Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-04-26
OUR MAIL POUCH.
Condition of the Allegheny Cemetery.


| To the Editor OF The Dispatch:
Cemeteries should be kept up in style cor
responding to the amount Of money paid for
lots in them, and also to the wealth of the lot
holders as well as their number. Cemeteries
are exempt from taxation and other outlays re-
| quired Of other corporations, and. of course.
when such an institution is populously inhab-
| tied by the honored dead of a great city, it is
| of course expected of the managers that they
keep the highways and byways in good condi-
tion, and the grounds and grave enclosures
trimmed and kept in order. Water should be
furnished at regular intervals so that those de-
string to plant new flowers or evergreens or
water old ones and thus beaut1fy the grounds.
should not have to search for water in unknown
locations.
Last Sabbath was beautiful day, and of
course, the Allegheny Cemetery had multi
tude of visitors. From the recently erected pa
latial gate on Penn avenue to the first grave,
which is over quarter of a mile, there was no
sidewalk, and the troops of pedestrians were
compelled to walk on the yellow sandy road
among the vehicles which literally covered the
walkers with fine yellow dust. A not day and
dusty atmosphere causes thirstiness and
many were the desires expressed for a drink of
water. by grown people as well as children
Hagar in the desert with little Ishmael had Di-
vine relief, but no person last Sabbath or any
other Sabbath day could get relief in the ALLIE
gheny Cemetery, unless it were from the lakes,
which no person would drink from for various
reasons.
The tower on Penn avenue is very fine and
ornamental, but if a little of that money had
been used to lay water pipe line to certain
places inside the cemetery, so that thirsty
multitude on hot day or any person who
wanted water on any other day to drink or to
water flowers with could get it. it would have
certainly been better. There Is water far down
the hill to water graves with, but not to drink,
but 1t Is not every woman who can go SO far.
and carry quantity Of water up steep hill
for any purpose.
The condition OF many lots and many graves
was not in unison with apparently more fay-
ored Localities. -Four graves within a stones
throw had been opened and half filled again
some time before. Monuments, or headstones,
were broken and thrown down in places. Grave
stones bad tilted and were leaning together in
other places. New graves were unsodded, and
old blackened and dried up bouquets and flower
pieces lay around the lots and on
the graves, showing that they had
grief had subsidized with the burial.
Can it be possible that all of the large income
OF the cemetery from lots and interest was
spent ON tower. a gateway and fence? Can
IL be possible that there is no moral or other
obligation on the administration of the ceme-
terry to clean up the lots. or have them cleaned
up; to trim up and clean the grounds and cut
the grass? Should not these venerated grounds
be kept as becomes the largest cemetery in this
large city? Especially, now as Decoration Day
Is coming when the grounds will be more
CIOWueu LHdn Oh any OLner Qay OF the year.
The management seems close. They have an
old CerberuS at the Penn avenue gate who darts
at timid women and children, tearing out of
their hands as they pass out of the gate their
wild flowers, Quaker ladies' dandelions, or
wild violets, which last but day and which
have been plucked by the little children along
the paths AT the old gate where there was
hydrant, and while he was using the hose he
told some ladies and children on a very hot
day, that he did not know where there was any
water to be had.
The cemeteries of Pittsburg are the only pub
lie parks we have. In fact, they are the only
ones we should have. for it is the desire we have
to show our respect for our dead that takes US
there; and our pleasantest memories of our
dear ones are refreshed more in the quietness
of the cemetery, while sitting near them, than
they are anywhere else. There we can go and
contemplate the mystery of life and death. We
can regret with fond tears that our pleasant
companionships on this earth have ceased; we
can recall the pleasant faces, the gentle smiles
and loving words; we can trim the grass, root
out the weeds arrange the vines or plant lovely
flowers on their graves, flowers which are be-
neVed by the people of the far East to be the
bright exhalations of the souls of the departed,
each flower having been born over the site of the
obllterated grave of q long g-fOrgotten departed
spirit. 1t is pleasant thing. as well duty
we owe to the dead to thus bring the silent
city of fast moldering forms our pleasantest
thoughts for private season of introSDecEiOn.
The sweetness. the tenderness, the charity, the
beauty of life is thus displayed in affection for
the dead. But when we go there we want things
to look right and to have water and other con-
venlences at hand. Enough money has been
paid Tor the lots to pay for conyeniences also.
BUMBALo.
ALLEGHENY April 25