Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1872-10-01
ed. In stForest City," the most elaborate

bered. In 'tForest City" the most elaborate
and arlistically laid out Of our city cemete-
RES, there are lots and adornments and whole
groups of lots that would be creditable to
s'Mt. Auburn" Some are fitted up at great
expense. The location is excellent for build
| ing up terraced lots, and although expensive,
these with finely finished granite base may
be reckoned among the very best in the
cemetery. The iron fences generally are of
appropriate design and are kept well painted.
The woodbine and clematis twining about
these, or the bright-leaved shumac within the
enclosure, give charming effect Rustic
| baskets, chairs and sofas, marble urns bear
| ing crosses, supplied weekly with fresh flow
ers, are quite common. The many maple
and other trees give the name to the lovely
place and of=r refreshing shade. In this
autumn time their leaves bear the hectic flush
| OF coming dissolution, as they throw their
heightened and sombre shadows across the
graves. Even in the carefully tended "For-
est City" one comes across occasionally a neg
lected lot that seems sadly out of place in the
midst of the general loneliness. The grass
has grown rank and long, the wild weeds lux
uriate, and the moss-covered tombstone leans
and totters, ready to fall to mother earth.
Across the way is the old burial ground
| where the fathers and mothers of the good town
quietly sleep. There are but few lots here
and decay is the rule, while attention is the
exception. The inscriptions on many of the
stones are obliterated; you may read the year
1894" upon one, "l796," upon another, and
Judge that few more years will carry these
graves and their occupants into the oblivion
Of forgetfulness. With so many well devel
oped shade trees and its beauty of location,
1t is shame that the old cemetery is left to
ruin and decay-its thick grove the resort OF
owls and bats, and its paths overgrown with
rank grass.
Above this, however, on the hilltop, and
running down on the ,erraced embankment, is
mt. Pleasant cemetery, worthily named,
and destined to equal in beauty Forest
City," whose monuments and white stones
rise at its feet. From this elevated position
one Of the most advantageous views may be
had Of Augusta, half hidden in green,
its churches, public buildings, dwellings, all
but the business street that is lost to view in
the vale. The rich ard yerdant valley
stretches eff to the curve Of the winding river
al the south, and northward until the vision
is obsructed by the haze resting on the high
hills in the background. Let no one finish
his praises of Kennebec scenery until his eyes
have taken in the deli yhtful picture seen from
mt. Pleasant" This is comparatively new
cemetery and all the stones and monuments
are quite new. Those who now purchase lots
generally come here, as the lots in the other
cemeteries are either all taken up or are too
expensive. There is almost an entire alb.
sence of shade trees but these may be sup
pied as parties owning lots may desire, many
preferring the unobstructed light of the sun.
The lots are of uniform size, are regularly
laid out and are enclosed and adorned to SUIT
the taste OF the owner. Great care is bestow-
ed on nearly every lot, and we saw on Sun
day at this cemetery at least fifty graves
bearing the tribute Of fresh flowers.