The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1878-02-21
The Day of the Dead.

One of the characteristic anniversarie.
of Rome occurred on the second of No
vember. This is the "Day of the Dead. ,
All persons who have friends buried In
the city cemetery, called Campo Verano
go out there to pray at their graves and
leave wreaths and garlands of flowers and
immortelles upon them. This is what is
Familiarity called here in the still pagan
language of the modern Romans, III cultO
del naorti," the worship of the dead. With
little difference from the ancient way of
Immediately deifying the emperors, en-
presses, great generals or other .distin-
guished persons as soon as they were
dead, the Romans called upon their be-
loved departed friends to pray for them
at the same time that they inconsistency
ask prayer from the passer-by for the
soul supposed to be in purgatory. There is
often little seriousness or real grief in the
observance of this formality, as after II
prayer at the graves the people walk
about among the beautiful paths of the
cemetery, greeting their friends and ad-
miring the tombs of the rich or the latest
work of the sculptor's or painters art
that has been placed there. Among these
are new statue by the sculptor Lom-
bardi and fresco by the painter Roberto
Bompiani.
In quiet corner of the cemetery, dis
tinguished neither by monuments nor
pictured characters, is the spot reserved
for the poor. 1t is thickly sown with
black wooden crosses, to which on the
day of the dead are attached small lamps,
burning oil. Poor mothers, wives and
sisters kneel on the graves and decorate
them with such simple memorials as their
means will permit.
A long cave in the form of gallery at
the left, which is dimly lighted, is re-
served for the members of the Jesuit So
ciety. Two rows of tombs extend on
both sides of the gallery. They are
marked by no inscriptions-not even the
name-and simple number in Roman
characters indicates where the Jesuit lies
buried. In accordance with their theory
that the member upon entering that So
ciety merges into his rank, his means, his
individuality, in life he is bound to per-
feet obedience, and in death is represent
ed by number. The custom of light
ing lamp. on the tombs is very ancient
in Rome, and it is thought is not used
elsewhere. An ancient will offers their
liberty to two slaves on condition that
they should take turns in keeping lamp
burning upon the tomb of their deceased
master. The ancients planted cypress as
we do around the graves of the dead, be-
cause once cut it is said not to put forth
new shoots. For this, however, do not
know enough of gardening to be respon-
sible. Laurel, because it was always
green, became an emblem of immortality.
Beans also were planted near the graves,
because the delicate appearance OF the
flower was supposed 10 have resem'
blance to death. The ancients at tuner
ais distributed roasted beans to the poor,
and even now the Roman people preserve
the custom of eating beans on funeral
days.
How many of our modern usages might
be traced to an ancient origin! Here it is
natural to look backward on the path of
time, but the people of the United States,
while cherishing the idea of their youth
as a nation, have as many ancient ways
as the confessedly old countries of Eu-
rope Old Time, when he crossed the ocean
with Columbus, thought to have effaced
his footsteps in the waves, but man.
though he has young face and springy
step on the new continent, is still old,
and his ancient recollections will return
in spite of himself to betray him.-Cor.
Nes York Euening Poet.