The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-07-18
INNOCENT EUGENE ABROAD.

INNOCENT EUGENE ABROAD.
Col. Field Visits Bunhin Fields and Writes
to the Folks at Home About 1t.
Just before leaving England for Ger
many went down to Bunhin Fields to
see the graves of four very great men
Bunyan, De Foe, Watts and Ritson.
The cemetery is a curious spot, as full
Of interest as it Is full of bones-the
name originally was Bone hill. One
hundred and twenty-five persons have
been buried here. Ritson's grave can
not be identified; the antiquary re-
quested that no mound or slab should
be raised above him, and that wish has
been complied with HE was buried
somewhere in this corner'-that is all
the information the guide has to give.
De Foes grave is marked by stanch
obelisk, for which his youthful readers
have paid. A comparatively new monu-
ment stands over Bunyan's grave; the
old slab was fairly hacked to bits and
carried away by relic hunters.
II fancy" said l to the guide, that
many of my countrymen visit this saint
ly spot"
''Oh, yes, sir" said he; 'they come
here in droves during the season"
"Can it be possible" l asked, ''that
this cemetery has season, the same as
seaside resorts and water cures have2
"Oh, no." he answered; 81 mean
that they come here in summer, for in
the summer mostly Americans come to
England"
81 am proud" said l, Ito know
that my countrymen are disposed to
pay the tribute of their reverence and
affection to the memories of these saint
ly dead Could you tell me which of
these hallowed spots they seem to seek
out more particularly Either Bunyan
or Watts would be likely to appeal to
the average American, suspect"
mo, SIR" replied the guide; ''how
they find out about it can't say, but
nearly all of 'em come to see the tomb
of that lady over there, and they al
ways make a copy of the epitaph."
proceeded to the spot designated.
1t was the grave of worthy but not
noted lady, who ''in sixty eight months
was tapped sixty-seven times" and chad
266 gallons of water taken from her,"
all of which she endured without re-
pining at the dispensation of an inscrut-
able Providence.
Across the street from Bunhill Fields
is the chapel behind which John Wesley
lies buried Over his grave stands a
simple shaft Greeted in 1910, I think,
upon which is inscribed as touching, as
eloquent and as dignifed an epitaph as
l ever read. This whole locality has
an inexpressible charm; here, in the
heart of populous city and grit about
with vice, is a quiet little tract where,
in the presence of the master minds of
our faith, we may commune with the
sweetest of memories.
The unpleasant feature of it all is
that as you leave the spot you are
swooped down upon by hawk nosed
female who inveigles you into sort Of
lodge and worries you until you pay
her two shillings for series of twenty
four pictures purporting to illustrate
the life of Wesley.
you'll come down tomorrow and
attend service. won't you2' asked this
old griffin.
'Inasmuch as live about five miles
due west of here" said l, lit is likely
that if attend service at all I shall at
tend service where cab fare of two
and six is not involved"
''But aren't you a Noncomformist
divinew she asked.
Madame" said I, seriously, Il have
been mistaken at different times for Sol
Smith Russell, Nat Goodwin, Harry
Dixey and Bill Nye, but never yet have
/ been told that looked like preach
er. No, my good sister in Adam, 1 am
not clergyman-I AIN by predestina-
ton, preordination, prepossession, pre-
dilection and profession an ungodly
newspaper man."
'Lor' mei' she exclaimed, and a
shade of disappointment crept into her
voice; ''thinkin' you was a divine l
knocked off sixpence on them picturesl '
Eugene Field in Chicago News.