The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1909-06-25

Some of the most interesting things
in the American quarter are the La
Fayette square, named in honor Of
General La Fayette, the Lee Circle,
in which stands an imposing monu-
ment to the great Confederate gem
eral, Robt. E. Lee, costing $4,000
The shaft alone Is over one hundred
feet high, and made of white marble
blocks.
There is stairway leading to the
top, where there is an observatory
under the statue of the general which
is Of solid bronze, and about twice
life size, | should judge.
At Lee Circle st. Charles avenue
Droadens into what is to be one Of
the finest avenues in America. On
this avenue still stands the Methodist
church founded just after the Civil
war and where General Grant wor-
shipped while in New Orleans
There are many beautiful churches
on st. Charles avenue, also handsome
residences, the beautiful Tulane uni
versity, founded by Tulane, who gave
owe 81 900, 900 toward 1t, the Jewish
Orphans Home, a University for neg
roes, Charity Hospital, and st.
Joseph's church, said to be the sec
ond largest church In the United
States.
The Washington Artillery Hall also
the Confederate Memorial Hall are
fine structures.
] have not yet spoken of what was
most interesting of all to me, and
that Is, New Orleans cemeteries which
are certainly unique among the GEM
eteries Of the United States.
Owing to the water only three feet
under the city, burying above ground
is necessary. One comes unexpected
ly across city Of the dead in the
heart of the metropolis and learns
that this once marked the city's limits
but which, as the city grew, was even
ually swallowed up in its growth. The
most interesting are the cemeteries
In the old French quarter.
In many Of the nose beautiful
ones small fortunes have been ex-
pended upon single tombs. Some of
the tombs are built of brick, others
OF marble or granite, and usually
have two vaults, with crypt below
for the reception of bones. Some
times, as in the old st. Louis ceme-
teries, the tombs are built in tiers,
along thick walls. These walls sur
round the cemeteries, and the vaults
are called ovens because they are
made Of brick, and are shaped like
an oven.
Over many of these ancient oven
shaped tombs, second and even third
story has been erected.
AS years pass on, the vaults are
needed for the reception of other bod
les, and the slabs are then removed
from the tombs, the caskets burned, |
and the remains of the dead are de-
posted in the crypt In this man
ner a long series Of burials may take
place in single tomb. In the old
st. Louis cemeteries, generation after
generation mingle their dust in the
same crypt.
There are st. Louis numbers one,
two, and three, named for Louis XIV.
Of France. st. Louis No. 1 is nearly
TWO hundred years old, and so crumb-
ing and decayed that 1t never opens
It's vaults except to an heir of the
soil.
Further building of tombs has long
been prohibited. The dead lie SO
'lose together, making the aisles so
'ery narrow, that without a guide,
stranger would find difficulty in
,"tling around.
More beautiful than all the rest Is
he Metairie cemetery. In it are beau
iful lakes, shady drive ways and
walk ways, and near the entrance
lands the magnificent monument |
omb of the Army of Tennessee, sur !
counted by the equestrian statue of
Albert Sidney Johnston. In this tomb
leeps General Beauregard with, many
I the soldiers he led The beautiful
omb of the Army of Northern Vir- J
mia is surmounted by large shaft
n which stands the life size statue (
[ Stonewall Jackson. This is al I
ost sacred spot to the Southerners, ,
or the remains of Jefferson Davis |
'ere in this mound two years before {
he final interment at Richmond. II
Near this tomb is beautiful mon |
ment erected in memory OF the i
lashington Artillery. q
Some of the other cemeteries of t
ew Orleans are the Greenwood, in Z
'hich is the beautiful monument