The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1897-05-27
STYLES IN GRAvESTONES.
Change Just the Same Rs Fashions
in Clothing.

just as styles change in big sleeves
and little sleeves, spring bonnets and
trousers, so do they change in monu-
ments and tombstones. 1t is far cry
from the pyramids of Egypt TO the
gravestones of to-day. Great as this
contrast is, probably greater would be
noted in comparing the modern tomb
stones witch follow man hundreds OF
years after the pyramids were built.
The pyramids can scarcely be con-
sidered in the same light DIS the tomb
stones which are used to mark the rest
ing places of to-day. The Egyptian
structures were built from a radically
different standpoint than that which
in later years caused the erection of
Something to mark the resting places of
the departed.
The earliest accounts of marking
graves tell of the placing at the head of
the mound little slabs of wood or small
pieces of stone. Sometimes the stones
were so small that they projected only
few inches above the ground. From
these have grown the beautiful monu-
ments which are seen in the cemeteries
to-day. Although the wooden markers
were almost synchronistic in origin
with the small pieces of stone they have
not yet entirely disappeared. Even to-
rday in some cemeteries in Chicago will
! be found wooden crosses that have not
lstood in place so long that they have
orotted and crumbled away. However,
these relics of the old custom are few
and far between.
Over in England in some parts of the
country the custom of erecting wooden
crosses obtains. After the wooden cross
the tiny little square stone slabs of
g slate came into favor for marking
lgraves. These slabs of slate were not
very large at first, but were gradually
Increased in size until they were three
or four feet in height, almost two feet
in width and two or three inches in
thickness. These slabs were often
Iplaced in the ground without the use of
Iany base or foundation stone. In some
cases, however, they were cemented in
Ia slot cut in a much heavier piece of
, stone. When these slate slabs were
!, used it was the queer custom to carve
skull and cross bones upon them near
the top. In New England many of these
will still be found standing, although
Badly worn by the weather.
) Then came a change in the style of
the material used. Slate became passe
bind marble was used for many years.
' Some years ago the style began chang
|. ng, both in regard to the material used
Rnd the form in which it was carve.
i, Marble was displaced by granite, and
instead of the fiat slab the square or
'ather rectangular shape came into use.
vat first this style was rather plain, but
lEradualIy became more ornate, and
lmany elaborate carvings are still
.rected to-day. In the last few years
e'adical change has taken place in the
vStyle of finishing monuments. While
n several years ago nearly all monuments
were highly polished they are now
finished, in most instances, with the
hammer. with little or no polishing
some are not finished at all, having the
Tough appearance of just being broken
lfrom the quarry. In few instances
monuments are given the hammer
diminishing with I polish at the corners
ind edges.
As to the styles at the present time,
there is something of divergence of
opinion. There is little doubt, however,
,, that the sarcophagus style is by far the
most popular The obelisks are, of
course, used almost entirely for monu-
r,nents which are of a public or a semi
bubble character, but for the marking
tLf graves which are private the sar-
monument is much more
s,videly used.
{ "Oh, yes, we have great changes in
.ntyles in monuments, just as the ladies
,flave in their dresses and men have in
vheir neckties,' said prominent dealer
=, II monuments the other day. THE
changes are inshape, sizes ard materials
Just as they are in garments, with this
difference. however, which you will
understand. The changes do
mot come with such rapidity as they do
| clothing. There is also this additional
: difference, that old styles are not i'm
'. nediately displaced by new ones. The
Did ones keep their places, for you see
people couldn't afford to take down an
Did monument and put up a new one
livery spring just to be in style. The
'hanges only affect the monuments
which are being made at the time that
aJhe new style comes in. Then there is
n mother matter which must be taken
INTO consideration. Some styles of
tmonuments are more popular at GER
ain cemeteries than they are at others,
md of course those who visit any given
'emetery and see no other will conclude
What the best style is the one which they
lee most of."-Chicago Chronicle.
NTo Hunt Wolves with Russian Dogs.
4 Ranchmcn near Carbon, Wyo., under
,tihe stimulus of the bounty law. are pre-
- .parng to capture wolves and coyotes
-. II large numbers by using Russian wolf
= OundS and Siberian Dloodhounds. An
Importation of these animals has been
"lade and others will follow. The ST.
leaerian bloodhound is the only dog that
I.,,,,, ,,ngta,. u,,,. wolf a Iona ,,,l