The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1895-10-12
q 3a1 To1ls o1:a1s WIFE.
4 Wealthy Widowsr Who Spends Hia
Days Near tho Casket Of
Hia Dead

4 wealthy Widowor Who Spends His
Days Near the Casket Of
His Dead
In a-yault in the beautiful Evergreen
Csnstsry there sits daily by the side Of
the casket contsinlng the remains Of bis
beloved wife, and surrounded By strange
collection of articles associated with her
daily life, an aged man, who has become
known to the numerous visitors to the
semetsry a. the man who lives in the
tomb"
Since the body of his wife was deposit
cd in the vault, two weeks ago, he has
spsnt oil his days beside her coffin and
has declared that he will continue to do
90 until he is summoned to join her. so
much excitement among the visitors to
the graveyard has been caused by the
bereaved husbands manifestations OF
grief that the authorities of the cemetery
have been forced to demonstrate with him.
Still he persisted in exercising what he
considers his right to pass his time in the
tomb.
The vault, an Imposing structure OF
granite, IS built into gentle slope in
that part of the cemetery known as .Whis-
pering Grove" on the shore of the lake.
Over the entrance is engraved in large
letters, jonathan aud Mary E. Reed, y
and on one of the stone posts supporting
heavy iron railing that incloses small
plot are found the words, Husband and
wife,"
A massive iron barred door gives full
view of the interior of the vault, the plan
of which is unique. A little vestibule
eight or ten feet square occupies the front
of the tomb. giving access to the inner
chamber which consists merely Of mar
row passageway about eight feet long,
with shelf, or recess, on either side. In
one of these recesses rests the body OF
Mrs. Reed, the other being reserved FOR
that of her husband.
When visited the spot yesterday after
noon the tomb was tenanted only by the
dead, the solitary watcher having depart
ed on the approach of the storm that
burst over the cemetery about 5 O'Clock.
The interior of the tomb afforded ample
evidence of its occupancy by the living.
At the further end Of the little passage
stood quaint, old-fashioned dressing
table and mirror, with various small ar
ticles of feminine use, and in front of this
a chair on which the watcher could SIT
beside the casket.
The caskct itself rested on the right
hand shelf, inclosed in double case, over
which was thrown piece of cheap Jap
ancse mating, gaudily painted with
flowers, which had evidently once served
for window shade.
The opposite shelf was Uttered with an
extraordinary collection of objects, in
Guiding articles of clothing, china vases,
withered punches of flowers, boxes, old
gloves, balls Of yarn and pieces of untin
ished knitting. The walls Of the inner
vault was covered with photographs in
cheap and furnished frames.
On the left hand wall of the vestibule
hung large portrait of an elderly man,
with long white side whiskcrs, and below
this was battered camp stool, held to-
gether with pieces of twine. On shelf
near the picture were piled woman's
reticule, an old card rack, several worn
work baskets, some knives and spoons
and more pieces of unfinished knitting
work. In corner were piled an old
broom and several feather busters. Like
the inner vault the walls of the vestibule
were covered with photographs, some be-
ing even suspended from the ceiling.
Probably the most singular object in
the collection wss a pack of cards which
had evidently never been used, hanging
by string from the upper part Of the
grated door.
I learned from the cemetery authorities
that Mr.. Reed was wealthy retired mer-
chant, living at IS South Ninth street,
Brooklyn. His wife died two years ago,
and her body was placed in the vault OF
her father, Mr.. Gould, in the cemetery
It was said that Mr.. Reed was not on
good terms with his father in law, who
objected to his frequent visits to the vault
Mr.. Gould died recently, and Mr.. Reed
then had tomb built on his own plans,
at cost of $4,000, and had the body re-
moved to it two weeks ago. He then filled
the vanlt with mementoes of his wife.
Mr.. and Mrs. Reed had travelled to.
gether extensively and had collected
many relics of the places they had visited
in the shape of pieces of stone, all Of
which he deposited in the vault
Since the completion of the tomb Mr.
Reed has visited it regularly every morn.
ing, remaining until the closing of the
cemetery gates at o'clock.
> He usually sits by the little dressing
table at the head of the body but occa.
sionally takes his chair to the door of the
tomb or under the trees by the lakeside
New York Herald.
A Mother Bird Killed Her Young.
Il haa loan nla; mad h. ohenrxora nj