The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-09-04
Jonathan Reed Passes His
Days in a Cemetery
Beside a Caskst Containing the Body
OF His Wife.
Hs Has Filled the Tomb With Remind
ers Of the Life She Lived With Him.


the casket containing the remains OF his
beloved wife, and surrounded by q strange
collection OF articles associated with her
daily life, an aged man, who has become
known to the numerous visitors OF the
cemetery as the "man who lives in the
tomb.
Since the body OF his wife was deposit
ed in the vault, two weeks ago, he has
spent all his days beside her coffin, and
has declared that he will continue to do
30 until he Is summoned TO join her. So
much excitement among the visitors to
the graveyard has been caused by the be-
reayed husbands manifestations OF grief
that the authorities OF the cemetery have
been forced 10 demonstrate with hlm.
Still he persists in exercising what he
considers his right to pass his time in
the tomb.
The vault, an imposing structure OF
granite, Is built into a gentle slope in
that part of the cemetery known as
Whispering Grove, on the shore OF the
lake. Over the entrance is engraved in
large letters, Jonathan and Mary T..
Reed, and on one of the stone posts
supporting a heavy iron railing that en-
closes small plot are found the words,
Husband and wife.
NOT A PLACE FOR THE LIVING.
A massive iron barred door gives full
view OF the interior OF the vault, the plan
eight or ten feet square occupies the front
OF the tomb. giving access 10 the inner
chamber, which consists merely OF a
narrow 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 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, covered with various
small articles Of feminine use. and in
front of this q chair. on which the
watcher could sit beside the casket.
The casket itself rested on the right
hand shelf, enclosed in a double case,
over which was thrown a piece OF cheap
Japanese 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
cluding articles of clothing, china vases,
withered bunches of flowers, boxes, old
gloves, balls of yarn and pieces of unfin-
ished knitting. The walls OF the inner
vault are covered with photographs in
cneap ana tarnlshed frames.
KEPT HIS PORTRAIT THERE
On the left hand wall OF the vestibuls
hung large portrait of an elderly man,
with long white side whiskers, and below
this was battered camp stool, held to-
gether with pieces of twine. On shelf
near the picture were piled a woman's ret
lcule, an old card rack, several work bas-
kets, some knives and spoons and more
MI saf .tfaAt, ,tal. l...I lr,.
corner We're piled an old broom and sew
eral feather busters. Like the inner vault
the walls OF the vestibule were covered
with photographs, some being even sus-
pended from the ceiling.
Probably the most singular object in
the collection was pack of cards which
had evidently never been used, hanging
by string from the upper part of the
grated door.
j learned from the cemetery authorities
that Mr.. Reed was n wealthy retired mer-
chant, living at No. 75 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.
1t was said that Mr. Reed was not on
good terms with his father-in-law, who
objected to his frequent visits TO the
vault.
FILLED WITH MEMENTos OF HIS WIFE.
Mr.. Gould died recently. and Mr.. Reed
then had tomb built on his own plans,
at a cost of $1,000, and had the body re-
moved TO 1t two weeks ago. He then filled
the vault with mementos of his wife.
Mr.. and Mrs. Reed had travelled to.
gsther extensively and had collected
many relics of the places they visited, in
I he shape of pieces of stone, all of which
he deposited IN the vault.
Since the completion OF the tom b Mr.. |
Reed has visited II regularly every morn
ing, remaining until the closing OF the |
gates at O'Clock.
He usually sits by the little dressing |
table at the head OF the body, but occa-
takes his chair to the door OF |
the tomb or under the trees by the lake
side. - New York Herald.