The San Francisco call., 1897-04-25
STRANGEST OF TOMBs.
Erected by Roumanian Profess
Over the Body of his Daughter.

STRANGEST Ut TOMBS.
Erected by Roumaniau Professro
Over the Body of his Daughter.
Bucharest has perhaps the strangest
tomb ever erected in q civilized land. 1t
stands over the embalmed body of Julia
Hasden, young authoress who died six
years O. Her father. Professor Hasden,
of the University of Bucharest, believes he
Is able TO communicate with his lost child
He sits every day for hours by the side OF
her coffin. and occasionally surprises his
feliow-sclentists by graveiy quoting some
remark that she has made to him.
The tomb is constructed, so it is claimed.
in accordance with plans outlined to the
father by the daughter after her death. 1t
Is in the Greek cemetery, The structure is
of marble. Over the entrance and under
the name Julia Hasden" is niche filled
with her well-worn schoolbooks. AS one
enters he is greeted by strains of upearthly
melody. AT the entrance ! huge slab of
black marble bears an inscription which
may be translated as follows: "Let those
who seek not knowledge pass by this
grave but those who fain would learn the
secret of life in death descendP'
The vault is paved with black and white
marble. It's walls are VI the purest white
marble, with inscriptions in letters OF gol |.
N,
remarks culled from the conversations he
has had with his daughter since her death.
Here and there are quaint little triangular
stools. Close to the stairway stand two
handsomely decorated mirrors, which
formerly adorned Julia Hasden's boudoir.
At the further end of the vault, behind
white marble balustrade, is an exquisitely
carved sarcophagus containing the body
of the young girl. The coffin is SO ar
ranged that by drawing back a slide the
broken-hearted parents may still gaze on
the face OF their child. Two colored lamps
burn continually at either end of the
sarcophagus.
In the center of the balustrade stands a
beautiful bust of the young Roumanian
woman. Ii represents her as handsome,
clever-looking girl, attired in modern
evening dress. A. white veil is drawn
over it to preserve it from the dust, and
at the waist nestle few faded roses, held
in place by long satin ribbons that float to
the ground. They are the flowers anu
ribbons which Julia Hasden wore at the
last ball.
On the walls hang photographs of her
at various ages. One small water color
sketch, entitled "Son Dernier Jour Ter
reste" Cher last day on earth), represents
her tossing on her deathbed, with feverish
cheeks and sunken eyes.
On the table TO the right lies large
album, a few books and block of black
marble, on which some lines of music are
engraved in gold; the title tells you they
form "a melody" com posed by Julia Has
den after her death, and listening TO Its
mysterious tones one could almost believe
it an echo from spiritiand.
The mechanism that produces the weird
music above mentioned is apparently con-
cealed in the table Visitors are per-
mitted TO inscribe their names in the great
album, and its pages are fell of touch.
ing expressions of sympathy in every Ian
guage.
There is nothing grewsome in this re-
narKable tomb; the fresh air streams in
through the open doors, carrying with it
the perfume of flowers and the merry
song of the birds without.
Here it is tnat Professor Hasden passes
almost all his spare time; it is no strange
thing to see him taking his coffee here of
a morning and smoking has cigarette be-
side his child's coffin. His wife comes in
the afternoon and remains until late III
evening.
"She's seldom alone" the old porter at
the gate will tell you Che speaks of Julia
Hasden as though she were alive). Poor
folks, it's comfort to them and il don't
harm US. Peoples given up remarking on
it long ago." II /, generally believed in
Bucharest that Professor Hasden's mind
is deranged on spiritualism. On all other
matters it is as strong as ever.-New York
Tribune.