The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1885-11-07
in THE SHADOW or THE CROSS.

AN S8IutS OAy-Aue IFluCspAA 1OiASOS "sssa
Decorations In the Catholic Censetery.
There is no more beautiful custom IN the
Catholic religion THIN the observance Of
All Saints Bay, which has been set apart
by the Church to the memory of the saints
and is Feast of obligation as regards at
tending divine service and sustaining from
manual labor. The peculiar and touching
custom of decorating the last resting places
of loved ones who have fallen under the re-
lentless hand Of the grent reaper is essen
TALLY Southern, and has been OF late years
observed by nearly all religious denomina-
tons.
| vile, where sleep 30 many of its founders,
contains numerous handsome and costly
tombs and monuments, as we'll as poor and
humble ones, but both classes alike bore ev-
idence that those who rest within still live,
hallowed III loving hearts and undyinx
memories. The cemetery is approached by
long grassy walk, bordered ON each side
with tall, widespreading willows, and ere
the visitor has reached the gates of the
hallowed enclosure, the mellowed light, the
hush aud solitude seem to shut him away
solemnly from all the outer world.
Just beyond the entrance, to the right of
central avenue down which we look upon
passing through the gates, is the Bringier
tomb, a square, granite mausoleum, the
largest in the cemetery, in which lie mem
bers of the Bringier, Tureaud, Kenner and
Colomb families. 1t was simply decorated
here aud there with natural flowers, and in
bundle of sugar cane bound like sheaf of
| wheat. A compartment in the side of the
tomb devoted to the Colomb family had
been but few days before opened to re-
ceive the remains of Marie Louise Colomb,
who had been snatched away from earthly
life at the age of Is, before she had tasted
either its joys or sorrows. Immediately op-
posite the Bringier tomb, on the other side
of the avenue, is the tomb Of Mrs. Antoine
ID. Vega, one of the few in the graveyard
that bears q poetical inscription.
In front of the O'Malley tomb, little
further down the avenue, broken column
of snowy white told a pathetic tale of Il
bright young life cut OF in all its promise,
O'Malley."
On the Wilson tomb near by was carved
the name of Mary Armide Theresa Wilson,
aged 10 months. Loving hands had tender-
lev,
the ffeeting perfume of her life, weaving
them about the marble slab which bore up
on its face the indelible letters telling of the
time when Christ suffered them to come IN
to Him.
Further along black marble headstone
told of Doctor A. Maszke, Baron of Elpen-
bein, a native Of Mariampol, Pologne, who
died far from home and loved ones, a po-
lltical exile from his native land.
The family tombs of Jean Dominique,
Comstock, Simon Braud, DR.. Theo. Webre,
Robt. Coquille, Guedry, Matthew Coughlin
and Louis Dalmas are among the most COIL
spicuous in this portion of the cemetery.
the two last named attracting especial
|
ers and shrubs growing around them.
On fat, old fashioned table tomb :"
was traced the name of Lloi Meluncon,
grass-grown and messy, as if preparing for
final plunge into oblivion.
The beautiful Gothic sepulchre of the An
drews family, the ante bellum owners of
Evan Hall, is constructed of Hhnesst marble
and attracts immediate attention.
Near the end of the middle avenue are
grouped the tombs of several branches of
the Duffel family, all bedecked with natu-
| raj flowers.
At the termination of the avenue rises the
great mission cross so recently erected, and
near its base, surrounded by an ornamental
iron railing, repose the remains of the Sis
tiers of Charity who have breathed their last
| within the peaceful walls of the St. Vincent
Institute. In the centre of the enclosure
rests the revered Sister Mary Austin, whose
grave is surrounded by an imposing head
stone erected by the ladies of the parish,
many of whom were her pupils in bygone
years. Two large urns, sbearing the initials
E. J. and NJ. V. respectively, and filled with
offerings to this gentle religieuse, whose
good deeds and kindly excellence will never
fade from the memory of those who knew
and honored her in life. Within the shad-
ow of the cross she served so faithfully she
sleepeth we'll.
Turning now to the left we pass the tombs
Of J. Leblanc, E. BujoI, L. Landry and HUI
bert Treille all newly cleaned and decora-
ted. Below these spacious iron rallied on
Glosute Contains two old tombs said to bear
the names of Pedesclaux and Winchester.
Weeds and wild flowers hold high carnival
here: coarse coxcombs have thrust their
gaudy heads through assures iii the brick
work, and from the gnarled branches of
leafess tree, trembling and swaying with
every passing breeze, there hang the dis
'nant!ea remnants of forsaken nest.
Adjacent to this neglected spot is the tall
and stately Landry sepulchre, the most con-
remains of members of the old Landry aud
Duffel families. A stray she'll injured
corner of this structure during the war, and
for many years great hole in the mason
work d!sfgured it, but the place has been
neatly repaired and no longer serves as
reminder of the time when the passions of
the living marred even the tranquil SUM-
Der Of the dead. At the entrance of this
mausoeum a headstone marks the resting