
f. He didn't quite decide, but said h
would call again. Weeks passed, anc
/ met him one day busting through
the street on his way to his business
With the exception of weed upoI
his hat, all traces of his affection haC
passed away
All, how do you do" said he
been wanting to see you-too busy
though-want to talk to you abou
putting up a grdvestone on father
grave-see you again." and on h
went.
/ met him several times afterwards
{ but he made no allusion to the grave
stone" A day or two ago / met hin
and asked him when he wanted tn
stone erected.
"Stonel said he reAectively
''stone! OIL yes-I remember-grave
, stone for the old man. Well, fact il
Ihad very nice pine slab painted an
put up for the present, so / guess
shan't want any gravestone this year |!
We hope that the grief of the monu
ment association will not be so easil
assuaged, but that early, energetic an
! efficient steps will be taken to erect
g monument in Oak Hill Cemetery Q
such character as will be worthy Q
, the men whose memory it is designe
+ to perpetuate, and of the generous
grateful hearts of those who contrib
, ute to its erection.
FROM CENTER.-A subscriber send
to the JOURNAL the following item
of interest: