The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-05-27
STONES FOR GRAVES
sOME NEW STYLES IN MONUMENTS
AT BEAUTIFUL CROWN HILL.
Eject of the New Rules I'm Keeping
the Cemetery Neat-Some
Old Relics.

but that the stones in the cemetery are
OF the same general form as they were a
decade or more ago Is not so. The shafts
which tower to the sky and whose tops
are hidden IN the leaves of the trees viii
always be the favorite style for those per-
sons who desire to spend several thou
sands of dollars for them and for hand
some carvings and figures with which to
adorn the top.
Since the sarcophagls was placed In
Crown Hill for General Candy several
others have been added to the cemetery.
The sarcophagus of the ancients was built
of a stone and the bodies placed therein.
The sarcophagus Of to-day is simply a
large square or oblong stone placed over
a grave, in the center of the lot for a
family monument. The stone which forms
the ornamental part is set on two or three
bases Of stone. The Cleopatra shaft has
had many imitators and unless there is
to be some figure or design surmounting
the shaft this style is chosen almost en-
tirely- The very newest design for the
tall monuments is called the needle spire.
This IS more slender and runs up TO a
point Where one is willing to spend a
considerable amount for a monument the
tail ones are favored. The low solid-looIx-
less expensive. The medium height shafts
are relegated To the country graveyards.
Some of the dealers have them in stock
to supply the demand of those who have
not yet caught up with the fashion in
stones, just as the city merchants keep
standard materials and patterns on hand
for the country trade. The very first
stone which was put in Crown Hill, the
for haf0r
other, is marked by a tall fiat stone with
the name and date. and the design. a weep
ing willow, is cut in the side. There used
to be an old song. the refrain of which
was Lay Me Under the Weeping VIII
low" The tree was thought to be par
tieularly appropriate. The one mentioned
is about the only one on Crown Hill
monument
The cemetery corporation has decided to
make Crown Hill similar to the beautiful
and famous cemeteries of the country,
and for the purpose an entire new set or
rules and regulations have been prepared
and sent out to the owners of lots and
others. The cemetery is one Of the favor
tie places for taking visitors, and many
persons have thought it one of the most
beautiful in the country. There has, how
ever. been a lack of harmony in the
whole, and for this reason the new order
has been made. The idea IS simply to
make the city of the dead even more
lovely than it is. Many Of the persons
who own lots and have planted flowers,
shrubbery and other growing things have
felt hurt that they were 10 be allowed
this privilege no more. When they see
the perfect order in which everything will
be kept, they will be very apt to change
Among the prohibitory rules are these:
There shall be no planting OF trees shrub
berry or plants on and after Nov. 1, 1884,
lots shall be used for no other purpose
than for the burial Of the dead; no often
sive improper Inscriptions or objects
Will be allowed. no trelliseS will be al
lowed; Enclosures of any kind; no plants
OF any kind to mark the boundaries; only
one head or foot stone, and this not, more
inches thick; only one monument will be
allowed on a lot, and there snail be no
curbdng around the graves This means
marked change in Crown Hill The graves
are to be lowered to four inches in the cen
ter and sloping on each side to the general
surface OF the place.
CARE FOR ALL GRAVES
The cemetery company will take entire
charge OF the cemetery and keep the place
IN perfect order There will be no trash
and dead flowers and other articles left on
the graves TO decay and make a blot on the
general neatness. Some of the graves get
be most benefited by the new rules. There
are prohibitory laws. but there are also
some allowances to be made. Lot holders
may have vases of flowers, and those who
care TO place fresh flowers in vase, glass
other receptacle on the graves Will be
permitted, with the reservation that when
the flowers are withered or dead they Will
be removed by the men whose duty II Is
to see to those things.
There are in Crown Hill between 2oOOO
and 5000 interments. The vast majority
OF the persons buried have been placed
there by relatives or friends. The custom
OF sending flowers for funerals has been
long in vogue, but the remembrance for
the dead are not limited TO flowers. Hun
dreds OF graves have nothing but the green
turf above them. Some have a single vase
for flowers, which are brought there at in
tervals, and from this the range is great.
A walk in Crown Hill will bring forth
some discoveries. some may be of a start
ling nature. Some bring a. smile, and an
other class Will bring forth a feeling of
great pity. There is one mound there which
has at its mead a small show case. The
person buried evidently was a child, for the
case contains doll carriage with large
plate. cup and saucer, saucer
full OF marbles, shells. set OF
blocks little broom. fiat iron,
IN a small chair. conch shells. an iron
bank, tin rooster and bead work. Artifi-
cial flowers and other articles complete the
list. One day woman who had lost her
husband brought out case and put in 1t
pair of trousers. a pair of suspenders, a
bottle, jug and some trinkets. Whether
the mans bibulouS nature was a source of
pride 10 her or whether she wanted to
make the articles an awful lesson for those
who should see them is not known, but
this much is sure that they did not re-
main there long. The authorities had some
thing to say in the matter. There are
numbers OF glass cases with wreatheS and
branches of artificial flowers One slab
has a very large case covering it, and there
are any quantity OF bouquets and other
floral designs. we'll as shells, dishes and
playthings OF some child. Many of these
cases, which seem to be the style for a
certain class OF people, contain the photo
graph or the departed glass cake cover
has been used to cover the articles at one
grave. and Bible, flowers, photograph
and similar pieces adorn one plot. Conch
shells outline the grave or the plat of many
and their pink and white surfaces gieam
IN the sunshine.
It IS for the purpose of doing away with
this heterogeneous lot of decorations that
the new order was given Some OF the
things which have been In Crown Hill many
years have been taken away since the first
notices were sent out, and the work OF re-
who have been notified have become an
noyed at the order and have threatened dire
revolution One woman said that she would
not take away the decorations which had
cost her S2.00O. but If the company persisted
IN carrying out its mandate that they ought
70 Day her what she has spent and she
would move bodies and all away from
Grown Hill. When the answer was sent to
her that they would pay her. then she as
sumed the Injured air.
GRAVES OF CEMENT.
Most OF the burials are made in the earth
but many people have a cement grave 10
set the coffin in. If stone and cement is