The weekly intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1891-1901, 1900-04-21

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Westminster abbey. There is Handel.
the great musician. from whose mu-
sic sou hear to-day; but while ! look
at his statue | cannot help but think
Of the discords with which his fellow
musicians tried 20 destroy him. There
IS the tomb Of John Dryden. a beauti-
ful monument; but / cannot help but
thing ST 20 YEARS OF age he wrote OF
his being oppressed in fortune and of
the contract that he had just made
FOR q thousand verses at sixpenca a
line. And there. too. YOU hnd the
monumeB, Of samuel Butler. the au-
thor Of "nudibras;" but while look
at his monument in Poets corner |
cannot but ask myself where he died.
In a garnet. There | see the costly
tablet in the Poets corner-the costly
tablet 10 one Of whom the celebrated
Waller wrote: The old blind school
master. John Milton, has just issued
n tedious poem on the fall Of man. IL
the length of it be no virtue. il has
none. There IS a beautiful monument
to sheridan. Poor Sheridanl II he
could only have discounted hat mon
ument FOR q mutton chop!
Oh. You unflial children, do not give
your parents so much tombstone, but
q few more blankets-less funeral and
more bedroom, If five per cent OF
the money we now spend on Burns
banquets could have been expended
in making the living Scotch poet CON-
Portable, he would not have Deen har-
ried with the drudgery of an excise
man. Horace Greeley. outrageously
abused while living, when dead is fol-
lowed toward Greenwood by the pres.
ident of the United States and the
leading men Of the army and navy.
Massachusetts, tries 20 atone at the
grave Of Charles Sumner for the ig-
nominious resolutions with which her
legislature deounced the living SEN
ator. Do you think that the tomb at
Springfield can pay for Booths bull
let2
Oh, do justice TO the living! All the
justice you do them you must do this
side the gates Of the Metropolis, They
cannot wake up TO count the number
Of carriages at the ~obsequies or to-
note the polish of the Aberdeen gran
lite or to read epitaphal commemora-
ton. G~entleman's mausoleum in the
suburbs OF Jerusalem cannot pay for
bethlehem manger and Calvarean
cross and Pilates rufian judiciary.
Post norton honors cannot atone for
ante norton ignominies,
Again, standing in this garden Of
the sepulcher, I am impressed with
the fact that floral and arborescent
decorations are appropriate for the
place Of the dead. We are glad that
among flowers and sculptural adorn-
ments Christ spent the short time Of
His Inflammation.
l cannot understand what | some
times see in the newspapers where the
obsequies are announced and the
friends say in connection with It:
"Scnd no flowers" Rather. II the
means a!low-l say il the means al
low-strew the casket with flowers,
the hearse with flowers. the grave
with flowers. Put them on the brow
it will suggest coronation; in their
hand-ii will mean victory.
Christ was buried in a garden.
Flowers mean resurrection. Death is
sad enough anyhow. Let conservatory
and arboretum contribute to its al
deviation. The harebell will ring the
victory; the passion flower will ex-
press the sympathy; the daffodll will
hndle its lamp and illumine the dark
ness. The cluster of asters viii be
the constellation. Your little child
loved flowers when she was living.
Put them in her hand now that she
can go forth no more and pluck them
for herself. On sunshiny days take a
fresh garland and put it over the still
heart.
Brooklyn has no %grander glory than
its Greenwood. nor Boston than its
Mount Auburn, nor Philadelphia than
its Laurel Hill, nor Cincinnati than its
Spring Grove. nor San Francisco than
lis Lone Mountain. But what shall we
say Of those country graveyards, with
the vines broken down and the slabs
aslant and the mound caved in and the
grass a pasture ground for the sections
cattle? Indeed, were your father and
mother Of so little worth that you can
not afford to take care Of their ashes?
Some day turn out all hands and
s~traighten the slab and bank up the
mound and cut away the weeds and
plant the shrubs and flowers.
Some day you will want TO lie down
TO your last slumber. You cannot ex-
pect any respect for your bones If you
have no Difference for the bones Of your
ancestry. Do you think these relics
are Of no Importance? You will see OF
how much Importance they are in the
day when the a%rchangel takes out his
trumpet. Turn all your cemeteries
into gardens.
Again, standing in this garden Of the
new sepulcher, | am impressed with
the dignity Of private and unpretend'
ing obsequies.
Joseph was mourner, sexton, livery
mau-had entire charge OF everything
Only four people at the burial Of the
King Of the Universal Oh let this b'
consolatory TO those who through lack
Of means or through lack Of acquaint
auce have but little demonstration OF
grief at the graves Of their loved ones
Long line Of glittering equipuge, two
rows Of silver handles. casket Of rich
est wood, p%allbearers gloyed anc
scaried. are not necessary. II there bt
six az the grave, Christ looks dowr
from Heaven and remembers that il
two more than were at His obsequies
Not recognizing this idea, how many
small properties are scattered anC
widowhood and orphanage go forth
into cold charity. The departed lefi
a small property which would hay'
been enough TO keep the family to
gether until they could take carr o.
themselves, but the funeral expenses
absorbed everything That went fol
( Grape which ought to have gone fol
bread. A man Of moderate means car
hardly afford TO die In any Of the grea.
cities. BY oil means, DO honor 10 IN
departed, but do not consider funera
pageant as necessary, No one was eve
more lovingly and teuderly put awsl
20 scpulcher than Christ our Lord, bu.
ihcre were only four people in the pro
c%pssion.
Again, standing In this garden viii
a new sepulcher. I am impressed viii
/ the fact that you cannot keep tbs deaf
down.
Seal Of sauheddn, company Of sol
, d.ers from The tower Of Antonio
floor of rock, roof Of rock, wall
Of rock. door Of rock. canno
4 keep Christ 10 the crypts. Com
rt.f aud opfue nm He muet COme on