The Republican journal., 1905-12-21
Church of Remembrance,
nd One of the Most Beautiful Gene
tsries in the World. The Pere La
chaise of Argentina.

trance. and it has been given to
most beautiful church in all South
rca, and to the cemetery adjacent.
.hurch was built by a wealthy citi-
senior Don Carlos Guecio, as a
1rial to his young and lovely
1ter, who was murdered by a re-
4 lover. She was buried beneath
Ugh altar of the western Tai
II, Just where the afternoon sun
$ fingers of light through marvel
stained glass window, imported
Florence, representing scenes
her short life. The little gem of
,rch is of purest Roman architec-
III Italian marble, exquisitely
4, and is said to have cost about
thousand dollars. In the
on of all good Argentinians, it in
one an uncommonly high seat in
IN to be buried in the Recoleta
terry. For many years this fash
lie Gods acre has been more than
led and it holds the dust of many
celebrities. Situated at the north
of the city, reached by
the new broad avenues, it is en-
/ within high brick walls, with an
ate iron gateway, prefaced by a
y garden. Just inside the gate is
ice, wherein sits the clerk behind
liz, with a pen behind his ear and
N ledger before him waiting for
mers: while opposite is bare
chapel, wherein the black tressels
lady placed to receive the next
and a priest in a black gown with
x in his hand, looks as if a funeral
momentarlly expected. At first
the Recoleta cemetery reminds
+ Pere la ChaiSe. You enter at
lpon a labyrinth of narrow walks
monuments, set in rectangular
so close together that the place
he appearance of a Stonecutter' 5
ay-for here space means money, a
deal of it to the square inch.
the progressive city of Buenos
$, which has spent millions in
ening streets and improving
0, could not have afforded its dead
'ent room to lie peaceably side by
instead of being piled up in layers
,ther of the unexplainable things
is land of paradoxes. Such a
yard as our Mt. Auburn, Green
Oak Hill or Woodlawn does not
anywhere in South America. No
IT how much waste land there
be on all sides, the dead are al
packed into the smallest possible
In the rich and arlstocratlc
eta there is a fountain or two,
The few cypress trees whose roots
'ach upon graves. but nothing like
reeS and flowers, green sWard and
gravel walks which every poor
town in the United States gives
cemeteries. The people of Buenos
$. unlike those of Montevideo,
and Peru, do not employ mural
/ to any extent, the popular fash
ere being to use vaults dug below
frface or tombs elevated above it.
general plan of procedure is as
49, A lot is purchased eight OF
eet square, and the finest chapel
upon it that the owners purse
tiord-an ornamental structure of
t or granite with a miniature
inside of it. Underneath the
Il a square we'll is dug, the sides
ich are concerted, and strong iron
,ets fastened in, a few feet apart,
which TO rest the coffin. The
above ground in front of the altar
open work grating of iron, which
sed to admit each new arrival, and
lgh which the tiers of decaying
in the well can at all times be
Y seen. In many of the older
: the brackets below have all been
occupied, and the overflow, so to
Z. is ranged on other brackets set
] the walls of the chapel. There
outer door Of iron fiIigreework,
'ehind it generally another of glass,
the latter is left open for ventila-
SO that any passer-by may count
)tiins above and below and note the
yes of time and decay. 1t is
hoped that the baskets are her
ALLY sealed, since all the diseases
n to materia medica have had
turn in Buenos Ayres. There are
very costly and beautiful statues
in the Recoleta, among
sands of less pretentious tombs Of
, conceivable shape and design.
5 of several different colors are
t employed in the same tomb, a
ute style being alternate black and
e, like gingham. The affairs Of all
title chapels are covered with flow
natural and artificial, and the ugly
oh wreaths of black and white
s abound. Some of the affairs have
les or lamps burning continually
them, and one was pointed out to
pom which the light has not been
lguished since the dear one died,
! than forty years before.
the centre OF the RecOleta is a sin
T open sepulcher, with number of
collins inside of it, and the inscrip-
upon the outer wall: "Sepulcro de
mos Expositos debido a la NUM-
lcia al EXmo Goberino del Estado
uenos Ayres, Ano 1856"
my mind the prettiest monument
re place is very modest one of
while marble with no decoration
a wreath of immortels and only
Espero" inscribed upon it.
1se to the cemetery, whose wall
IS the dividing line, is the aims
e, surrounded with gardens gay
flowers; and just here begins the
tiful Plaza de la Recoleta, which
S its name from the adjacent burial
?. 1t is long and narrow park
a driveway through its entire
th, which is always thronged with
ages near the sunset hour.
oder by far it seems to me thar
Recoleta show place for the dead is
Protestant cemetery, or more prop
speaking, for foreigners of any
! or of no faith at all. 1t is know
i Cemeterio de los Estrangeros
is situated at the end of Potosi anC
emo streets. The neat enclosure i!
sly planted with the conical pine
ess and Paradise" trees. \ SINAI
fIp tbn ,,arf n,,an aF fl1napn