Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1874-12-19
THE DAY OF THE DEAD.

One OF the most curious cnaractcrlStlcS OF tue
Parisians is heir respect Tor the dead. 1t iormS
striking contradiction to their treatment OF
the living Ii there be people more soeptlcal
mud changeabc than another, 1t is The people
of Paris; and yet lE the matter OF their dead
they are immutabIe. They regard the ceme-
,erics as sacred places; they revere the dead,
and render them a kind OF worship winch may
be described as mixture Of superstition aud
idolatry. The great day in the year for the
celebrations of this worship is All Souls Day,
Which the French call the DAY of the Dead, >
and it being iue, the worsbippers in the
churches and cemeteries were more numerous
than usual.
went to the cemetery OF Montmartrc,
which has so often been the scene OF political
demonstrations over the graves OF departed
victims. The Boulevard dc Clichy, which ruus
iu trout of the cemetery, was lined with the
stalls of dealers in immortelle CROWDS, ever
greens, images and medallions These offer
iugs bear the titles of relationship of the per-
son for whom they are intended such as My
dear mother, My beloved husband" My
cherished children" etc., worked in black
letters The price of them raoges from pence
to pounds, and some display great amount of
exquisite workmanship. Crowds were Hock-
log into the cemetery with their offerings III
mourning but many OF the ladies wore bril-
liant coors. strong police force aud few
soldiers we're on duty, no doubt as measure
of precautiun, but their services We're not
really required Rvuud the large cross at the
cntrauce were men, women and children pray
lug on their knees.
The two political graves in this cemetery are
those of Cavaiguac and Baudin. Under the
empire these were the shrines of the Republi-
caus. Bauain, the deputy, who was shot on a
barrlcade after the coup d'etat of the I'd OF
December, lay under small slab neglected aud
forgotten during Six teen years, but when the
empire began to totter, aud the Republican
party became strong, somebody found him out,
and splendid tomb with bronze statue was
erected TO him by public subscription. How,
ever, both the bronze statues OF Baudln and
Eavaiguac are now no more than the other
tombs that surround them. | have seen them
literally hidden beneath the offerings OF their
admirers; have seen them surrounded by
crowds of people; but on All Souls Day they
were passed by with the same indifference rs
ordinary graves, save perhaps by few young
Radical students who sighed for the good old
times wbcD the placing OF crown there was
considered courageous but dangerous act.
A few punches OF violets had been added to
the Old offerings 10 Cavaignac, and Il few crowns
of red immor,e!lcs to Baudln, and that was all.
Leaving these tombs | strced through the
chief avenues Of the cemetery. On all sides
were persous teuding the graves OF their de-
parted friends aud relatives. Some were
sweeping away the fallen leaves; some were re-
arranging the crowns that had been displaced
by wind and rain, and others were planting
fresh flowers. The grave cleaned aud the OF
fcriugs restored, they kneel down and pray.
Here we're mothers with their suns, there we're
fathers with their daughters, and here and
there solitary person, perhaps the last OF the
race. holding conn union as 1t were with the
departed.
Over the vaults of the richer dead are erect
ed small chapes, coutaiuin, an altar, candles,
and all kinds of offerings. where the rcmalnln <
members of the family 20 through their reh-
gious devotlous, with beads aud prayer book IN
hand. The ruling desire appears to be to
please the dead as if they were living. The
flowers they loved are placed over them as II
the perfume could penetrate their slabs. One
day lately was passing through the cemetery.
| saw girl kneeliug before slab, with her
head bent in her hands. She was singing, with
tears in her eyes, the air 'Casta Diva. stop
ped and gazed. When she had finished, she
rose, aud seeing my surprise, SAID, " est ma
man; ellie almalt Get air la.
Sometimes the mot common things are de-
posted iu the tombs. have seen pipe ln
the middle OF a bunch of howersno no doubt the
iavorie of the deceased. The graves OF child,
reu, however, are more curious than those OF
adults. Over the spot where the head recnes
is glass case, IN which the toys the infant
loved and the little shoes it wore are carefully
arranged. Many of the graves are perfect
bowers OF beauty, with festoons OF crowns aud
flowers of all coIors. especially white, and
medaous worked in hair representing the
happy meeting OF the long separated trends
in ano,hcr world. Paris Correspondence Lon
don Echo.
CHAppED HANDS The easiest and simp-
lest remedy is found in every store ROOM
Take common starch and grind it with knlfe
unit! it is reduced to the finest powder. Lake
a clean box aud fill it with starch thus prepar,
cd, so as to have it continually at hand for
use. Every time the hands are taken from
suds or dish water, wipe them, aud while they
are yet damp rub portion of starch thorough,
ly over them, covering the whole surface: The
effect is magical. The rough, smarting skin is
cooled and soothed and healed, bringing and
insuriug the greatest degree of comfort and
freedom from this hv M means inslpnltlCa Mt