The Savannah morning news., 1901-10-06

one pride, one distinction, 1t holds a
tomb, Is this symbolic of a dying state
whose population is deserving its hills
and dales to help colonize the whole
, country?
An opulent New Yorker had sought
solitude in this picturesque village for
several summers, and had built for his
use a splendid mansion. But his last
loved one was taken away by death,
and the only consolation remaining
was to leave his history in marble. And
so the Hon. John P. Bowman erected
magnificent memorial to his family,
which is now visited by tourists from
all parts of the country.
A whole years time and the labor of
125 men were employed upon this Greek
temple, reared amid the green shrub
berry in this lovely valley among the
mountains which encompass Vermont.
In this great tomb were used $50 tons
of granite, so tons of marble and 120,-
900 bricks. Its dimensions are IS by
25 feet, and it is 20 feet high. Each
block of granite weighs from three to
six tons. The exterior decorations are
Greek foliage with laurel frieze. With
in the portal Is closed by granite
door of one marble slab weighing $500
pounds.
But the conspicuous and gruesome
feature of this mausoleum is the life
sized statue of Mr.. Bowman himself,
standing hat in hand, with one foot
upon the step, about to etter the tomb!
He holds a wreath of marble immor-
tells and a huge key with which to un-
lock the chamber of death. Within,
upon pedestals, are busts of himself,
his wife, his beautiful daughter, and.
in the center, his baby, its plump limbs
sinking into a cushion, it's chubby arms
extended to its mother, cold and rigid
in unresponsivle marble. These were
wrought in Italy from finest Parian
marble (as was his own figure) and are
of Immense value.
Two long mirrors give the illusion of
vast corridors filled with busts and
statues of dazzling wilderness. By this
optical illusion thirty halls may be
seen. Rich sculptures, bronze tracer
les and ornaments fill the sepulchre.
nightly illumination is produced by
six bronze candelabra, bearing pry-
amids of wax candles, which shed a
weird. .ghostly light mad give ~ol-
emn, cathedral atmosphere to this
palace of death.
Upon rolling terrace, conspicuous
from all directions, stand this maui
soleum, with it's owner eever entering
its portal yet never going beyond the
threshold. Rare exotics adorn the
lawn in summer and a conservatory is
hCPI up SOlCly 1OA TIC dCSOA dliOh VI 1iio
tomb in winter.
The cost of this sarcophagus is sup
posed to be enormous, but no records
can be discovered. The founder left
$50, 900 for the sole purpose of having
the grounds and the tomb cared for
perpetually. Six trustees guard this
legacy, and one of their number en-
joys the castle once occupied by the
Bowman family 1t faces the mortu-
airy, and in it are elegant furnishings
just as they were used by the erratic
owner. Oriental colors, woodwork in
pale blues, reds and blacks, statues and
relics brought from sunny Italy to the
region of deep SHOWS, speak Of a lux
ury entirely foreign to austere and
provincial Vermont.
The tomb was completed before the
death of the founder. What melan-
choly satisfaction he experienced in
viewing his own marble image forever
ascending the steps that led to the
cold clay and colder marble present
nents of his wife and children can
only be surmised. He had made the
village nestled in the mountains under
the shadow of Killington point for
curiosity seekers, and the life and
death story of his own obscure family
well night imperishable. Perhaps to
have done this seemed to him worthy
of having lived.
winnifred Harper Cooley.