Middletown transcript., 1870-04-30
For the Middletown Transcript.
Cemetery, Long Island, N. Y.

separates Gowanus Bay from the plains of
Flatbush. At the distance of two and a
half miles from the South Ferry, short,
straight avenue leads from the main street
of Gowanus to the gate
Through the elegant and lofty stone en-
trance the visitor is ushered in, and finds
a vestibult IT. Natures own making. Its
floor is delicious greensward; its walls
are the steep hillside; lofty trees, with
their leafy capitals, form its colonnade !;
and its ceiling is the azure vault. Here,
if alive to gentle influences, the lover Of
Nature will pause moment. He will
shake from his feet the city's dust, and
leave behind him its cares and follies. He
is within the precinct of great, primeval
temple, now forever set apart to pious
uses. He has come,
"Not to the domes where crumbling arch and
column
Attest the feebleness of mortal hand
| But to that fame most catholic and solemn,
Which God has planned!'
Explore its aisles and courts, s,--survey
its beauties, breathe its fresh air,-en-
joy its quiet,-drink in its music, and
lay to heart its lessons of mortality, as
well as its higher teachings of faith and
love.
| One of the greatest attractions iu this
renowned burial place, is the costly mon
ument of Charlotte Canda, placed at the
intersection of the Tour with Greenbor-
ough Avenue.
This sepulchral structure cost about
twenty-five years ago, over thirty thous-
and dollars, and has become one of the
most prominent points Of interest, which
the citizen often visits, and for which the
stranger first enquire. Seldom, on a fair
day, is it without circle Of admiring
| friends.
But it is not alone its multiform beau
ties and its costly splendor, that have
made this monument "the observed of all
observers" 1t appeals not more to the
eye than to the heart 1t is, itself, a tale
of prospects blighted-of extinguished
hopes-of a grief beyond repair. We
cannot believe that there are many who
contemplate an object like this with sensi
bilities wholly unmoved.
The subject of this notice was the only
child of MIR. Canda. Mr. Canda was
native of France, and, in early life, was
an officer in the army of Napoleon. After
the battle of Waterloo he came to this
country, and devoted the accomplishments
of his military education to the better pur-
pose of instrpcting the young. Here he
married an American lady, of French ex
traction. The Institution for Young La
dies, in Layfayette Place, New York city,
the same street where VIM. b. Astor
resides-which they soon commenced, and
which was suggested, mainly by a wish
to secure for their daughter the best of
training under their own eyes, was long
one of the most successful establishments
in New York. Here Miss Charlotte en-
ioyed the highest advantages the city could
furnish.
The use which she made of them--her
progress in learning, in artistic accomplish
ments, and in the better graces of temper
and heart-were all that the fondest par
ents could desire. To pleasing person,
a disposition equable and kindly, and
manners of the most engaging sweetness,
she added abilities and attainments seldom
witnessed in one so young. In the acqui
siton of language she evinced q surprising
facility; for, already, she wrote and spoke
with almost equal ease, and with uncom-
mon accuracy, the English, French, Ger
man, Spanish and Italian.
In drawing, she manifested far more
than ordinary taste and skill, while the
beauty of her execution, whenever she
played or sung, was made doubly charm
ing by the greatest molesty which accom-
panied and adorned everything she did.
Such was her history!
The fair young girl, whose untimely
death this marble has proclaimed so wide
ly, and whose gentle memory it will long
perpetuate, attained her seventeenth birth
day on the third of February, 1915, That
day was passed by her at home, in health
and happiness, frightened by the smiles
of approving love, and cheered by every
thing which, in possession or in prospect,
can make life seem desirable. That natal
evening flew swiftly by, while she was
delighting as we'll as enjoying a small fes-
tive circle Of attached friends. 1t was
late when the father and daughter set out
on their return. The night had become
cold and stormy. In Waverly Place the
carriage was stopped for the purpose of
leaving young friend, who had accompa-
MED them. Mr.. Canda attended the lady
to her fathers door. Meanwhile, the dri-
YER, standing on the sidewalk, carclessly
dropped the reins. The chilled horses
Immediately started, and ran into Broad
way, when, as the carriage turned the,cor-
ner, Miss Canda fell through the open
door. Some gentlemen, who witnessed
the accident, conveyed her Immediately to
a hotel near. The agitated father, ignor-
ant of what had occurred, vainly sought
his child at home, and at the stable With
er he supposed that the horses might have
gone. With Mrs. Cauda he, at length,
reached the scene, just in season to wit
ness their daughters last, unconscious
sigh.
1t was for no purpose of mere ostenta.
tion-for no qualification of personal van
ity-that this structure rose.
The idea of the monument, in its gene