The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-08-09
IN A coLoRED CEMETERY.
The Sexton Discourses on the Habits
of His Patrons.
From the Chicago Times.

From the Chicago Times.
A curious custom is still observed in an
old negro burying ground at Washington,
D. Chat of placing upon the graves of
departed friends and relatives the ar
ticles most enjoyed or used by them while
living, and the bottles containing the
residuum of the medicines that were adj
ministered during the last illness.
The Mount Zion graveyard, as il is
called, lies in the shadow of the beautiful
Oak Hill cemetery, on Georgetown
Heights. Both are charmingly situated
on rising ground overlooking Rock
creek at its most picturesque point. Sep
arated only by short stretch of land and
a high board fence, the two silent cities"
present the most vivid contrast imagin-
able
On one side are soft, green lawns, flow
ering shrubs, graveled walks. and mag
nitcent monuments; on the other, a rank
growth of grass and weeds, orm-eaten
and diScolored wooden beadboards, and
instead of flowers a miscellaneous tumble
OF toys, ornaments, tools, etc. But Mount
Zion has its own peculiar charm and its
patrons are unique in the belief that the
things used by the departed during life
are needed by them in the land of
shadows
The old, white-haired sexton, in his
quaint dialect, gives many amusing
obituaries and explains the significance of
certain articles that litter the mounds.
HANDY FOR THE SPIRITS.
The idea of the negroes in placing them
IN the cemetery, is,.that they may be
within easy reach of the spirits, whom
they confidently believe revisit the scenes
OF their sufferings. If they find familiar
objects on their graves they confne their
Manifestations In tho. Ramnfnru---if
they haunt the families who have neg
lected to provide them.
One grave has, instead of a monument,
large wooded hobby horse, buried to its
launches in the ground. II marked-so
tne sxton said-the last resting place of
Mr.. "Johnsing, who, while living, was
Jhe driver OF an express wagon. He was
extremely fond of his horse, and his
widow, who was obliged to sell it, used
some of. the proceeds to buy a wooden
one A complete set of harness was pro-
Wded also, and "ebery night he bitches
ana onhitches dat boss, an den goes back
an lies down again quiet. Eff he didn't
nave dat 10 ockerpy i'm, he'd haunt de
oil woman"
Often one grave is made to serve for an
enllre family. One of the most preten-
uous monuments in the cemeterY-a plain
marble slab--had carved upon its sur
lace the name of Andrew Jordan and his
Iour children-Erastus Sophia, Andrew,
ana Washington. lob course" said the
sexton, commenting on the practice, II
mas 10 dig de first grade deeper, but it's
economical and sosherble in de end
Most Of the inscriptions are real curiosi-
ueS With few exceptions they are
painted roughly in black on white wooden
.aolets. Few of them bear any date
whatever, and in the majority of cases
aailes are not given in full Nearly all
VI Ihem were composed and printed by
s4e sexton himself who modestly de-
pored the fact that he was not as handy
as, as ne might be, but the look of pride with
,wHIch he regarded his handiwork belied
'e sincerity of his words.
5Oh the grave of a little boy-Grover
hancock Van Clief-a high chair and a
10y Wheelbarrow stands guard. He had
Zen a special pet of the old sexton, and
SSus grass waving over him showed evil
,utes OF cultivation in striking contrast
W., me tangled neglected growth on
FINER SIDE. The sexton admitted that
s susse ooleets often disappeared from the
G,ayeyard, but, scoruing the idea that
"''e was any one mean enough to steal