The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-01-04


harshallls remains have been Inferred. The curious
can read his name on marble slab directly in front
The Old Scots Church was not only noted for its
patrlotism at that time In our late war for the put
blue. This little church, in proportion to It's size,
then sent more young men into the army than any
church In the city. With membership OF less than
ahundred, counting old and young together, no
less than twelve young men were sent to do battle
Tor their country, many Of whom now I'LL soldiers
graves.
The graveyard belonging to this church on Ship
pen street, formerly the site OF the first building is
apsce OF interest to the antiquarian. IL is situated
on the south side OF Shippen street, about half way
between Third and Fourth. Its existence is hardly
known, save to those Immediately interested.
hgh close board fence covered almost entirely with
tho stock OF tho bposter is all that meets the eye
or the passer-by on the street. There is entrance
or gateway on the Shippen street 'front.' and the lot
three sides. Entrance can be had through one OF
the houses adjoining the ground and facing court
TO the westward. The former entrance to the lot
was on that side, and when the row OF houses was
erected an Injunction was taken out compelling the
propeTty-owners to provide an entrance through
one OF the houses In the row.
ON entering the enclosure peculiar scene for our
great city is revealed. The visitor finds himself in
large ot about seventy by one hundred feet, closed
IN by houses, and containing, perhaps, about twenty
Three large willow trees, two OF them of immense
desolaten.
The stones are old and battered, many of them are
weak and tottering, and some are entirely over
thrown. Some have sunk into the earth so that the
tops only are visible and others have been broken
and the jagged ends left standing. Tall weeds and
rank underbrush have been luxuriating on the
ground during the past summer, and their remains
trip the foot OF the visitor Old refuse of all Kinds
lies scattered around old and broken hotties inSs
bones, hoops from barrels, pans, ashes, and every
variety OF rubbish which could be throwR over the
walls and fences or deposited from the surrounding
houses.
In some parts there is a bad purifying odor, but
whether from the refuse the surface, from the
disturbed ashes Of the sainted dead cannot be told
The former is more probably the case. The ground
is uneven and irregular from the sunken mounds.
Though the yard contains only some twenty stones,
there are perhaps numberless graves. The mounds
even those marked with the monuments, have ali
disappeared. On the occasion Of visit, dog
kennei on end under the largest tree, and clothes
line filled with clethes stretched part OF the
graves, probably belonging to the house through
which entrance had been made, gave an additional
contrast to the character OF the place.
The grave OF Mrs. Duncan, native Scotch lady,
believed to have been the originator OF the church.
occupies prominent position in the yard. She and
her two sons lie buried together, covered with a
large horizontal marble slab. The slab is supported
on marble sides, and is the largest and most consp
cuous OF the number. pile Of old bricks and dirt
had to be cleared away before the inscription was at
all visible. Even then the name only could be dis
tinguished. Old time had been too much for the
stone-cutter The first two figures OF the date one
and seven, could be made out, but the rest was
gone. IL would take an Old Mortality to declpher
and restore IL.
The grave of David Telfair, one of the earliest
pastors of the church, OF whom mention has been
made is side by side with that OF Mrs Duncan II
also is covered with nat marble slab The inscrp.
is in worse state OF preservation than Mrs. Dun
cans The supports of the slab have nearly all fallen
or been knocked to pieces and the stone itself looks
only this simple inscription
'The Rev. David Telfair,
Departed this life April IL, 17s9,
In the 69th year OF his age"
A short ramble through the inclosure reveals the
fact that there are several more interesting graves
died october g. 1923, bears the following now rather
''Remember, man, as you pass by,
As you are now, SO once was L;
As am now, so you must be.
Prepare for death and follow me-
This Is inscribed on upright and rather fanciful
tombstone, judging from the surroundings
Another, to the memory Of Ann Smith, 1926 bears
the following stanza, wholly without punctuation,
know it. The readers OF obituary notices in our
daily papers can testify how popular it has since
the whole of it, as i'll this instance. 1t reads thus:
Affctions sore long time bore
Physicians were in vain
And death did seize
And ease me OF my pain
Weep not for me my mother dear
To grieVe 1t Is in vain
Christis my hope you need not fear
But we shall meet again
On inquiring Of an Old lady, bent nearly double
with her age who had admitted us to the rronnds
whether it was intended to hold the ground in its
present condition for any length of time, she an
swered, 'Ihey have tried to sell it, they have tried
to build it, but it can't be done" Then raising her
hand and pointing from her doorway to the tomb
and so, we suppose, 1t is.
What better proof of the folly of long burlals can
there be than this graveyard, even If the idea does
CRATE somewhat upon our present senSibilities?
When those who are intimate friends OF the dead are
themselves gone, who is to care for the graves OF
these who have first fallen to sleep? Ii would be
better for the OF the ground and for the bodies
OF the dead themselves if they could be removed and
the ground Sold If those most interested lose heart
and do not care to keep a graveyard beautiful and
in order If they are too poor to do So it must GER
ainly become neglected Our titles to burial lots are
made mpregnable that the feelings OF relatives may
not be disturbed, and II relatives are living who are
opposed to any change, 1t is certainly well that it is
So But when relatives are gone and there are none
to make objections then. according to that system,
the dead must lie neglected and alone If the dead
could speak, would they rather have their dust dis
turbed and removed desecrated as we call It, or rest
in such an unsightly spot as this? Perhaps the
Parisians and Romans have the best OF us, though
their customs sound strange to our ears.
WE notice that the enterprlsng firm of John Nc
Killop Co. have already issued their Commercial
Register for 1870, which is said to greatly excel all
former issues, and TO he the L.ost comprehensive
and reliable work OF the kind ever Published in
America. Owing to the large increase of their busl-
ness, they have been compelled to remove from their
former oiilces, over Drexels, to the larger rooms
No. Is South Third street, formerly occupied by
Smith, Randolph & Co., bankers. These they have
fitted up with much taste and elegance and are now
prepared to respond to all demands from those who
need the services of commercial agency. We wish
them continuance OF the confidence and patron
age which have been extended to them by large
majority OF the leading merchants OF Philadelphia.
THE ASSASSIN OF PRESIDENT LINCoLN.-The photo
graph Of j. Wilkes Booth the assassin OF President
Lncoln has been removed from the Rogues Gallery,
but the likenesses .ofa Probst Winnemore and Will
ams still reaain Chief Kelly has no knowledge OF
who carried away the picture. A week or two since
the photograph OF noted thief was spirited away
ana when the Chief notified OF its Disappearance
he issued an order making the detective oficers re-
sponsoe for the pictures in the gallery The photo
graph recently stolen was traced to the posse Sslon
OF q certain individual, who was made to return it,
HOUSE RoBBERY.--Y esterday the discovery was