The daily journal. (Salem, Or.) 1899-1903, 1901-07-20
"a QUAINT CEMETERY.
WHERE OVER 100 OF THE couNTRVs
EARLY LEGISLATORS SLEEP.

On the eastern outskirts of Washing
ton, where the city, stragging over the
commons aud vacant squares, halts at
the edge of the marshes of the Ana
costa river stands the old Congress
sional cemetery, with It's eightscore
cenOtaphs, memorials of departed
statesmen. Years ago the tide of pop
ulation surged westward and north
ward, overrunning the salubrious high
lands of those sections and establish
Ing its burial grounds i'm the new re-
gious. But this little city of the dead
was left alone In the deserted quarter,
with the Jail, the almhouse and the
workhouse for neighbors.
In 1t are 100 cenotaphs to dead con-
gressmen, stretching in monotonous
rows through the cemetery, all of them,
with two exceptions, of n uniform
shape and size, and erected at govern
ment expense to the memory of the
governments dead representatives.
Some of the stones mark the actual
burylng place of the defunct states
men, but others, like those commem-
oratlve of Henry Clay, John Quincy
Adams, Thaddeus Stevens and others,
merely stand in honor of those dis
tinguished names. Since 1876 the prac-
tice OF erecting cenotaphs, begun in
1876, has been abandoned.
When the cemetery was established
In 1S0S its projectors thought 1t would
be successful idea to secure the inter
ment in the new cemetery of congress
men who passed away while serving
their country I'm the then malarial eli
mate of Washington and that 1t would
give this mortuary site distinction
above ordinary burying grounds.
SO 400 burial sites were set apart for
the free interment of congressman dy-
ing away from home, and the place
was named the Congressional cemetery
In those days il was impossible to
transport a body long distances with
out great expense and trouble, and the
purchasing of burial lots was eNpen-
sive, 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 I'm
the spaces specially allotted and set
apart for them.
As methods of transportation improv-
ed, however, with the years, and the
families Of the deceased found oppor-
tunlty TO take the bodies home for In
terment, the practice fell into disuse,
and ultimately a law was enacted pro-
ylding that cenotnph should be erect
ed In the cemetery to every congress
man who died in the harness, and for
n number of years this custom was fol-
lowed, so that many of the monuments
merely stand in memory of the con-
gressmen without actually marking the
burial sites.
In 1876 law was enacted providing
that no cenotaph should be erected un-
less interment was made in the ceme-
terry, and there has not been n burial
Of a congressman in the plot since that
year.
The cenotaphs are plain blocks of
masonry, covered with cement TO with
stand the ravagss of the elements.
Each is inscribed with the name of the
dead man, the state he represented In
the house or senate and the dute OF his
death. Some of the inscriptions are
now illegible, but the oldest one de-
cipherable Is on cenOtaph I'm memory
Of Andrew Z. Butler, a senator from
the state of South Carolina, who died
in 1796. As stated. all the cenotaphs
are OF uniform size and shape, except
In two instances. One is n marble mon
ument to Elbridge Gerry of Massachu-
setts, at one time vice president OF the
United States and famous In Reyolu-
tlonary history. 1t is a pyramid shaped
pile OF marble about twice the height
OF the other cenotaphs, surmounted by
an urn containing a representation OF
an undylng flame. The other Is 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 10 Push
a Choctaw chief. who, the
states, died OF Group In the
slxtieth year OF his age while visiting
In 1924. Beneath this in
scription is the statement that the red
In his last breath desired the
big guns TO be fred over him. lie had
the salute he desired.
II might be economy II the govern
ment were content nowadays merely
TO honor the departed congressman
with cenotaph. for the 100 memorials |
probably did not cost as much as half a
dozen modern funerals Of defunct |
statesmen. Congressional funerals now |
are elaborate affairs. There must be |
a Junket with every ceremony. The !
body Is transported 10 the home Of the I
deceased in special car. accompanied |
by one or two Pullmans, containing a |
more or lese sOrrOwing congressional |
escort. with a well stocked commits |
sary, OF course. There are carriages |
and flowers and mourning aud a dis |
play OF white sashes quite imposing.
Then some day special services are |
held In the house and senate, and the |
family OF the deceased Is present 10
hear him eulogized and endowed with |
more virtues than ever they dreamed
In his lifetime that he possessed. The
eulOgies are afterwmd printed In mo- /
rocco covered volumes and distributed |
among the friends and constituents :
after which congress deeming that II
has performed It's duty. dries It's eyes
and proceeds again 20 business. Wash
lngton Letter In Los Angeles Times.
Too True.
Schools and colleges exist for the
purpose OF aiding Us 10 keep up with !