The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-12-04


VIII pause for moment and bestow 4
thought and a tear upon our memory
what though tho mot!onlesS tenant
below connot geo the countenanco re-
plctc with sadness, nor hear the friend.
" football upon HIS grave? Still, our
hearts while living, cling with pleas
urc to tho thought And who can say
that the spirits OF tho departed may
not hovor over tho wreck OF their for
NOR rnnn5ions--that tho divinity which
was once onthroned In the temple may
not still 1tnger about It's melancholy
ruinu, and receive with soy sud salts
faction the obligations which memory
and affection offer ut ita broken shrine?
TO bo forgotten! II there Is a
thought at which the mind rcvolts, II
is this! To tho man OF proud am
billion; to tho woman who rules tho
world of fashion or of love--to die, to
LOGO the breath and turn to dust
that could BIO borne. but to perish from
the view and thought of all mankind,
that Is to thom tho kcenest stins OF
death. And even to men OF humble
aspirations there In something chilling
In the reflection, that should we die
this night, nature and man would show
no greater cign OF change than when
a leaf falls from yondcr tree, or a
drop OF yondcr river dries up Its shore;
that not a pause would occur even IN
tho machinery OF our own peculiar yo.
cation; that not ntave would rsyelry
omit In her nightly song, nor step
tho less would pleasure take In her
exciting dance. No wonder. then, that
aspiring men struggle to be rcnem-
bered; to have en- abiding place even
in death; to build monuments upon
ILL an f1,, ,-,kV Ia ~ FY1
food of time and change which must
ewallow up all human things; and
that even gentle and unambitious
spirits would sscure for themselves
some sheltered nook, where the voices
OF thoEe they love. Fastening from the
broad sunlight OF tho world. may oft
be heard in signs and prayers. like
the nightingale, singing her Sweet
song In darkne5s, pour out the plain
tive notes OF affection and borrow,
amidst the consecrated shadows OF the
tomb.
But 1t Is not solely, nor even chiefly
with reference to tho feelings with
which we regard our own last change.
that we find reason for these hallowed
and beautiful places of repose. It is
principally 10 their Influence upon tho
liying-upon those who survive the
dead-in tho elevating and purifying
effect they exert upon their happiness
and their daily lives. True, 1t may
be said that IL matters little TO the
dead where they sleep, whether upon
the desert sans, or on the mountain
side, or in the deep abyss OF the ocean,
with no eye to behold their dust but
the Omniscient eye OF Heaven, and no
chaunt sung to their memory but tho
eternal anthem OF the stormy sea.
True, IL matters not to them. But
1T does add to the satisfaction ana
consolation OF the living to know that
the form they have so fondly cheriaheo,
is reyerently deposited In the tomps
OF it's torefathers and kindred. when
the Almighty pronounced its awtul
curses upon one OF the most idolatrous
Kings OF Israel, he told him that, Of
nil his house. but one child should be
hurried in a grave, because there was
good In that child True, 1t matters
little TO the dead where they sleep.
Eut If all things arc 70 be tried by
q ecalc of utility and absolute neees-
sity, what matters s; 10 the Twins
that they should provide themselves
with more than the Indispensable sup.
pIlss Of food and clothing? Why the
comforts of home. the luxuries of NE.
tho cultivation OF music, of painting
of statuary? Nay. let us reyefeptly
ascend from man to his Maker. ano
ask, why do no not sec this principle
OF mere utility. or rather, WIN say,
this common and contracted ioea NJ
utility manifest In the works of God!
W-hy has He throughout His whole
creation exhibited at once power that
awes the mind, and beauty that en-
rapturcs the heart? What matters u
that He should make the earth moro
than level. productive and unadorned
fold? Why make that field of grain
which is presently to be converted .nto
food for man, so attractive to his
eyer Why make that tree which IL
10 become his hahitation, stately as
well as strong? Why make the storm
cloud, which purifies the air and fer
tilizes tho earth, beautiful in it's vrathi
now sending from it's dark bosom
weapons brighter than tho swords OF
seraphim. and now cleaning with the
gorgeous tints OF that bow which the
Almighty fixed upon the cloud. the
radiant seal of the covenant OF Coo
with man. Why invest even the feet
ing yapors OF tho sunset Sky with
celors which the painters most elab-
orate art cannot rival? Why fill the
air with sweet fragrance, and why
deck the earth with wild flowers, even
in the distant recesses OF the forest
and the mountain, where tho foot OF
man -crely psneh'stes? And why
straw tho very bottom OF the sea with
shells. whose tints reflect the radiant
hues OF Heaven, unless 1t DO not only to
delight tho eye and the imagination
OF man. Sut because a love Of beauty
pervadey even that Divine Essence by
which all things were called into
being?
Everything IS usesul-nothing Is be-
meath the dignity and care OF man.
which adds one drop to the cup OF
human happiness, which "smoothes one
wrinkle in the brow of care" which
wipes ono tear from the mouracrs
eye. Every thing is useful in the
highest. sense which, while it charms
tho Imagination, puriiies the heart;
which, while 1t relieves death Of un-
necessary horror, teaches man tlht
this is not his abiding city aud points
his stricken spirit to tho skies. Wo
would make this cemetery place
Of repose for the living.as VOL as tho
dead, We would make 1t what Is
better, a place of meditation, and an
Instrument of moral improvements OF
all tho schools OF instruction there is
mono like that which speaks to US from
the dust. The lessons OF philosophy,
while they enlighten the mind, fail TO
cheer and warm the heart, Even tho