Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-11-14
Stories in Stone at Oak Hill.
A RAMB1E THROUGH THE CEMETERY REVEALS
INTERESTING INSCRIPTIONS ON THE
MANY TOMBSTONES.

A RAMPANT of vaults crowns the
"a hill overlooking Rock Creek,
once known as the rock of Dunn
Il - barton. but now so fifty called
from the beautiful trees, Oak
Hill cemetery. Somber they seem-from
their silent tenants-and cherries. while
they rest in the shadow: but the sun. just
sinking into a fleecy cloud bed. gilds
these quiet houses of the dead, symbolic
Of the never-fading glory beyond. The
lingering rays OF light throw in bold re-
lief the story etched on many a stone.
On the face of ono OF the oldest monu-
ments is carved q cross. on the apex a
crown-the cross lay in the evening
shadow, but the crown above was gilded
by the glory from the sky.
One vault, showing the extinction of
a fine race. has each slab carved with a
descriptive line and one seems to see
the occupant as In life-Dr. James Shields
Beale. the beloved physician" carrying
comfort to the afflicted and ease to those
In bodily pain; Elizabeth. q wtfe-"Bless-
cd are the pure in heart; the romping
boy Of seven years-''His sun went down
while It was Jet day. the maiden daugh-
ter. who blessed her parentS home for
nearly thirty-zive years. always ready to
comfort or help-'Her price was above
rubies''; then the baby boys. who shared
the crib and the same grave-"Suffer the
little children to come unto me. for Of such
is the kingdom OF heaven; the youth
just putting by childish things when the
call came to him-"Beloved by all. most
dutiful and affectionate." and the triumph
of stxty-six years-"Death Is swallowed
up In victory
There is a silent home, near neighbor to
this, where rest two major generals Of
the army. Fittingly the stone is in
scribed, Honor the brave" and there Is
worn little flag stuck in the iron gate.
put there last Flag day by little child
who In passing read the line.
Many heroes are gathered in this silent
city. Two brothers. Albert Nathaniel
Smith. commander United States Navy,
and Joseph Bryant Smith, who was killed
I'm battle while in command Of the United
States frigate Congress Gle died doing
his duty is his simple epitaph). lie side
by side. Neither had reached his prime.
Not far from their graves lies an I'M
marked tomb of a shipmate. When they
last parted 1t was at the marriage of the
latter, when Capt. Joseph Smith was
best man." Then came the civil war.
and one plate bears the letters U. S. N,
the other c. 8. n.
Even a stranger to the land would
know that death had reaped a rich
harvest between 1S61-65, for stone after
stone shows the cost in gallant life of
war. While SO many were cut OF early.
when their country was most In need
OF them, It Is pleasing to read that Col
John Harris. colonel commander OF the
Marine Corps-even though his tomb
also bears the fatal date of 1S64-died
in the fifty-hrst year of his service and
the land of his love two-thirds Of all
his many years.
There Is a splendid specimen of the
stonecutter's art, bearing the sword,
flag and arms of the country. over the
remains Of a famous warrior brevetteo
on the field. But the artist in his zeal
for the fine touches to the granite
carved for all time major" with ''g"
for the middle letter. A naval monu-
ment nearby bears the inscription 1
have fought a good fight.
All the honors do not belong to men
Of war. however. for very modest
slab over an old merchant OF George
town. who lived nearly a century. de-
clares him to have been during tnat
long period "A FRIEND OF the i Ir,ena iess
did shaft in memory Of Arthur Pue Cor
man tells of service in the Senate from
lsS1-99 and again from 1903 TIL oeatn
came I'm 1906. Many distinguished
man in the political world Is sleeping
under the oak trees. but probably no
life closed more YEARLY than did that
of the white plumed knight. James G.
blaine Not long before he gave up uie
highland when he must nave IeiI NE
heart already broken under the snat-
tered dream of his lifelong ambition
he nointed to a blasted tree just mar.
red nv a winters storm and said. Let
me lie there when I die.
IS
An impressive edif1ce In oak mn
me eight-column classic tomb erected oy
the philanthropist W. w. Corcorah ioi
the bodies OF his much-loved WIFE ana
daughter, and where he now rests MINI
self. The tomb CLEANS cold In the snah-
ows of the evening and gives no mint OF
the romance and lOveliness buried far
below its floor. Mr.. Corcoran was SELL
made man in point of fortune. but OF nne
old Georgetown stock. and IN early mah-
hood fell in love, as the phrase Is. on
sight. with the Dedutfiui odooAsSa -
Commodore Morris OF the navy, whose
fine old house stood until late in the last
century at the corner of 10th and
streets northwest.
The commodore was rather naughty
old martinez and would not believe II
possible that his daughter could care Tor
any one outside the service All ap-
peals to his reason were vain against the
walls of his prejudice. and the way OF this
true love was rough indeed. But Louise
Morris had a pretty fair share Of her
| fathers courage. and she consented TO
an elopement.
| On the 18th street side Of the house was
a window often shown to the sentimental
as the window from which the sailor 1
daughter WAS about to climb into a
sturdy pair OF arms waiting below when
! che commodore being accustomed to
night watches, reached down and snatch
| ed her back into his home.
The commodore. as all his men knew.
was only outwardly stern. He saw his
little girl was really I'm earnest. so he
sent the would-be bridegroom for the
previously engaged minister and, rousing
the rest of the household. had the mar
riage ceremony performed at once This
weird ceremony at midnight was followed
by a few very happy years. and then
death took first the wife Louise and
| then the namesake daughter
| l~n<lxy huried I'm a rather ornate