Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1905-01-12
PILGRIM HOME CEHETERY.
One Of Dickinson's Most Creditable
Gods Acres.

For the Reflector
The wAyfaring man on o tour OF in
spection. or the emigrant seeking to
locate home In the rural districts OF
the middle west, will be impressed
and Influenced by the character and
condition Of the cemetery grounds 10
the district under consideration. and
then impressions will be made fac
tor In the final summary Of "plus and
minus'' conditions that determine hts
selection.
II the cemetery grounds show evil
denCe Of neglect and hesrtleSs indit-
ference, barren Of foliage, grass un.
cut, graves sunken and overgroWn
With noxlous weeds and brambleS,
monuments inferior and standing at
an angle out Of plumb, he will accept
these conditions as q gage and index
to the CharAoter and status OF the
community adjacent, and will be pre-
pared to find the homestead In like
condition Of neglect, barren Of oTna'
mentatlon, the farming implements
antiquateA, unhoused and scattered
over the premises, the domestic de-
pArtment adjusted to . slatternly
plan and conspicuous for the absence
Of modern convenience and comfort.
He will probably find . superabund-
aDce OF dogs "mOngrel, puppy, wheIP
and hound and ours Of low degree"
but o pronounced absence OF high
grade horses, cattle, hogs, sleep ana
poultry. He will probably find q
profession Of religion, faint Of super
stition but o painful absence OF broad
gagged, Christian charity, tolerance
and forbesrance.
Upon the other hand II he nndS tne
cemetery we'll cared for, flowers and
foliage in evidence, grass neatly
mown, costly and artistic monuments
showing through the vistaS Of foliage
at many angles Of observation he
will accept these indiceS IS guarantee
for 8 high standard Of civilization
intelligence. energy. thrift and tho
qualities that 60 TO make an ideal
American home and citizen Of whom
our iIlustrious president, Theodore
Roosevelt, 10 the acknowledged type
and model.
OF such lS the Pilgrims' Home oeme'
terry in Ridge township and the people
who sars for 1.-THE Grahams, Hat
field, Lay, Potter, Maust Hill, Byan'
HsringiOp, Brandt, -StslwSrts some
Of them in physique, ell Of them In
moral worth and character and all Of
whom Are Justly and cOmwsndsbly
proud Of their beautifully dressed
cemetery.
There sleeps the father Of the
Grahsm families, his tomb marked BY
a boulder Of Quincy granite, highly
polished and engraved, 1t emblem Of
. sturdy character. Here too marked
BY q boulder Of Oklahoma red granite
sleeps the late s. slbbald, 9 one time
resident oiAbilens. Numerous costly
and artistic monuments evidence the
love cherished by the living for their
dead; while through the vista Of
evergreen foliage we catch glimmer-
inRs Of white marble shafts (emblsms
Of purity and innOcencs) commemor-
sting some mothers darling babe sont
from heaven like 9 snow fake, .
moment Of marvellous white crystal
beauty, then melted and gone forever
or ike the bubble upon the oceans
current, . second Of magnificent PFiS-
matte colors. then vanished and re-
duesd 70 primal conditions.
A we'll grOOmed and ornate GENE
tsry robs death Of half Its tsrOrs. To
The StalWart Christian for whom death
Is simply . transition there should
b no terror. Nevertheless. itis .
pleasing thought % know that Whsn
iHs's aiiul isvsg iS over We shall sleep