The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1899-01-18
HIS GRAVE A CHURCH PILLAR.
Clement Spsman, Tho Recorder Of Nottingham
Chose iha Sirangssi Tomb in hisloV.

of all queer final resting places se-
lected by man IL Is believed that the
last tomb and repository of Clement
Spelman ties the limit. Mr.. Spelman II,
or was, personallN unknown To the
present generatioK Had he lived i'm
this day and age, and had his wishes
as To the place OF interment been made
known, he would have risen TO the dis
tinction OF getting his name and face
In the Sunday papers, and would have
furnished a fortune in copy to the
space filling guild. Mr.. Spelman lived
way back wonder before there were
any Sunday papers aud before the
American eagle had become a national
bird. He gave his residence 10 the cen
sus enumerators ak Narburg and his
occupation as Recorder of Nottingham.
lie recorded for some time prior 90 the
year l7s. ana he was a busy ana stu
dious man around the neck OF woods
that Mr.. Robin Hood made famous. AZ
ter the year mentioned Mr. Spelman
finished.
Before casting Ia his lot with the
silent majority Mr.. Spelman aired his
Views on the subject or burial plots.
Mr.. Spelman must have been some-
thing of a spellbinder, for his ideas
were known throughout the length and
breadth OF the land, He never over
looked an opportunity TO Impress upon
all hearers the Importance OF being
immured In a manner out OF the ordi-
nary. He was n learned man, and had
made n study OF all the contempora-
neous literature ana Legends. His hoD-
by was tombs. He cared nothing for
collecting first editions. Souvenir spoon
hunters ne regarded with an indulgent
contempt He had no ambition To be a
conspicuous figure at al fresco nrst
nights, and he didn't write articles for
the correspondence column OF the Not
tngham News explaining the author
ship Of Beautiful SNOW
But on all questions of burial he was
very forte Had he lived in the United
states he would have undoubtedly
chosen Tombstone. y. t., for his home.
He gave IL as his opinion that the
Egyptians were the greatest race un-
der the sun, basing his statement on
their theories and practice In the mum
my line. He had visited at least four
teen guaranteed genuine tombs OF st.
Paul. and he would have visited more
II he could have been spared from the
duties of his fecorderehip. Lots wife
was his ideal character in history, ana
from the fate of that inquisitiVe lazy
he got an idea which made him famous
1T Is hardly possible for me 10 be
changed into "A pillar of salt. he rea-
| soued but | see nothing 10 prevent
me from being immured In pillar of
| a church" And from the time THIS
idea suggested itself To him up to the
| date of his demise Mr.. Spelman made
| IL his life work To disseminate his orig
| inal views. AS a pros eiytizer he seems
| not TO have been a gilt edged winner
| but the opposition which his country
| men developed 10 being placed In an
upright position for all ages only
strengthened him in his determination
Accordingly. when the office of re-
| corder of Nottingham became vacant
| by the death of the incumbent Mr.
| Spelman's wishes were carried out. He
was immured In a pillar of the Mar
burg church, and the inscription ON the
| pillar is directly against his face.