The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1896-10-29


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 beautifled the earth, advanced our
arts and given employment to the in
dustrious. 1t is with the greater diff
fusion of wealth that these oombs have
come. The old-fashioned country
churchyard held no sRch mortuary
architecture as We find in even the
guietest Of provincial cemeteries Of
to-day. A quaint and simple insctip-
ton on a slab of slate, marble or sand.
stone sufficed, and if there was orna-
ment it took the usual form of grin.
ming cherub, deaths head or a figure
seated beneath willow holding IN
urn. Now t'e find tombs that are spa.
cious chambers, with elaborate tables
where fresh flowers ara placed. in
scriptiors in gold on richest bronze or
iron CRATES that recall the triumphs OF
Ghiberti, Quentin Matsys and the ole
Nuremberg workers.
There are some who object op4fpet
uation Of names that ID themselves hold
no associations of greatness, and there
are few who would abolish all the
beauty Of rnortuary eInblems for re.
ligious reasons. But usually the man
who protests against such toSnbs az
we are to see IN Greenwood has failed
of esthetic cultivation and sees In the
tomb q pile of dollars that might bet.
ter have been given to somebody living
especially TO himshf. He does not
consider that out of this tom b the archi-
tect, the mason, the sculptor, the quar-
rynah, the artist in metal and, glasa
the gardener will reap material advan.
tage. Indeed, but for the luxuries oil
tho rich, many of those WHO live by
supplying those luxuries would find IL
hard to live ct all.
There is, perhaps need CT q higher
regard for fitness IN cemetery struc-
lures. Occasionally we find sorne that
nre vain ana frivolous in conceit and
execution, OVERLOADED With ornament,
Wanting in epitaph, erbodying conceH
by color. gliding and extent, dominating
the graves of humber and equally wo,
thy righbors "a a pufseproad, strut
ting man tries TO subdue his assocIatea
In fact, we must rely ON the extension
Of good. taste TO keep ~ check q move
ment toward excess in these matters
that might Otherwise be Carried to
point as funny as we find IL IA West
minister abbey. There in the multitude
of monuIDcnts. among sosne that are
in the best of taste, quiet, august an6
pure, yve see admirals end generala
swelling themselves in Roman erInor
TO the neck. full-bottoned wtes sbore
that and holding be:ons or telescope
IN their hands, while about them cher
ubs peer from tons Of marble clouds
or fea fehts are shown il relief be-
You'd the puffy victo-s- Startling ike
nesses 10 skeletons JUMP from black
holes il tornhs; people lay On coucbes
deoorously dying, vfiiIe angels coDs
down 20 weep over then. as IL lament
ing the need Of taking them 20 Heaven;
statesmen rise on their toes AID bran
dish their arms IN inp2sssooed 6ra-
tory. instead Of lTing quietly in their
places after they are dead. In The fazaioo
OF the older kings and c-uas-legged cru
saders. And the vers-s-the iines In
them would shame a modern politician.
We have not advanced 80 far n sculP
ture in our land eS We have in architec
tJsre. ard these pretsntio,as horrors are
70 b spared for the present. at least:
bu: fox to-nbs that have spiendor Of
material. grace. so,idity. dignity Of do
sign and beauty Of orrArneat- we can
hardly have TOO many. No matter who
!. u tia: Iies beneath the pile. lie 90
she will have lived p . purpose thus
20 have inspired work Of ari.-Broo..
Ign Eagle