The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1889-03-24
GOODS ACRE"
A Gifted Southern Lady Visitors Impress
sion of Elmwood Cemetery.

sion Oh hlllWoOa OVAaoeoAJ
The following is from the letter OF a
gifted lady OF one OF the Atlantic cities
who has been visiting friends here:
"Among the many remembrances oil my
charming visit with you none are brighter
than of the afternoon we spent in roaming
through your city OF the dead-lovely,
cheerful Elmwood. The day was perfect;
all nature was glad with tie
coming life of the early spring.
time, and the opening flowers and
budding leaves were full of hope and
promise. 1t was one OF those purely Amer
lean spring days when one feels the pass
ing away Of the death OF nature and the
resurrection TO new life of tho coming
summer-a day when all things give prom
ise OF the better and higher life soon 10 APP
pear. Just the day TO spend in wandering
with warm hearts and loved ones through
the paths and avenues OF what the Ger
man with that touch OF sentiment which
sometimes comes TO him calls Gods acre.
Isn't that q truer and happier name Tor
the resting place OF our departed friends
than the plain, hard Anglo-SaXon grave
yard or cemetery? Gods acre There is
a tenderness and sweetness, n sense OF
comfort In the name. | have visited the
famous cemeteries OF this county and OF
Europe, but / have never seen n where
the name Gods acre would better apply
than to your Elmwood. There was an alb.
sence OF attempt and prepared effect, all
the ornamentation and carefully worked OCT
details Of the place seemed but the plain
work OF nature. The hand oi art and elabor-
alton was not obtruded aud ever present, rs
II is in 20 many more %prctentious and more
elaborate cemeteries. IL was so evident
that the whole planninga and supervision oil
this resting place was a work OF love, that
the brain and heart that directed and
guided II was full OF the warmth OF human
hope and charity for human i%railties, that
| was prompted TO ask whose hand aud
exquisite taste II was that had planned
and carried out this, and was told that
for more than t~wonty-seyen years the en-
tire management had been given 70 Capt.
Joseph Lenow, one Of the few instances in
this world where II public corporation had
found the man OF all others TO dill u sta.
ton and had the sound judgment and ap.
probation TO keep him there. During all
the years OF his presidency almost o
generation OF mani It's Affairs have been
most prudcntly and carefully managed FOR
the benefit OF its patrons; not a faint OF
wrong, not mn accusing breath Of selfish
ness, oppression or dishonesty was ever
whispered against the work OF his admin
istration. The perfectncss Of his plans aud
the thorough carrying out of all his i'm.
provements and hopes show that one
hand, one heart and one way has ever
pervaded It's councils. The most perfect
taste governs all the details. Trees arr
there in abundance, and M nature would
place them, the noble old native oaks are
still untouched save by n tender hand r..
moving the witLcred branches, the mag
nolias, the yews, the magnificent olms, the
tonder, lowly bending weeping willows,
the stately hickorys, the cedars, ali
arc there in their native beau.
ty, the pomegnnate with its blossoms
Of pure white, the pansics lifting
up their saucy faces in smiling greet
ing, the humble Scotch and Irish daisies,
the lowly violet, the myrtle, the homely
cowslips and buttorcups filling the hear,
with softening emotions are ~tastefully
scattered hither and yon, the crocuscs
just pcering through the turf, with the
quccnly tulip blooming beside them. J
remember the impression made on me by
~ hNaAhAA VI AhN bAhNAN Wv nANNAN
decorated monument. The restraining
hand OF cultivated taste everywhere shown
in the absence Of all that could offend OF
wound. The whole eighty acres wa q
gem OF culture and refinement Tho neat.
ness was that Of tender care aud not OF the
love for scrubbing and sweeping. IT,,
judgment and taste Of Capt. Jenow wa
shown to me In his choice OF a superin
tendont, Ben q. Woodward, who was borl
aud brought up amid similar surrounding
and whose quiet, efficient and unobtrusiyc
but firm, management showed itself a
every turn. The grand old Captain ha,
now passed his three score years and ten
and when hc shall be laid mt rest undo.
the trees In his loved Elmwood liar distan
be the day), the whole Of Gods Acre vii
be- his monument and his epiaph inscribc.
la lis loyclincss aud refinement. but yol
know oil the details OF Elmwood. aud
need not repeat them, | only tell you hov
Il impressed u woman who was lamilia
with such scenes. JEAS X. W."