The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1896-12-03
ToMsSOFExTRAoRDlNARY COST
Greenwood Cemetery to Have Number
OF Magnificent Mausoleums.


Green" ood cemetery will presently
be embelished with number of nonu-
ments the like OF which cannot be seen
in any other American cemetery. and,
indeed, will only be surpassed by the
structures erected over the remains or |
to the memory of eminent public men. |
Much is written about funeral pomp |
and eXtravagances, and most that is |
said upon this point is worthy to be
heeded for it is not one family in a
hundred that can easily bear the eX-
pense OF great funeral. The cold clay
has no good of the ceremonies enacted
over it. the prolonging of words and
formalities intensifes grief rather than
allays it, and the retinue of carriages
contains many whose presence is but
perfunctory compliment. since their
acquaintance with the deceased was
slight. For the expense put into funer-
ais there is no material return.
With the monument it is different,
for it is possible to make of this work
of art that s:aIl be enduring and a
delight. The Tai Mahal, erected to
the memory of an Indian princes favor
ite wife, is a wonder that draws travel
ers from all parts of the world, and
that may outlive the names of both
occupant and builder. From it archi-
tects have been able to gather useful
ideas, and so from other famous tombs
designs have been appropriated that
| have beautified the earth, advanced our
arts and given employment to the IN
dustrious. 1t is with the greater diff
| fusion of wealth that these tombs have
| come The oldfashioned country
churchyard held no such mortuary
architecture as we find in even the
quietest of provincial cemeteries OF
to-day. A quaint and simple inscrip-
| ton on a slab of slate, marble or sand,
stone sufficed, and if there was orna
ment it took the usual form of grim
ming cherub, a deaths head or figure
seated beneath a willow holding an
urn. Now we find tombs that are spa
cious chambers, with elaborate tables
where fresh flowers are placed, in-
scriptions in gold on richest bronze or
iron CRATES that recall the triumphs of
Ghiberti, Quentin Matsys and the old
Nuremberg workers.
There are some who object to perpet-
uation of names that in themselves hold
no associations of greatness, and there
are few who would abolish all the
beauty of mortuary emblems for re-
ligious reasons. But usually the man
who protests against such tombs as
we are to see in GreenWo has failed
of esthetic cultivation and sees in the
tomb pile OF dollars that might bet
ter have been given to somebody living
especially to himself. He does not
consider that out of this tomb the archi-
tect. the mason, the sculptor, the quar-
ryman, the artist in metal and glass,
the gardener will reap material advan-
tage. Indeed, bat for the luXurics OF
the rich, many of those who live by
supplying those luxuries would find it
hard to live ut all.
, There is. perhaps, need of highe.
regard for fitness in cemetery struc
, lures. Occasionally we find some thai
are vain and frivolous in conceit ano
execution, overloaded with ornament
', vaunting in epitaph, embodying concei
, by color, gliding and extent, dominating
= the graves of humber and equally wor
i thy neighbors as purseproud, strut
=. ting man tries to subdue his associates
In fact, we must rely on the extension
;. of good taste to keep in check move
:. ment toward excess in these matters
i that might otherwise be carried to
. point as funny as we find it in West
:, minister abbey. There in the multitud
~ Of monuments, among some that ar
in the best of taste, quiet, august an
20 pure. we see adnirals and general
-, swelling themselves in Roman armo
=. 10 the neck, full-bottomed wigs abov
" that and holding batons or telescope
ia in their hands, while about them chel
n. ubs peer from tons of marble cloud
n, or sea fights are shown in relief bt
:, vond the puffy victors. Startling lik'
# nesses to skeletons jump from blac
o holes in tombs; people lay on couche
o. decorously dying, while angels CON
"a down to weep over them, as if lamen
~ ing the need of taking them to Heaver
Ar statesmen rise on their toes and bra1
IS. dish their arms in impassioned or
nd tory, instead of lying quietly IN the
Id places after they are dead, in the fashic
rs of the older kings and cross-legged CT
tn saders. And the verses-the lines
them would shame modern political
Sc We have not advanced so far in scul
N. ture in our land as we have in archite
of ture, and these pretentious horrors a
he to be spared for the present, at leas
ID but for tombs that have splendor
ne material grace, solidity, dignity of {
in sign and beauty of ornament, we C
vn hardly have too many. No matter W
at it is that lies beneath the pile, he
all she will have lived to purpose til
nd to have inspired work of art.-Broc
to lyn Eagle.
eJ What Clothes Can Do.
ILL., He-Did you ever observe what Z
ne. ference clothes make on ones min