The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1901-07-24
IA QUAINT CEMETERY.
WHERE OVER 100 OF THE CouNTRvS
EARLY LEGISLATORS SLEEP.
burial sites IL suburbs OF washing-
ton rhnt Were Set Apart For the
Free Interment of Congressmen
Dying Away From Home.


ON the eastern outskirts of washing
ton, where the city, stragglng over the
commons and vacant squares, halts at
the edge of the marshes of the Ana
costa river, stands the old Congress
sional cemetery. with its eightscore
cenotaphs. memorials of departed
statesmen. Years ago the tide of pop
ulation surgcd westward and north
ward, ovcrrunnlng the salubrious high
lands of those sections and establish
ing its burial grounds in the new re-
gions. But this little city of the dead
was left alone in the deserted quarter,
with the Jail, the almhouse and the
workhousc for neighbors.
In IL are 100 cenotaphs to dead con-
grcssmen, stretching In monotonous
rows through the cci ictery, all of them,
with two exceptions of uniform
shape and size, aud erected mt govern
mcnt expense to the memory Of the
governments dead representatives.
Some of the stones mark the actual
burylng place of the defunct states
men, hut others, like those commem-
oratlyc of Henry Clay, John Quincy
Adams. Thaddcus Stevens and others,
merely stand IN honor of those dis
tipguished numcs. Since 1876 the prac-
ticc of erecting cenotaphs, begun In
tTJG, has been abandoned.
When the cemetery was established
in 1SnS. its projectors thought 1t would
he a successful idea to secure the inter
mcnt In the new cemetery of congress-
men who passed away while serving
their country In the then malarlal eli
mate of Washington and that II would
give this mortuary site distinction
above ordinary burying grounds.
SO 100 burial sites were set apart for
the free lntcriuent of congressman dy-
ing away from home. and the place
was named the Con gressional cemetery.
In those days il was impossible to
transport II hody long distances with
out great expense and trouble. and the
purchasing of burial lots was cNpcn-
sivc, so the privilege thus extended
was readily accepted. The funerals
were conducted with imposing ceremo-
MES. and the departed solons were laid
away with pomp and circumstance in
the spaces specially allotted and set
apart for thcm.
AS methods of transportation impr0v-
cd. however, with the years, and the
families of the deceased found oppor-
| tunity to take the bodies home for in
terment, the practice fell into dlsuse,
and ultimately n law was enacted pro-
viding that a ccnotaph should be erect
ed In the cemetery to every congress
man who died in the harness, and for
Il number of years this custom was fol-
| lowed, so that many of the monuments
merely stand in memory of the con-
gressmcn without actually marking the
burial sites.
In 1876 II law was enacted providing
that no ccnutaph should be erected un-
less intcrment was made in the ceme-
! terry. and there has not been burial
of congressman in the plot since that
year.
The ccnotaphs are plain blocks Of
masonry, covered with Gem cni to with
stand the ravagcs of the clements.
Each Is inscribed with the name of the
dead man, the state he represented In
the house or senate and the date of his
death. Some of the Inscriptions are
now llleglble. but the oldest one de-
clphorable is on n cenotaph in memory
/ of Andrew L. Budor Il scuator from
the state of South Carol. ma. who died
In lI0O. Az stated. all The cenotaphs
are Of uniform size and shape, except
In two instances. One Is IL marble mon
ument to Elbridgc Gerry of AIassachu-
settS. ut one time vice president of the
United States and fanous in Revolu-
tionary history. 1t is Il pyramid shaped
pile of marble about twice the height
OF the other cenot;lphs. surmounted by
All urn containing Il rep resentation of
an undying flame. The other Is Il mon
ument to George Clinton of New York,
also vice president of the United States
and active in the war OF 1872.
Among the cenotaphs is one to Push.
ma-ta-ha. Choctaw chief. wno, the
inscription states. died of Group in the
sixtleth Year of his age while visiting
Washington in 1924. Beneath this In.
scrption is the statement that the red
chieftain In LIS last breath desired the
big guns to be fired over him. He had
the salute he desired.
1t might be economy If the govern.
ment were content nowadays merely
TO honor the departed congressman
with cenotaph. for the 1G0 memorials
probably did not cost as much as half q
dozen modern funerals of defunct
statesmen. Congressional funerals now
are elaborate affairs. There must be
Junket with every ceremony. The
body Is transported TO the home Of the
deceased In special car, accompanied
by one or two Pullrlans, containing O
more or less sorrowing congressional
escort, with II well stocked commits
sary, OF course. There are carriages
nnd lowers and mourning and dis
play OF white suslles qu lte imposing.
Then some day spec ial services are
held In the house and senate. and the