Norwich bulletin., 1917-09-29
| (Written Specially for The Bulletin.)

l.|
 A few years ago. the name of Nor
 Wlch came into prominence in a drOll
 way, because the late Mayor Charles
 F. Thayer made a remark which was
 taken up and repeated and carried
 along until it had made many thous-
 ands smile.
 It is in reference to this rather sar-
 dcnic observation that MT. Gilman
 writes in his account of the quarter niillennial celebration of Norwich:
 The Mayor of Norwich doubtless re-
 membcred the time honored maxim
 say nothing but good of the dead" when he humorously said "The best citizens of Norwich are in the grave yard!" However true that may be, 1t is nevertheless certain that they did not always escape the breath of calumny in their lifetime. It would be well if the application of the max i'm were so extended that honor to whom honor is due should not be withheld from the living, for there are still worthy descendants of the old stock wh reflect honor upon their an cestors but have not received the rec ognition they deserve. The good work they are doing today will live after them.
 But. happily, there is one son of who onr % 6s ss gratefaY re purposes shall be fulfilled in the Backus Hospital and in the Slater Memorial, and who has the happiness, not accorded to all men, of receiving while he is living the enthusiastic ercomiums of his townsmen who par ticipate in the benefits conferred by the munificence of William A. Sla- ter.
 This pleasing reference of Mr. Gill man to one whom the whole town de- lights to honor will recall the charac- teristic modesty and efforts at self effacement. of MT. Slater at the, time of the celebration of Benefactors' Day ir Norwich, June 6th-7th- 1914, when he could not be prevailed upon to so much as occupy seat on the stage at Broadway theatre during the formal 1 exercises. in his difiderce lest some speaker mention his name as entitled to gratitude plaudits.
 He diffdently remained at The keenly interested in what timate friends with characteristic cordiality; but no persuasion could | Induce himto consent to anything | which would bring him into even the 1 slightest prominence: Mir. Giln:?n's reference to the gratitude which Nor l wich owes MT. Slater is one of the 1 most significant and important para graphs in his timely and valuable i book.
 After havinn had his little comment ipon Mayor Thayer's familiar remark which of course at that time had reference to Yantic cemetery. Mir. proceeds to note that the pop llation of that cemetery had in creased so largely since it's consecra ion in 1S44. that. after sixty years the of making provision for the future was imperative.
 Through divided councils. the city vas slow to act that 9 private cor ,oration. the Norwich Cemetery As ociation,. was organized in 1902, to ! meet the urgent need. It bought a arge tract on the Salem Turnpike, ,nown as the Osgood farm, laid out pads, planted trees, and under the lame of Map1ewood Cemetery. made he place beautiful and suitable for a ,uria1 place. II
 It may be noted here that the name f the new cemetery was selected trough a competition, the name hosen by popular vote having been hat suggested by Edwin A. Tracy and dopted by the cemetery trustees, Tov. 3, 1902.
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