The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1872-08-29
Country Churchyards.

An English journal of recent date
complains of the uninviting and DESC
late appearance so common in the plots,
set apart in villages and towns fo1 the
interment of the dead. IF the remarks
made by our contemporary are applica-
BILE to the rural churchyards of Eng |
land, where every hamlet, from its very |
age, supplies the elements OF the pic
turesque, they are doubly true in refer
ence to the barren and forbidding en-
closures found in the newly built vii
lagos which abound in our own coun-
try.
We do not of course refer to those
magnificent cities of the dead which ad-
join our great towns, for on these every
resource Of art and skill has been un-
sparingly lavished; but to the simple
acre or two of land, which either sur
rounds the rural church or else is fenced
off, solitary and alone, on the outskirts
of the populated quarter. Every one is
familiar with its appearance; bleak,
bare and desolate, totally devoid of Or
namentation, the surface of the ground
broken and irregular with heaped up
mounds of earth, and covered with
headstones and monuments standing
stiff and white, like ghosts, over the
graves. If trees there be, they are gen.
orally clumps of pines lugubrious and
solemn in these dark shades. The grass
is long, and coarse, rank weeds abound,
while the few flowers that bloom here
and there are wild and uncultivated.
Perhaps few plots within the enclosure,
the family burial places of the mag
mates of the village, are surrounded with
cheap iron ratings which, while adding
to the prim formality of the spot, convey
the impression that its occupants main
tain their exclusiveness even in the
tomb.
It is a beautiful idea. taught us by
science that, our bodies after being bur-
led in the ground are consumed and re-
appear in the shape of the fragrant
flowers that bloom over pur resting
places. Even this consolation, if so it
may be termed, is denied us in the mod
ern burying ground, for the mind can
not but revolt at the thought of sleep
ing beneath rank weeds or moldering
in the damp, heavy shade, away from
the clear bright sunshine. The prac-
tice of making mounds over graves is
one which should have long since been
abolished. They doubtless served in
the beginning as marks of locality, but
now they simply disorder the ground,
We could rest as calmly under the turf
of a smooth, level lawn as under sur
face of ridges and hollows, while the
proper keeping of a fat graveyard
would be easy compared with that oi
an uneven one.
Niggardliness of space within the lin.
It's Of a city may be q matter OF neces-
sity, but in the country, thus prescrib-
ing limits rs to render the making Of n
sew walks or the planting of a few
ornamental trees an impossibility j,
without reason. In churchyards al
ready in existence, this defect may no
we'll be remedied; but where new one
are constantly being laid out, II is
question worthy Of consideration wheth
or . SuffiCioncy OF space should not 4
eiIce be obtained SO as to admit OF som,
pleasing effect being produced by tn,
exercise of taste in its arrangement, in.
stead of making calculations with {
view of utilizing to the utmost, for bur.
ial purposes, every available inch Of
ground. In monuments and grave
stones, we hardly hope to see any
change. Save the magnificent memor
ials which mark the graves of the
wealthy, there has been but little alter
alton in their general style during the
past century. The matter of designing
inexpensive yet beautiful headstones i
worthy of the attention of our archi
tects, if only to relieve us from tn,
grotesque or painfully plain pieces o
sculpture which emanate from the work
shop of the rural stone cutter.
In laying out piece Of ground for
burial lot, paths should be at first form
ed, and then the planting OF suitabl
trees should follow. Among the latter
the weeping varieties, from the habit @
growth they display, consort best wit
the character of the place, Flowerin
trees, especially, should be set out. Sol
colors or whites should be selected, bu
not yellow, as the laburnum, as tina
would be inappropriate. For foliag
trees, the beech, horse chestnut, weeI
ing ash, birch, elm, and others of grace
full outline should be preferred, while
very few pines or dark toned shad
trees may be interspersed for the SAX
of contrast. Evergreens of low growtl
such as the arbor gitG, together wit
Towering shrubs, hollies, may bloom
syringas, ilacs or elders would form
pleasing variety, and at the same tin
furnish the bare sward without addin
dullness or density. Creeping vine
twined around monuments, make eve
the plainest of stones an object of beal
ty. The trumpet creeper, sweet hone,
suckle, woodbine, climbing roses, Ge
man ivy. ana especially the hardy En-;
Gsh ivy, are all graceful and appropriat
If we dispense with mounds, the pla,
of interment might be covered wit
flower beds, or the shapes of the grav
might be marked out on the green tu
with howery plants. Nothing could
,prettier than a margin of snowdrops
lilies of the valley, inside of whio
might be small cross of white crocust
In spring time, exquisite designs ma
be worked out in purple and white by
cinths. The more delicate tinted hoy
ers should be selected or else those
deep toned hue, neither brilliant n
gaudy. Pure white lilies, callss, purI
violets, dropping white and pink fuchsit
cape jessamine, moss roses or whi
pinks, with candytuft for borders, CT
be arranged with exquisite effect.
These are all Natures ornaments, al
they were given us to brighten tho
spots which to the mind carry the me
sombre reflections. Gods Acre" shou
be pleasant and cheerful, and not
place to be avoided as only suggest
of gloom and DEATH Scientific Ame
can.