The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1891-10-03
QUAINT HEADSTONEs.
EPITAPHS THAT ARE BOTH
STRANGE AND CURIOUS.
Telling Of the Virtues OF the Dssd-soms
singular Specimens OF Mortusry
Literature In Didsrsnt
Csmsterlss.

Nowhere do the foibles and eccen-
tricities OF poor humanity appear at
better or worse advantage than in its
last resting place. says the Washing
ton Star. A philosopher turned loose
In an old graveyard will find more
food for thought and speculation than
In the crowded thoroughfares OF a
great city.
Both in the marble that affection or
remorse rears over silent sleepers and
In tho inscriptions upon humble head
stones telling OF the virtues OF the
dead. or preaching from silent lips ser
mons TO the living is there the same
pathetic appeal against oblivion, as
though the sleepers In their graves
still chung to their human kinship, still
claimed attention from the busy, bust
ling world above.
Of epitaphs there are many that one
expects to find in almost every grave
yard, but the patient searcher will dis
cover many that are quaint and curi-
ous and some that to our latter-day
eyes seem to border on the sacrile-
gious.
In the old Swedish cemetery ut
Wilmington. Del, one finds upon the
hcad-stone OF no doubt reputable
citizen the following oft-repeated STAN
"a:
Farewell, dear friends as you pass by,
AS you arc now so once was 1;
AS am now so you must be,
Prepare for death and follow me-"
Below this inscription has been
scratched by some over-c cautious in
diyidual the following:
ITO follow you is not my intent
Until know which way you went"
One Of the most original epitaphs
known to the writer Is that upon a
tombstone in the Hollywood cemetery,
Richmond, Va, to Engineer James Z.
Valentine. killed in a collision Decem-
Der "a, 1874:
"Amid the crash and fall ho stood and
sacrificed his life that he might fulfill his
trust.
''Until the brakes are turned on time,
Lies throttle valve shut down.
He wakes to pilot in the crew
That wear the martyrs crown.
con schedule time, on upper grade,
Along the homeward section,
He lands his train at Gods round house,
The morn Of resurrection.
Ellis time all full no wages locked,
His name on Gods pay roll,
A transportation through to heaven,
A free pass for his soul.''
1t must be admitted that in these
practical modern days sentiment is be-
coming eschewed even in Gods acre.
rs witness the inscription on a stone
in a country burying ground few
miles from Lexington. Ky. Notwith-
standing the opportunity for the ultra
sentimental the much married hus-
band contents himself with inscribing
upon the four sides OF square block
OF stone the following:
1. Sarah A., beloved wife of John Bell.
2. Sarah L., beloved wife of John Bell.
3. Sarah p, beloved wife of John Bell.
4. They were all good wives, and hope
to meet them all in heaven.
1t Is hardly necessary to recall to
Washingtonians the inscription upon
n nameless stone in a cemetery across
the Potomac at Alexandria to woman
whose history Is shrouded in mystery
and romance. and about which there
has been more speculation and whose
grave has been the object Of wider
interest than perhaps any other In the
land. 1t Is as follows:
ITO the Memory
ola
Female Stranger,
whose mortal sutferings terminated here
on the 4th day Of October, 1915,
Aged 90 years and months.
This stone Is erected by her disconso-
late husband. in whose arms she breathed
out her last sigh, aud who, under God, did
his utmost to soothe the cold, dull ear of
DEATH
GLOW loved, how honored once, avails
thee not,
To whom related and by whom begot;
heap of dust alone remains Of thee
IT'S all thou art, and all the proud shall
be'n.
Who she was and from whence she
came will probably never be known.
That she was OF surprising beauty is
we'll authenticated, as is the fact that
in the few months she lived in Alex
andria with her husband little or no
communication was held with the out
side world, and that he. after placing
this stone above her remains, dis
appeared as suddenly rs they had
come. leaving no trace behind
THE following epitaph." says a
correspondent copied from tomb
stone in graveyard in New England.
is an interesting example Of the coarse
flippancy 80 often found in epitaphs in
the good old days."
Mary Ann lies here at rest
With her head on Abraham's breast.
1t is very nice for Mary Ann,
But rather tough on Abraham.
In SILK Attire.
This is tho way Lady Caithness,
Nine Blavatski's successor was be-
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