The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-11-01
ALL SAINTS DAY.
1t Is Observed I'm New Orleans by
General Decoration of Graves.

General Decoration of Graves.
The city of the South is a place of
days" 1t is estimated that two months
of every twelve are holidays of more or
less potency-but only estimated, for even
the native citizen would not attempt to
enumerate them. But along with such
stars as holiday week. carnival week, Good
Friday. Easter tide, cen es the First Of
November. Beginnir with October the
daily advertising columns admonish the
careless to order your flowers now for
All Saints day." and by the middle of the
month the florists have dealt so largely in
flower futures" it is almost impossible to
buy a leaf. The show windows are filled
with designs. Last year one florist gave
his entire window to the display of large
boat with furled sails at anchor in bay
OF heartsease. Even the retail merchants
take advantage of the season, SO that
walk down Canal street leads one to think
he is at an immense flower show.
Only the wealthy can afford designs and
natural flowers. but for the masses and the
French, who are not to be led into the
American extravagances, there are the
original black bead wreaths; mourning
wreaths. they are called and are not in
the least English, you know but purely
French. The work is something the
der of the black bead bonnets fashionable
some six years ago, and they vary in size
from that of tea plate to horse collar.
The center of the wreath has father"
mother" suitable words, with or with
out such modifers as dear dearest"
loving" 'sainted." These words are either
on a ribbon stretched across the center, or
-
always in purple Rest in peace" in all
languages, is a bona fide advertisement to
be seen in an old bead-work shop down by
the cathedral. The French people do not
trouble themselves about punctuation
marks. other wreaths contain minia-
lures of 1.-The deceased" and look like over
grown lockets. These manifestations of
loving memories practically indestruct-
ible. and can be made to do duty year after
year. So, while ii requires larger amount
of capital than punches of white dahlias
or everlastings. the expenditure is true
economy. Besides this, great is their
sanctity, the pawnbrOkers will advance
money on them more readily, oftentimes,
than on jewelry. Thus the wreaths fire.
quently serve the quick as well as the dead
and, perhaps, the priest, who, for slight
remuneration, will hold his hands over
them for a moment, is not so far astray in
pronouncing them blessed" The tombs of
society's dead are usually decorated on the
last day of October. Some of these are al
most covered with potted palms. Here the
city" is always in order, but, neverthe-
less. the streets are freshly shelled and
everything is carefully looked to. If you
go into the Metaria Cemetery before the
crowds gather, and look down the long
white streets with handsome tombs set in
the green of palms and ferns their marble
steps covered with profusion of cut flow
ers and set pieces, in the dim vista a
background of swamp trees with the
streaming moss waving gently-if you go
alone, and love beauty, the picture will
never grow dim. IN the other cemeteries
some member of the family is sent out TO
see about the arrangement of the decora-
ton. From o'clock until the negroes
who are there for work drive a thriving
trade. Catboats are at anchor I'm the near
bayou, loaded with shells and white gulf
sand. All is hustle and confusion. No idle
tears are shed except, perchance. at the
exorbitant prices demanded All morning
there is hard work to be done. Moss must
be scrape1 from almost effaced inscrip-
tions; marble urns must be washed and
secured. One man is hired to trace the let
tering anew with black paint another
drives a bargain for shells, a third sells
white sand, and still another does white
washing. &c decorations must be placed
a wrCa,h avs hanging on the slab on
which me roll of the dead is kept. And all
must be done before the coming of the rest
of the family with the basket dinner.
This is spread on the steps of the tomb or
upon the grass near by. The rest of the
day-may We say it's a holy picnic.
Crowds surge everywhere, for everyone
goes out to the cemeteries on this day. The
"householders'' linger by the family tomb
and receive their friends. passing the time
in comparing their own efforts with those
of the neighbors, either to their satisfac-
ton Nor chagrin. Those who have no dead
hunt up their friends tombs and say
pretty compliments regarding their decora-
TONS.
Good Catholics go from one cemetery to
another and receive indulgenceS for the
Hail Marys" they say. Good Protestants
hurry around trying to see il ALL" and
get splitting headaches. The streets out
side the cemeteries are lined with booths.
where one can get glass of lemonade,
beer or a full meal. What are usually con-
sidered edibles in restaurants are-wel If
| you invest nickel you will likely whisper
| gently. dust TO dust" after the first
mouthful. Should you hnger until O'Clock
you will feel as though the glorious Fourth
| circus day. Sunday school picnic and Deco
ration day had, somehow. got rolled into
| one afternoon. The cries of vendors; the
| shrek OF the steam cars; the clang of the
electric motor gongs; the warning cries OF
| drivers OF every kind of vehicles; the Jingle
| of bicycle bells; the laughing, jostling
| crowds, gay flowers and mourning wreaths
| all mingle. Verify. Rome could not honestly
DO less than knock of a few hours of pur-
| gatory for the faithful who come hither
| AS you sit down 10 o'clock dinner pur-
| satory is not nearly so vague as 1t was in
| the morning, Tor you are inclined TO Trims
| you know i5s exact location.
| Indianapolis. A X. Atkinson.
An Apple Problem.
| 10