Evening star., 1936-10-25
By John Clagett Proctor

TO MANY a cemetery is SAD
place to visit, but to the per-
son with a reminiscent, reflec-
4 tive and philosophical mind
the sepulchers Of our fathers, our
friends, the city's great and the Ma
tons distinguished dead afford only
pleasant memories as we stroll through
the many rows of markers and monu-
ments and pause, occasionally, when
we recognize the name of some one
we knew-some worthy person who
in his day gave to the world the best
that was in him and left behind
name indelibly carved on the scroll
Of honor. And it is quite likely, upon
such an occasion, we will have in
mind some nice thought for the de-
parted and perhaps say, as did Ham
let: Alas, poor Yorick, I knew him,
Horatio; a fellow of infinite jest, of
most excellent fancy" For, after all,
those who entertain and please us
are of our most valuable earthly pos
sessions.
On Memorial day the cemeteries
of Washington are crowded with
friends and relatives of those who
have gone on before, there to show
the dead respect, but not so few days
ago when the writer wended his way
to Congressional Cemetery to see if
he could find the grave of Lizzie Mac
nichol, one of Washington's most de-
lightful operate stage entertainers Of
a little more than a third OF a CEN
tury ago, though many will still recall
her death, back in 1899 Having al
ready ascertained the date of her
death-August 12-and the cemetery
in which she was buried, call at
the Office of this nationally known
graveyard-where there are so many
cenotaphs, erected in bygone days to
the memory of members of Congress
resulted in the securing of the num-
ber of her grave-site $40, range 81
and the rest was easy.
NEAR and dear is this old metropolis
to the hearts of the people of
Washington, for there can be but
few Of the early families of the Dis
trict Of Columbia not represented in
this city of the dead, in which have
been inferred to date upward of 81 900
bodies, which not only include for
mer residents of the Capital but also
q large number of the Nations dis
tinguished dead. among whom are
Revolutionary patriots, many men,
bers Of Congress who died in Office,
famous naval and military officers
and the rank and file of the Army,
Navy and Marine Corps of all wars,
not to mention the multitude of our
own foremost residents who have
passed away during the last CEN
tury and quarter.
Indeed, as it was said in a con-
gressional document few years ago:
I'm the Congressional Cemetery, es-
tablished in 1907, in Washington,
D. c., more patriots whose names
are linked with our early history are
buried than in any other single ceme-
terry in the country. Two Vice Presi-
dents Of the United States, one Of
them a signer of the Declaration Of
Independence, are inferred there.
Private soldiers and those in high
command Of the Continental Army
sleep side by side In the democracy of
death"
At the time the foregoing quoted
matter was printed. the body Of George
Clinton, one of the Vice Presidents
referred to, had already been re-
moved. But the body of Elbridge
Gerry still reposes where it was buried
shortly after his death on November
%, 1914. His grave is appropriately
marked, as it should be, for his serv-
ice to his country was one of great
distinction.
Born in Marblehead, Mass, July II,
1744, he was educated at Harvard
College. and prepared for commercial
life. He was elected a member of
the Colonial House of Representatives
and served from 1772 to ITS; was
member of the Continental Congress,
1776-1781 and 1782-1785; a signer of
the Declaration of Independence;
delegate to the constitutional conven-
ton of the United States held in Phil
adelphia in 1887; refused to sign the
instrument, insisting it gave the
President too much power, but subse-
quently gave it his support; elected
as an anti-Federalist to the First and
Second Congress March 4, 1789-
March 8, 1893; sent to France with
Marshall and Pickney on diplo-
Democratic candidate for Governor
of Massachusetts in 1901 and again in
1912; Governor of Massachusetts,
in 1910 and 1911; elected Vice
President of the United States
as Democrat on the ticket
with James Madison in 1912, and
served from March 4, 1913, until his
death.
Vice President Gerry, as demon
etrated by his life's work, was an
intensely patriotic man. He died sud-
denly Of heart attack when on his
way to the Capitol, and thus lived up
to his own teaching, that lit is the
duty of every citizen, though he may
have but one day to live, to devote
that day to the good of his country"
MANY other patriots could be men
A'A toned who are buried within this
noted cemetery, but the writer has
In mind a woman of later age; not
one who might be called patriot, in
the usual sense of the word, but a
gifted angel of song. woman of many
virtues-a model to be set up. as it
were. She died young, beloved, re-
cretted A beautiful flower was she;
but plucked, while yet in full bloom.
Her life's petals withered and fell to
the ground. but her memory fingers
on, for after all, as has been said:
"You may break. you may shatter
the vase you will, but the scent OF
the roses will hang round it still" i"
Lizzie Macnichol. the one here re-
ferred to, was Washington woman,
born and reared here and here she
was educated, attended Sabbath school
and went to church. Her musical
fha liroafiny1