The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1905-05-06


lpaper the comments were not read
unless neighbors informed the owners
of their direiiction, and being too poor
to take newspaper they are too poor
to take bath. Fortunately this num-
Der OF people Is very few and grow
ing less day by DAY
There is spot In the limits of the
city OF Astoria that should be consii-
cred haliowed; sacred to the memory
Of departed ones. but which is dis
grace. not only TO the city OF Astoria.
whose duty II Is. by or through its
toficiais TO take care OF II. but to
those who have loved ones sleeping
the sleep that knows no Weakening. II
Iis Hillside cemetery on the hill. The
city having sold all the lots In the
cemetery is OF the opinion that Its
duty to the public ceases. Friends who
have relatives buried there having
IliQuidated with the undertaken imag-
Inc that their duty has ceased About
the only time the place 10 visitei 10 on
Decoration day when the old boys In
blue, who never forget their eomrales
dead or living march up there In
solemn tread to plant flowers on the
graves OF those who laid down their
lives that this country might live and
,be rerpetuatei TO the rising genera
|tions.
II has been suggested that some ef-
fort ought to be made by some one
to 80 up there and brush IL out. cut
down the ferns and weeds. 80 that the
monuments that mark the last resting
place of loved ones gone before can be
found by the Grand Army Of the Re-
public on Memorial day without TAX
Ing the city surveyor along with a
crew OF brushers and axmen Ia find
the graves: to clear away place suf-
ficiently large upon the graves to plant
at least one small rose. The manner
In which these sacred spots are ne
elected makes it no inducement for
a person to die. knowing THAI his
grave will not be kept green. even BY
those whom he has supported during
his lifetime.
II his been suggested-by a man Of
course-that perhaps the members OF
the Astoria Civic Improvement League
would be willing to take scythes, brush
hooks, gruD hoes and rakes and nut IN
week putting the cemetery In a re-
spectacle appearance. but really tais
Ia asking too much OF the noble wo-
men or Astoria, whose hearts are IN
the right place. but who were not or
dained by nature to do a mans work.
but they no doubt would be willing to
assist in beautifying the grounds IL
they were cleared of 80 as TO make II
possible for them to get in the ceme-
terry without having to climb over the
fence. II some man who has some
dear relative buried there would make
hole In the fence so they could crawl
through 1t would help some. But,
seriously. there ought to be sufficient
civic pride running around loose IN
Astoria to put the Hillside cemetery
In presentable appearance for Me-
mortal day. Probably 500 school
will visit the cemetery on that
day. and the unkept, slovenly appear
ance Of place that should be the
most beautiful spot in the city. will NOT
appeal TO them or their civic pri,e
which is being instilled into their
fninds by parents and teachers. There
IS not city In the world where a
cemetery, no matter how old or how
new, is not kept up and made beautl-
tul either by relatives or the CITY an
thorlties. In every other city hum
areds of people visit the various ceme-
leries on Sunday, strew the graves of
the dear departed with flowers or
pant some rosebush or shrub, but in |
Astoria is seems as though some O,
me people believe their duty to loved
'nes ends with the shedding of a few i
lears over the grave as the sexton
slowly nils 1t up. Gone but not for |
rotten is not engraved on many Of
ne tombstones 'in Hillside cen,ata,.,,