Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-08-31
CEMETERIES IN LONDON.
Char ,ges in the Cities Of the Dead {,
Make Way for the Living.


Char ges in the Cities Of the Dead to
Make Way for the Living.
From the kansas City Star.
In the city of London there are many old
deserted and abandoned graveyards. Their
Occupation" was "gone" when years ago
was passed the act of parliament making
burials obligatory in extramural cemeteries.
Chief among these old graveyards is Bum
hill Fields, known to all visitors as the
famous resting place of the dissenters,
where are the monuments of the writers
OF two great books, THE Pilgrims Pro-
gress" and Robinson Crusoe" books which
nave been causing people to seek the king
dom of heaven and also the ends of the
earth as runaway sailor boys for 10 these
many years, counting into centuries. Bum
hill Fields is, in fact, a show place and
has somewhat cheerful aspect when the
sun Shines though there are grewsome
associations when one thinks that they
buried people there in hurried and hideous
FASHION in the days of the great plague,
and so many of them that the place came
to be called Bone HILL and that it is esti-
mated that 100000 bodies have been buried
over and over in that small four acres.
But besides Bunhill Fields there are other
OLD burial places. without its fame-1I3 in
all, 1t Is said-scattered over London The
great city has grown all around them and
beyond them and hidden them. They lie
behind the rows of houses, reach through
the houses and under arches and by blind
passageways. Human feet are seldom
turned that way any more; but the dark
ness finds them, and the gray fog, and the
dripping rain, and the snow, and the cold.
all alike, you know; all alike in a row."
There are the tombstones standing up
right and at all angles, the fall indicating
how long and heavy has been the pressure
OF time and neglect and forgetfulness. As
these bear down the stone sinks. Sad
places these, and yet they have been pre-
served from busy encroachment; the marts
OF trade have not been suffered to invade;
men have not been allowed to take them
for gain or other uses. Once set apart for
public purposes these lots and parcels of
ground have. as 1t were, been kept apart.
1t has been determined Of late by the
proper authorities to change all these
sraveyards into something else. To convert
all these grounds dedicated to the dead to
uses or the living, to convert them all ac-
cording to their size and capacity into
parks and lawns, open spaces and breathing
places for the people. 1t has taken a long
time to bring about this decision, and that
| 1t has been made is sign of the coming
of the new earth. What has been called
respect for the dead" has been counted
very strong sentiment among Christian
peoples 1t has protected the resting places
OF mortality in the midst of crowded cities
for centuries, the dead, as it were, being
cherished to the detriment of the living.
OFTEN and often the imperious needs of
commerce have been checked by the SEN
| timent The street was needed, but 1t must
not be opened through the humble ceme-
terry. Some strange and mighty change
must have occurred to weaken this senti-
ment SO that in conservative London a
| decree should have gone forth that all thess
"haliowed" resting places of the departed
| should thus be converted into something
very like pleasure grounds.
A change. has come in London and not
| in London only. but in all the cities of the
world, the great civilized and enlightened
and progressive world. The change is in
| this. that respect for the dead" gives way
to respect for the living. 1t is the living
man who must be cared for and looked
after. and protected and helped, and given
his chance for life now, and therefore grass
shall grow and trees shall wave and foun-
tains shall throw their spray, and birds
| shall sing and young and old shall walk
abroad and the breath Of life shall come
into the congested lungs of the crowded
town, where are now these broken tombs
That is the spirit of the modern world,
the best spirit, and every man should feel
himself in accord with it, that the world ise
Tor Tor the use OF the people who are now
living In It, that 1t belongs to them and
everything in it should be devoted to the
best use and behoof of the greatest number
of these. The sentiment which takes these
grounds, hitherto set apart for the unknown
Ing and uncaring dead, and devotes them to
the healthful and happy use of living men,
women and little children is the sentiment
the commonplace name of public improve
ment, which makes, for instance a new
and good road. quite regardless of the sort
of road which may have existed for UNI
known centuries, not that the king may
proceed from one part of his dominions to
another, but that everybody, high and low.
rich and poor, in carriages and on foot
and on bicycles may go their ways in COM
fort and expedition. This sentiment, be IL
known, does not care where the old road
went. nor how long it had been laid out
nor how many old people were attached
to 1t and thought it was good enough for
them; the question dealt with is but the
need of the new and the benefit it will be to
the thousands now who, with the Thousands
to come make up the eternal majority.