New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1870-11-02
YESTERDAY.

were thronged yesterday, which was
mild and lovely day. Canal street, our
great central avenue, was lined with Trains
of cars crowded with our population con-
viewing tributes of affection and tokens of
memory to the last resting places Of the
loved and lost.
Richly attired ladies, with elegant gar
lands, composed of jet and crystal, or
superb bouquets of costly exotics, were
side by side with old women, whose bare,
sunburnt, wrinkled hands clasped trem-
blingly a paper wreath, or cluster Of
humble field flowers. mnumerable chill
dren were seen, from the gay young miss
in silk, or the juvenile scion of wealth i'll
velvet or broadcloath, to the modest nurse
girl or freckle-faced newsboy. Even at
the early hour of eleven the cars were I'M
comfortably crowded, and for almost the
first time we noticed conductors collecting
fares at the starting point. The Ridge
cemeteries appeared unusually pictu-
rescue and beautiful, owing to the de-
ightful weather The broad branches Of
the stately oaks, that stand like sentinels
guarding the cities of the dead, render a
visit to them more agreeable in warm
weather that to those located in the heart
Of the town.
In general, the multitude on this day
wear rather an Indifferent and careless ex-
preston, while jokes and loud laughter
are by no means uncommon. But yester-
day, from the tear-stained cheeks, droop-
ing eyes, subdued air, and low plaintive
tones noticed, grief was evidently pre-
dominant in the hearts of the majority.
There are some fine monuments in each
consented ground; so many that time
will not permit the description Of all.
In Greenwood may be noticed superb
gothic structure of white marble, adorned
with clustering vines of lilies. This is
the most snowy and conspicuous in that
cemetery. In the same inclosure is
mound composed of rough Jumps of
grey stone, cemented together by btu
men. A broad walk, painted in glazing
yermilion, surrounds it. This tomb is
certainly unique, but by no means taste
full. A new style of adjoining the borders
with white sea-sand, over which is
sprinkled in the form of leaves and vines,
sand of every hue of the rainbow was
observed This also, is quite new, but
too gaudy to be appropriate. One
Of the most chaste and costly memorials
was that of a young and lovely
wife, who died twelve months ago,
dedicated to her memory by her bereaved
husband. 1t consists Of a tall shaft, superb
ly carved, elevated between two square
of snow white marble-stand-
ing upon broad platform of the same
material In the centre of the column is
q portrait of the lady as she appeared in
the blush of youth and beauty, on the
eve of her bridal. This is crowned by
chaplet of heartsease and golden immor-
telles-the whole most beautiful and
touching tribute of broken-hearted atfec-
ton. In traversing these solemn ave-
nues, thickly lined with graves of every
description, the eye Involuntary rests
with pity upon the humble mounds of
earth which cover the remains of poverty,
contrasting them with the costly monu-
ments of the rich; but even these cold
sods are strewn with garlands and flow
ers, showing that although it may be
true that the poor find no new friends,
they leave some true hearts remembering
them with fond affection.
As in this work-a-day world mercenary
motives seem ever to find place, many
frequent these sad abodes in order to add
to their money account, and on either
side of the various gateways were seen
numerous tables, and clearly white and
colored men and women were busy serv-
ing all sorts of refreshments, from chicken
gumbo to scolloped molasses cake.
Within the Enclosures were the Sisters Of
Charity, each with two of the orphans in
their charge, opposite, holding tin plates,
upon which they beat continual click,
click, click, uttering at the same time in
plaintive tones Pour rorpheln! Pour
Porphelin p From the heaps of nickels
and fractional currency on their plates,
they doubtless met with their usual sue
cess. Meditating on the observance of
this day, let us resolve to deal kindly
with those friends who are spared to US,
that when they, too shall pass away, our
memories of them shall not reproach us.