The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1926-01-21
SMALL TOWN CEMETERY
| PROBLEM
By c. E. Bohan

The unkept Cemetery is fast becom-
ing thing of the past, partially due
to the comments of the passing obser-
vers - what a pitiful sight = those
tall grass and weeds, from the costly
| appearance one would think the own
er financially able to provide for the
cutting of the grass and weeds, trif-
ling cost compared with the cost of
cut flowers and such monuments
In the past, the care Of the cemetery
has been given very little thought;
this accounts for the unsightly condi-
ton. A few settlers came to this COM
munity in an early day looking for
homes. not looking for cemeteries.
Most of these people being young,
a time people buried their dead on
some home spot, then the question
came up: of what will we do with those
that have no home spot?" OF course the
the result. An Improvement on the
name, and thanks to civilization and
good neighbors our cemeteries are
taking. on an improved appearance.
Our predecessors attention was not
called to the cemetery until some
loved one had to be placed there, and
on such occasions people are in no
frame of mind to study cemetery prob
lens.
The last sad rites having been per-
formed we return to our home cares,
and soon the care of the living en-
cumbers our minds that only an oc-
cassional thought Of those that have
ly as we are performing some task
that was especially theirs to do. With
their duty and our own to preform
it seems as though our time is SO
completely taken up that we can not
think of cemetery duties. Yet they
are not entirely forgotten and at last
We determine to go and fix up around
the graves, you in your way and I in
mine; others fix as they choose; all
with different shaped mounds and var
ious sizes; some with cement curbes,
shrubs, flowers and Urns. The sight
is not pleasing, and when we are call
ed on again to bury another loved one,
the place seems disheveled; it does
not compare favorable with the flow
ers and interment ceremonies.
How much better the cemetery
mounds all been leveled off and the
cement curbs ommitted, the shrubs
placed on some spot set aside for that
purpose, the grass evenly and nicely
litter cleaned away and the place had
the appearance of well kept lawn.
The care Of the cemetery can better
be left to the directors of the Associa-
ton than to many people, each want
ing their particular idea carried out.
Now the real beauty of the cemetery
is the green sward that nature has so
beautifully clothed the earth with.
clipped and clean from overgrowth
and rubbish.
We think nothing of buying cut
flowers costing three dollars and up
ward to place on graves; they retain
their beauty only few short hours,
and become unsightly.
How much more satisfactory to join
with those who are providing the
! smaller amount annually or subscribe
to the permanent care fund the inter-
Of Uyhi oh
what more respect can we show than
to provide an attendant to carry on
this work for our friends and neigh
Dor that lie helpless with no one to
provide care for their last resting
place.
1t is truly unfortunate that our pre-
decessors did not realize that some
day there would be nobody left to tell
for the community, and that soon they
would be but graveyard strangers to
the present day community and yet
they done all they knew how or could
for the community and that is as much
as these people of today can do.
The problem Of caring for a ceme-
terry that all these past years has had
little or no attention and that little
of such varied ideas of care that the
results are far from satisfactory.
awakened to the fact that the ceme-
terry should be the beauty spot Of the
community, and the problem or keep
ing it so is the problem to solve. Let
us solve it so it will be settled for all
time. Our predecessors solved it by
each going out and taking care of it in
their own way. We of today know
that this was a mistake, for there is
no longer any relatives to carry on
the work. A great many of the mark
ers bear names Of people we never
knew or possibly heard of. Our lots
though we clean them off, and leave
those of the stranger, does not have
the satisfactory appearance we SO
hoped for and we do not feel right to
go away leaving such an unkept ap-
pearance, but time torpIds our going
over the whole cemetery and we feel
discouraged with our undertaking
seeing the little spot cleaned off and
the adjoining lot so very unsatisfac-
tory.
| Now is not the solution plain to be
seen? We being so busy with home
affairs, should join the crowd and do
something to help keep this sacred spot
the beauty spot of the community and
L ID nd