Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1901-07-06
A QUAINT CEMETERY.
WHERE OVER 100 OF THE CoUNTRY's
EARLY LEGISLATORS SLEEP.

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
ulntion surgcd westward and north
ward. overrunning 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 It are 100 cenotaphs TO dead con-
gressmen, stretching in monotonous
rows through the cemetery, oil OF them,
with two exceptions, of II uniform
shape and size, and erected ut govern
ment expense to the memory Of the
governments dead representatives.
Some OF the stones mark the actual
bulying place of the defunct states-
men. but others, like those comment
orative of Henry Clay, John Quincy
Adams. Thaddeus Stevens and others,
merely stand in honor of those dis
tlngushed names. Since 1916 the prac-
tice OF erecting ccnotaphs, begun in
1916 has been abandoned.
When the cemetery was established
in 1905, its projectors thought it would
be a successful idea to secure the Inter
ment In the new cemetery OF congress
men who passed away while serving
their country in the then malarlal ell
mate of Washington and that It would
Give this mortuary site distinction
above ordinary burying grounds.
So 400 burial sites were set apart for
the free lnterment Of congressman dy-
Ing away from home, and the place
was named the Congressional cemetery
In those days II was impossible to
transport n body long distances with
out great expense and trouble, and the
purchasing of burial lots was expen-
sive, so the privilege thus extended
was readily accepted. The funerals
were conducted with imposing ceremo-
uicS, anu lut utlui lcu SOiOhS WIZ i"'N
away with pomp and circumstance In
the spaces specially allotted and set
apart for them.
As methods of transportation lmprov-
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 dlsuse,
and ultimately law was enacted pro-
vidng that Il cenotaph 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 I'M
less inSerment was made I'm the GENE
terry, and there has not been burial
Of q congressman I'm the plot since that
year.
The cenOtaphs are plain blocks OF
masonry, covered with cement to with
stand the ravages Of the elements.
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 illegible. but the Oldest one de-
clpherable is on cenotaph In memory
of Andrew T. Butler, senator from
the state of South Carolina, who died
in 1906 As stated, all the cenotaphs
are of uniform size and shape, except
In two instances. One is marble mon
ument to Elbridge Gerry of Massachu-
sets, at one time vice president of the
United States and famous In Revolu-
tionary history. 1t Is pyramid shaped
pile of marble about twice the height
of the other cenOtaphs, surmounted by
an urn containing q representation OF
IN undylng flame. The other is a mon
ument to George Clinton of New York,
also vice president of the United States
and active In the war of 1912.
Among the cenOtaphs Is one to Push
ma-ta-ha, a Choctaw chief, who. the
inscription states, died of Group in the
sIxteth year Of his age while visiting
Washington In 1924. Beneath this In
scrlption Is the statement that the red
cheftain in his 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 a 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
junket with every ceremony. The
body is transported to the home of the
deceased In a special car, accompanied
by one or two Pullmans. containing
more or less sorrowing congressional
escort, with q well stocked commits
sary, of course. There are carriages
and flowers and mourning and 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 to
hear him eulogized and endowed with
more virtues than ever they dreamed
In his lifetime that he possessed. The
eulogies are afterward printed In mo-
rocco covered volumes and distributed
among the friends and constituents,
after which congress, deeming that it
has performed its duty, dries its eyes
and proceeds again to business.-Wash-
ington Letter in Los Angeles Times.
Too True.
Schools and colleges exist for the
purpose of aiding us to keep I'D with