The Northern Pacific farmer. [volume] (Wadena, Minn.) 1878-1885, 1884-09-04
A Notable Cemetery,

In ancient days saints remains, if
they could be obtained, were buried
near the altar of the church dedicated to
him. The relics of the holy man made
the place sacred, and so appealed to the
imagination that men desired gto he
buried near tho saint
AS the space was limited, tho burials
in the church were restricted to the
bodies of men eminent for their piety
or high in rank. But those who could
not be buried close to, tho sacred re-
mains were anxious that their bodies
should repose as near to them. as
possible. To crafty this pious wish the
churchyard was consecrated as burial
place. a.. go.
When churchyards in cities and towns
became unhealthy, cemeteries were es-
tabli shed in the open country, where
the dead might be buried out of sight,
but amid trees and flowers, natural
scenery and works of monumental art.
De Amicis, in; his "Spain," describes
the notable cemetery of Barcelona. He
says:
A silent city traversed bv long, de-
serted streets, fanked by straight walls
of equal height, shut in at the end by
other walls.
The dead are placed in the walls
lengthwise, arranged in different rows,
like the books in a library. For every
casket there is corresponding species
of niche in the wall, in which is writ
ten the name of the person buried.
Where. no one is buried, the niche bears
the written word p ropriedad, which sig
nifies that the place has been purchased.
The majority OF the inches are en-
closed by glass, others by sgratings,
some by. o fine, wire netting, and con-
tain viriety of objects, placed there in
honor of. the dead by their respective
families, such as photographs, little al
tars, pictures, embroideries, artificial
flowers, and, not unfrequently, trifles
that were dear TO them in life: ribbons,
necklaces: 'children's playthings, books,
pins and small pictures.
''@" The family of the dead are obliged
to pay q certain sum yearly for the niche.
When, they cease to pay, the casket is
removed and carried to the common
ditch of the cemetery for the poor.
In an empty niche saw beautiful
lock of blonde hair, which had be-
longed to young girl Of fifteen who
had beed drowned: 10 it was attached
to a card on which was written, Quer-
ida! Dear ,One.)
&" This portion of the cemetery belongs
to the middle class of the people, and
holds, ewithin, two vast divisions. One
destined for: the poor, Is bare, and
planted with great black crosses. :.
The other, set apart for the rich, and
larger than the first, is cultivated like
9 garden, surrounded by chape1s, rich,
varied and superb.
In the midst of a forest of willows
and expresses, on every, side columns,
shafts, enormous tombs, and marble
chapels overloaded with sculpture,
pyramids, groups of statues and monu-
ments, large as houses, which overtop
the highest trees.
Between the monuments are bushes,
gratings and fower-beds, and at the
entrance, between this and the other
cemetery, there is a superb marble
church surrounded by columns, half
hidden by the trees: .rv<
eOn leaving this garden one crosses
:once more the deserted streets of the
metropolis, which seems more silent
and sad than at ones first entrance.