The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-06-09
PICNICS IN THE CEMETERIES
FIRST SPRING OUTING MANY
NEW WORKERS GET.

There are many New Workers. who do not
wait for Coney Island or Carnarsie to a
their first outing of the season. They make
their spring pilgrimage to the oenstRry, to
put the family lot in order. Often &c 10 a
family festival in which all unite, and incl
dentally they have a very good time OF 1t In
a healthy, quiet way.
"Jakey says / can't plant no seeds, mud
der, said a five-year-old boy at the Long
Island ferry house the other day. II says
all l can do is to go all the pail with water.
Amt / goin' to be let plant no seeds?'
Mother shooed him away to devote her at
tention to another youngster who was still
so small that he had to go where mother
went or starve. The older son came whim-
pering back in a minute, however.
Say, mudder," he whined, Iain't I goin'
to Plant noting? Heiny Schmidt says I'm
too little, but that he's goin' to dig a hole for
a bush"
He had to be comforted this time with the
promise OF active participation in the days
work. Three women made up the re-
mainder of the party. There were several
children attached to each. They carried q
horticultural collection that ranged from
packages of grass seed to a wooden basket
Of geraniums. There were other baskets
just as important, and they looked capacious
enough ever to satisfy juvenile appetites.
1t does not often happen that the women
and children have the exclusive care OF the
lot at this season Of the year, when the win
ter has destroyed all but the grass.
Stronger arms are often needed, and
these are supplied by the father. who takes
a day of and directs the activities Of his
little army.
You've got to pull up all the ~dandelions;
do you hear, Jake?" said a father in the
Grand Central Station yesterday, land walk
up to the road with them. DOM you throw
EN- on the next lot. That belongs to Mrs.
Murray, and when she m up here
she'll know we did it. Bertha can help you.
and Willie can bring the water from the
pump. Mamma and | will look after the
lowers. Maybe we'll let you dig some
holes for the geraniums, if you're good"
Then the family arose from its line Of seats
to walk to the train. The inevitable lunch
basket was here also, for there was TO be a
whole day in the country for this party. 1t
had started at 0 o'clock in the morning.
Generally the superintendent have no
objection to these parties, and it would not
make much difference If they did. The
privilege of tending it lie one Of the delights
Of owning a cemetery lot. These visitors
naturally go TO the less expensive parts
of the cemeteries and they are allowed to
do whatever they want within the limits
imposed by the conditions of their pur-
chase. They cannot plant trees. for in
stance, nor certain kinds of shrubs whose
roots are likely to run too far through the
earth. There is a kline of enduring decora-
ton day in the cemetery from late in April
until June. 1t is the idea OF most of these
owners of the ground to have their lot in
readiness for Decoration Day. when the
cemeteries are all supposed TO be in summer
trim.
There are sdme visitors to the raves
who do not have the tightening element OF
childhood or the consoling feature of family
life. Occasionally an old man and woman
make the journey to their lot to remove the
traces of winter from the graves OF the
children. Sometimes the woman comes
alone and labors pathetically about the
mound and the tiny grass plot.
One Of these lonely old women was moving
slowly about her few feet of grass the other
day. 1t did not take her long to put it in
order. for there were never very long inter
walls between her visits. She came up often
and there was so little TO do to-day that abe
fingered over every bit of dirt and grass
that had TO be picked up. She had time TO
turn a longing look toward the family
group busy on the adjoining lot, They
were a busy lot.
The father was rubbing hard at a spot
on the stone which was gradually disap-
pearing under his muscular efforts. The
mother stood watching him, a trowel in one
hand and Il potted geranium in the other.
Her eyes were partly closed in the effort to
discern whether or not there were any
other stains in the marble; Two children
were picking the weeds and dandelions out
of the grass. a third was on his way back
from the hydrant. While they worked
there was time for quiet conversation among
them. Their old neighbor tried to find
work, but there was not enough TO keep
her hands busy. She had finally decided
that there was nothing more, and with a
sigh turned TO take up the little package OF
food living on the grass. Just at the same
minute the father. convinced that every
trace of the stain had been removed, threw
down the cloth.
Lets cat. mother" he said. SIN hun
gry. So are the rest Of you, aren't your"
Three throats answered hat they were
and the box was produced. They seated
themselves on the grass. each received q
paper napkin from the top OF the box m
the meal began.
Look at the old lady on the iron bench
there, mother, the oldest boy said. She's
eatin' too. But she's cryin'."
The contrast had been too much for the
old lady and the tears were flowing down
her cheeks as she nibbled the roll. She
turned her face suddenly away as the
curious eyes of the Others fixed themselves
on her.
little girl, and ask that old lady il she
won't come over and eat her lunch with us.
Tell her we all want her to come"
She led her over by the hand and in the
easy way Of their kline they were soon
friends inc remained friends as far as New
York, when they separated at the station.
They're a peaceful lot" the superin-
tendent OF one of the large cemeteries saidt
"and we never mind this spring invasion.
They work away on their lots and we only
know they are here from seeing them come
and go. The only kind that ever worry
us are those hat want to have their lots
changed. They are in the majority Of
cases need ] say it?-women, and one Of
them has had her lot moved three times.
II seems some sort Of a diversion to her
and as long as she can afford TO pay tho
small charges it is our duty to comply
with her wishes.
Her first lot was too sunny. Mex she
got one that had too much shade. At
least that was the complaint she made
when she came back to change the lot a
second time. Now she owns the third she
has selected and l suppose she may be
satisfied.
Barring these dissatisfied visitors we have
little trouble when the spring sends us out
every day a little army Of workers.