The Waco daily examiner. [volume] (Waco, Tex.) 187?-1888, 1881-12-10
OUR DEAD.
Timely suggestions Over Their
Neglected Graves.

The standard of civilization which Il
people has reached may in measure
be fixed by the respect and attention
which are shown for the last resting
places OF the dead. In this country at
least it is customary for relatives or
friends to keep the grave green, even
though the memory may fade. Waco
may not be classed among those cities
winch allow the dead to rest unno-
| ticed, but she has nevertheless allowed
the time-honored resting places of her
pioneers and ancestors to lapse into d
state of mournful decay. The old
cemetery, in which the ashes of
some seven thousand people now
rest, since the opening of lakewood
cemetery, has been gradually showing
the marks of neglect, and is now in a
condition which, if not altogether dis
graceful, is very sad to see and think
of. Many of the graves, upon which
! the tears of bereaved ones have been
| dry forty, thirty, twenty, ten years,
have Jared poorly, and are now IN
recognizable. In some INSTANCES rab-
bits, or other burrOwing animals have
made their homes so deep that it is
not improbable they may even now
he resting i'll the coffin, or, mayhap,
sacrilegiOus as 1t may sound, in the
skulls Of the silent sleepers. In
other cases the grave is sunk below
the surface, and over all the silent
city OF orr dead can be detected the
subtle sense of neglect and decay.
The majority of our citizens have Sc
cured lots in lakewood, and expend their
time and money there, and gradually
forget that other graves, the natural
protectors of which have either them
selves been laid to rest or moved away,
need attention. Alderman McLaren,
chairman of the cemetery committee,
visits the old cemetery every few days,
and has spent great deal of time
and some money in attempts to
keep the grounds and graves III at
least partial order, but the financial
condition of the city does not permit
of much practical labor. In conversa-
ton with this gentleman yesterday the
reporter Learned that the head and
foot-boards marking many of the
graves have rotted away, and there is
no means of accurately locating them.
There are not regularly laid out lots or
plots, the graves being made at random,
and it is suggested that some attempt
be made to have them i'll regular
positions, even If some of the
collins have to be taken up and
reinterred. Mr.. McLaren is positive
that unless immediate action, looking
to the reclamation of these unkempt
sepulchers, is taken it will become
impossible to distinguish them in
twelvemonth. Mr.. William Anderson
city on neurological matters, and he
says he can identify and locate twenty
five hundred graves and can lend valu-
able assistance III locating many others,
by reason of his long experience as an
undertaken To sum up, something
must be done Immediately, if this
well-tilled cemetery ID to he preserved
with anything like what is due the
civilized dead at the hands of the
civilized living. 1t will require |
some money, and in the absence of
means the EXAMINER would sug-
gest that the public-spirited christian
ladies' of the city, regardless
of denomination, take the matter
in hand, and, through the medium of |
church fairs, festivals, sociables, or
other similar entertainments, seek to |
procure the means necessary to keep |
the homes of the departed ones in at |
least measurably presentable condi-
ton. On the spur of the moment there
are presented the names of Mrs.
Borgess., Mrs. Garner, Mrs. Harrison,
Mrs. Gilmer, Miss Aveihle, Mrs. Davis
in East Waco, and Mrs. Pierce,
as ladies who take an active
interest in all such matters, and whose
and sanction would
insure the success of any entertain
ment. As a commencement Mr.. w.
NJ. Anderson will donate $50 for the
purpose sought to be accomplished,
md we think united effort will
'etrieve the cemetery from its APP
preaching dilapidation. VIII the
ladies kindly take the
natter Ill charge?