Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-07-19


state of Virginia. which is noted for the unique
aess of its burial tracts that date back into the
colonial period 1t stands completely isolated
from the inroads of modern civilization by the
great brick wall already mentioned, through
which entrance is had into the sacred precincts
by stone steps at least ten feet in the rise. Two
OF these staIrways afford means of passage past
tumbling tombs and tipsy slabs that have been
kept III as good a state of repair the inroads
of the weather and the demands for new burial
places will permit. The great majority OF the
dates at least half a century behind the
times, while there are dozens that linger around
the opening of the century, and quite a number
that go back into the seventeen hundreds and
the time of long SIS and the yes" of our great
grandfathers. II was a period of epitaphs. q
time when the mourners were fond of saving
pleasant things about their deceased friends
and relatives-things that were more often true
In those days of strict puritanical integrity
than they are apt to be nowadays For in
stance, almost the first stone that takes the at
tention of the incomer bears on its broad. hori-
pillars, these words:
mo pampered verse or sculptured stone
shall yaunt how lineage ran.
Write this upon the heart alone:
Here lies an honest man."
The name of this paragon was John Lester,
who died year after the birth of the century
His tomb Is beginning to crumble under the
weight OF the tremendous truth Of its inscrip-
ton, and its soft sandstone face is SO worn that
the queer old letters are hard to decipher.
This is a feature of the yard
The church stands in the middle of the lot
literally surrounded by the tombs that have
been crowded upon and showed aside by new
corners as the years have rolled on, and the
angel of death has gone on his rounds, until
one feels sorry for the poor old things that
have done their duty so long and so faithfully
In one corner there has been an Improvement
made, a brick building for the storing away of
the sections gruesome tools, in itself at least
nifty years old, and this had to be built. it is
quite evident, at the expense of a number of
graves. as some OF those THAI escaped the dis
turbance are now quite on the line of the build
ing. From time to time the yard has been
covered with new soil, partly from design and
partly from the rotting of the leaves that fall
from the great trees that have stood guard
over their dead friends for a century past, and
the result Is that some of the graves are now
Of hidden, and il is said by old inhabitants
that there are some that have been quite COW
cred IL Is beyond doubt that in this way
many human record has been obliterated and
tombstone literature has suffered a severe
loss.
AsrRoLL THROUGH THE CHURCH YARD.
The soft notes of the organ were sounding
through the open windows when / began nv
stroll through the yard. Some of those inside
the church at the ends of the pews looked out
upon me. some reprovingly, others pityingly
and a few envIousiy. The sexton inquired my
business. and when told that was looking at
the tOnbs offered to assist me in my search for
antiquities. There was one piece Of carving
that had been lost to sight and this he thought
worthy Of perpetuation- A certain husband,
Durylng his wife, had caused to be carved ON
her tomb this rather suggestive line. simple
Yet vastly expressive: She is at rest and
30 am l.
Away down IN one corner of the yard not
lar from the encroaching wall Of the brick tool
house, was stone that had been SO broken
That the name of the dead person was entirely
Iost; The following inscription was barely
"17s7. Aged 1l9 years
and months
Lament, Q ye his Friends
thy Nirtuous Rothery."
Whether or not this age was the result of the
vandalism of boys or was a true statement il
Is impossible to discover. There are several
instances throughout the yard of the tendency
OF past generations Of youths to deface the
tomos. dlstorting the facts and playing havoc
with the hgures. For example. one stately slab.
raised. as Is the case In many graves ON ak
legs OF stone about two feet from the ground
shat stands almost Immediately in front of the
church door, bears this remarkable piece OF
Information:
VIE Of jacob Hsrris son
who departed this life
in The The 4 ri SG' sea9 q h hso Sx.~
There has evidently been some tamperino
here with time. shown by the extraordinary
date: 1t is probable that some mischieyou,
hand has scratched a after the year of the
good lsdy's death and another in front Of he,
age to make things even
mere Is Dill OF mortuary poesy that Ii but I
sample Of others quite as flowing:
Under this stone is laid
the Remains of
Mrs kosAnne Dixon
the amiable spouse OF
Mr.. John Dixon
Premier to this Commonwealth
she departed this life
the 9TH day Of April l19Q
aged 81 years.
Low IN the tomb most worthy ruin liza
while the purs vspour seeks its native skies
Fate like this, ~ thee dear FIRE. MI vas sivsr
Ts spsrkie. bloom and be Exhaled IN Heaven"