Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-11-04

sad significance. and the lank trailing
boughs of weeping willows that swing list
lessly in the breezes of the hill complete
hopeless picture. Grave after grave is
adorned with decoration almost as i'm
mortal and quite as ugly as death itself
Ihere are wreaths and crosses of black
and white and purple beadwork with mot
toes wrought in white-"Ay Father .'NIy
frlenc, "Desolated.'
Artificial EmbIems
As you draw near to Pere Lachafse Won
pass shop after shop. and even stalls along
the street, piled high with these CHASTITY
ernblems- They reach all the way from the
prison OF La Roquette to the gate of the
cemetery. far above on the hill. These ar
thclal imrnorteles, with their shining
beadwork, their white and black ribbons
and their notices. are universal in French
cemeteries; ami. except for the flowers
brought in profusion on All Souls day.
they are the only decoration They he Ve
the two great advantages of being Cheap
and lasting They are made, for the most
part. of simple black and white beads
strung in some spreading floral design On
wires and tied with silk ribbon which Of
ten has an Inscription in gilt letters They
are hung on the to-nbs or placed above the
graves. where they Will long resist sun and
rain sometimes the color is varied with
violet, which IS also the hue of mourning:
but the French do not recognize yellow as
the Italians do. except in natural or arti-
fetal flowers: and these are mainly re-
served for the day Of burial itself. when
funeral wreaths are strewn lavishly, or
for the months mind or anniversary. or.
ehlefest OF all. for this Day of the Dead.
Old Pious Customs
In the old times when religion ruled
every one laid off work to pray in the
churches ard visit the cemeteries on the
morning OF All Souls day. Even now the
French peasant has a superstition that
some i'll luck will befall him II he works
during that time. In the city. in spite of
the lack of religion. as many as are able
keep to the old pious custom.
If they are obliged to work. they replace
their next Sundays outing by visit to the
city of the dead. Gambetta, who hated
priests and laughed at religion. was seen
each year until his death. on the Day of
the Dead. dutifully kneeling at mass for
his mothers soul in early morning. and
then going 10 lay his tribute Of affection
on her grave. And no Partisan was found
scoffer enough to laugh at him.
Scenes Mt Pere Lachnfse.
II 1t is possible for the tourist to visit
Pere Lachaise at such a time, a scene will
BE- presented to him able to reveal a side
of the Partisan character which perhaps.
he had not dreamed of. In the center of
the long alley. half way up the height along
the hill. there is a monumental column.
Grave after grave is piled with flowers but
none is covered like this column. You may
stand and see man after man of every rank
IN life. women. young rniddle-aged and old and
little children walk up. cast bouquet upon
II and depart. Yet no one is buried under
II. and no name Is craven on IL. This is
the Monument de Souvenir; and this noun
tain of flowers Is for the cause commune"
for the neglected and forgotten dead, for
all who lie in Pere Lachaise, and for all the
dead In general