Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1920-05-30
OLD ST. PAUL CEMETERY
! IN STATE OF NEGLECT
Desolate and Deserted Acre Owned
s by One OF Wcalthicst Congrc-
cations in the World.
ny NADGE ARTHUR.

y NEW YORK, May 22.-When next
you arc in New York, if YOU are
In New YorkIb-q-think. .MHRDLNIF
thinking of paying n visit to st.
Paurs historic churchyard. don't. 1t
ought to be a place that would reflect
lonG-past generation of more or less
distinguished New Workers, but it
isn't. The old church, which con-
tains the now flag drapcd pew in
which George Washington used to
worship, is, L know. n Mecca TO many
tourists. but that can he visited and
left by means of the Broadway en-
trance, without sight OF the shame
fully neglected cemetery in the rear
of the church.
Neglected ETaveyards may some
times have beauty of their own.
have seen quaint, little, walled in
plats. over which brambles and wild
flowers had taken possession that
were suggestive of natures affec
tomato care of those who slept be-
meath. but there are no wild flowers
or brambles in the large piece of
ground where rest the bones OF old
New Workers whose friends doubt
less thought they. were comforting
the highest form OF attention in leav-
ing them within the shadow OF ST.
Paul's-
Prcacnt Condition Is Disgrace.
don't know who is TO blame. but
St Pauls .Churchyard in its present
condition is disgrace. On the day
OF my visit, hundreds OF the Episco-
pal clergy and laymen We're meet
ing in convention at the stately Ca
thedral of ST. John. several miles fur
Their uptown. and it seemed 10 me n
pity they could not have run down
spot helon sing 10 the chapel OF what
is said 10 be the wealthiest Episcopal
church in the whole world.
The burial ground. which extends
from NaSar n Eul.nn &c in
closed by high iron fence set on =
parapet of stone. and its neglected
condition is not easily perceived by
the multitudes that 60 scurryinG by
both OF the above named streets are.
however, unlocked. and If YOU care
to do so you may enter. The first
. thing to attract your attention are
signs warning YOU TO keep off the
grass and not TO sit on the tomb
stones. Rust covers these painted
iron placards, and they are not stand
ing upon erect poles. but. for the
ground as though ashamed Of the
sarcasm of their message. for there
is not a blade of grass open which
any one could possibly tread and the
faxed and crumbled until they re-
semble more the dscolored snaEs in
the gums OF an old man. than eX-
amples OF the stonemason's craft.
Even inc irccS lnrn 10 ShOStS.
Several trees which years ago were
beautiful are now as dead as the hid
den inha bitants Of this forlorn place.
and no others have been set up to
suppIant them Just inside the iron
fence lie the remains of one of the
largest Of these formerly majestic
e!ms. The condition of the wood
shows that il must have been sawed
up many months, If not years, ago.
Its great trunk apparently crashed
upon one of those pretcntious table
like monuments to the dead that are
SO frequently to he seen in grave
yards. and together the broken tree
and the broken tombstone lie in 4
disordered pile. Moldy bricks dis
terror material. and YOU fancy II
would not he difficult to have a
glimpse of the coffin within did you
care 10 do SO.
Not n shrub nor flower is to he
seen in all the dismal place. The
barren ground has the appearance OF
sun-haked clay. Beneath your feet.
with nothing TO show that You should
not tread there, you may come upon
fiat stones bearing almost wornout
chiseled inscriptions which. II pa
tiently decipheTed. will inform you