National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1884-12-27

most interesting spots in Georgetown,
and probably in the district, is the old
Presbyterian burying ground, on the
northeast corner of Fourth and Market
streets. Ancient, dilapidated, forsakon,
the place seems almost to have outgrown
the memory of people, and to have little
in common with the present generation.
Shut in from the ever-encroachine de-
mands of crowded neighborhood, tho
ground is fenced with simple wooden
palings, inside of which, rank and tall,
grow great mock-orange trees.
In the pamy days of the old town it
was q trim, well-kept hedge, but many
years have now passed since the gar
doner's shears clipped through its green
branches. Turning tho key in the rusty,
unused lock the gates open charity, as
though 10th to admit the idle loiterer
adown the grass-grown paths and wind
ing walks. Though in ruinous state Of
dilapidation, the burying ground yet has
in its old age quaint beauty, pictur-
esque charm that is wholly irresistible.
Long years agone, when the poor old
eouls whose bones, now lie buried here
came to their last resting place borne on
mons shoulders and followed by mourn-
ing relatives, these last wishing to com.
memoTato the memory of their loved ones
had erected tall monuments or low-lying
slabs, triumphs Of the stonecuttor's art.
In most cases these stones reared in such
pride OF anguished love lilo heaped
together with piles of brick beneath some
tree, oil trace of their original resting
place forever lost.
In former times box hedges with hugo
clumps of the evergreen at the four cor
ners marked the boundary lines of family
lots. In some cases were marble posts,
from whence the chains which once
swung have long since departed, riAed
by tho urchins of the noighborhood.
Again, Enclosures are marked of by high
brick wallis whose solid masonry defes
the deprcdations of time. These brick,
together with those used in building
many of the old residences in George
town, were brought from England, aud
seem at this day to be as firm and free
from suspicion of crumbling as when first
brought to this country century or moro
ago.
At one time the burying ground was
given to the charge of number of ladies
of the Presbyterian church and was by
them cleared of weeds and an attempt
made to keep the place in proper order,
but the funds requisite for this were
lacking and SO gradually the idea was
abandoned and things fell back into their
former condition. The sexton of the
little chapel at the eastern end of tho
ground now has sole care of the place
and seems to take keen
interest in his work. But, as in the
former case, the lack of necessary money
prevents much being effected. Much of
the primitive style yet remain, for be-
sides his duties as sexton he acts grave
digger, and after showing tho stray
visitors over the place in parties descsnts
to them upon his superior excellence in
the latter capacity and the extreme
reasonableness Of his charges.
Within a large brick Enclosure sealed
on all sides are buried tho remains of the
Beall family, descendants of Ninian, the
founder of the town of George. On the
west side of this wall is q crumbling
sandstone and upright slab marking the
earliest date of interment in the grounds,
erected in memory of Elizabeth, wife of
Col. George Beall, who departed this life
Oct. 9, 17is, aged. about 40 years." In
side the inclosure, as though retreating
from notice, in the far northwest corner,
is little stone over the remains of Thos.
B. A. Washington, eldest son of George
G.. and Elizabeth Ridgely Washington,
who died in 1909.
Near tho Bcall Enclosure is a large fiat
marble slab raised several feet from the
ground by brick foundation, and boar
ing the inscription
This Sepulchre covers the
Remains of the two wives of the
Reverend S. b. Balch d. ID.
Elizabeth the First died in
George Town on the 9th June 1897
Aged Is wears
Elizabeth the Second died in
George Town the 23rd November
lS2S Aged IS years
Prov 3l-29
Many daughters have done Virtue
ously; but we have eNcelled them all.
An examination of the above epitaph
reveals conclusively the fact Of DIR. Balch
being firm believer in the biblical lines,
ut is not good for man to live alone"
Special pains appear to have been taken
to catalogue the wives in the order of
their succession which WAS quite rapid.
A slight perverSion is also observable in
the quotation from Proverbs, the original
of which reads, But thou excellest them
ALL"
The stone which has attracted from
strangers more widespread attention than
perhaps any other bears not only curi-
Gus epitaph, but Is further remarkable
from the fact that IL was prepared and cut
by the man whose remains it now covers.
Iu perfect health at the time of accom-
plishing this strange work. the eccentric
genius left near the top blank space In
which was to be placed after his demise
his age and date of death. The follow
ing is fac smile Of the strange epitaph:
Erected TO perpetuate the memory
of John llaydock,
Stone Cutter.
A native of Lancashire, England
Died April 18th, 1907, aged "a years.
stop traveller one moment wait
While my solemn tale relate
With strong ambition, youth, and health,
The world ] followed grasped at wealth.
Madly despsed my Makers frown,
And broke my constitution down.
At length incurable disease
Brought death TO view by slow degrees,
Ny sins around me wound chain,
To drag me down TO endless pain.
| cried for mercy-but | cried
Perhaps too late-for when died
My friends had nothing left TO prove,
! ever felt n Saviors love
As then with my expiring breath
so now from this cold house of death
warn you sinncr-Turn-Beware,
Forsake your sins--or meet despair
In direct contrast to this is the stone
'In memory
of
Edward Jones esq,
who was born in New York Dec. 18th
1854 and died in this Town Sop 18th
1922. Independent and upright 1t was
his peculiar fortune TO exhibit his
principles in all the relations of
society, and during the long period of forty
years faithfully devoted to the
services of his country.
Appointed Chief Clerk of the Treasury
Department during the administration
OF Washington Il Hamilton he continued
in the discharge of his Office
until few months antecedent
to his decease"
The eldest son OF this gentleman, DR..
Charles Jones. II prominent physician of
Illinois, recently came to Georgetown
for the purpose of visiting his fathers
tomb and the few persons now left living
WIN Mern tho friends of hiR hnvhnnh