Ha mfiBm ■ MB— in — BRffiH ■P ■■1 ■ B Bfl B BS JHHJ ■or nn HH ' HH HSH HBBBB BgMtP'JK rH bWSKgl w aag ■ 3$ Bl BS Bs IHi LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 00001256^41 8 MB EBB HHi ■BHRD Shh ■99s H riteiBj B9RB uBSR Hi Bnfl gnjlHNfl HHM bbpmi flttjra m BB pPBI SatH ISffi BJHHHH Ehrgcltjorbngc, "**.-** Fold-out Placeholder This fold-out is being digitized, and will be' inserted at a future date. HO FPNER MONUMENT. THE oi^oiNisr^Ti f&tmttx% 0f spring (Stw*, REPORTS, FORMS, ETC. ENLARGED EDITION. CINCINNATI: Bradley Sc "Webb, Printers, 135 M!aiix Street, 1862. ' \15 OFFICERS OF THE CORPORATION. R. BUCHANAN, President. D. H. HORNE, Treasurer. CYRUS DAVENPORT, Secretary. §ixnHt$; R. Buchanan. Dan'l. H. Horne, Larz Anderson, W. B. Smith, Peter Neff, J. P. Foote, Wm. Resor, G. K. Shoenberger, T. H. Weasner. \ ^ THE CEMETERY OF SPRING GROVE. Historical Sketch.. The Charter of the Cincinnati Horticultural Society authorized the establishment of a public Cemetery by that Association : but before any very important measures had been adopted for that purpose it was perceived that, with Societies, as with individuals, the best results will always be effected by directing attention to a single object. A divi- sion of the necessary exertions to different objects by any Association, will generally result in such a division of the feelings, opinions, and wishes of the different members as to give a suitable opportunity to the genius of failure for the practical operation of the maxim " divide and conquer.' ' Even in cases like this, in which the aid of each to the other might appear to be adapted to increasing their mutual prosperity, it was per- ceived that elements of discord were slumbering, which might easily be awakened so as to retard the prosperity of the institution. Some of the members of the Society being sagacious enough to perceive the dangers that threatened their original plan, determined to organize a new Association which should have but one object, viz : that of establishing and conducting a public, rural Cemetery, upon such principles and under such a system of management as would best accord with the feelings and wishes of the community. These had been excited by the examples of "Mount Auburn, " in Boston, of " Greenwood," in New York, and of " Laurel Hill," in Philadelphia, as those had been by " Pere la Chaise," in Paris. The design of these rural Cemeteries was to remove from the last resting places of the friends loved and lost that gloom and dread with which a future state was regarded by the ancient Pagans — which made them look forward to the happiest state hereafter as one far inferior to the lowest condi- lion here on earth, * — or the hopeless apathy of atheism which looks for nothing in the death of the body better than the annihilation of the soul. It was to convert not only our souls to a brighter — holier belief, but to give our bodies a holier resting place, where brighter aspects are presented to the survivors. It was to symbolize our belief in a renewed and happier life hereafter through the conquest of death by Christ. In the resurrection of the flowers — in their return to life after their death in winter, symbols of the immortality of the soul were per- ceived — symbols which seemed to proclaim that the universal wish of mankind for a future and happier state of existence had expanded into hope under the teachings of Christianity. And in those beautiful children of song, the birds, that with their joyous notes seem to hail the opening buds and flowers of Spring, fancy saw symbolized Heav- enly angels hailing in their songs of praise the coming of the re- deemed. The melancholy receptacles of the dead in caves and pyramids — in mausoleums and cinerary urns, could not "gild the gloom" of the grave to the heathen, who through fear of death were all their life -time subject to bondage. But to Christians, enjoying the glorious liberty of the sons of God, this bondage was replaced by faith and hope, symbols of which, instead of those of despondency and grief, were more appropriate to the last resting place of those friends from whom they considered themselves separated but for a season* With these, and other views and opinions inciting them to desire the establishment of a rural \ Cemetery in the neighborhood of Cincin- nati, a number of gentlemen met at the house of Robert Buchanan, on the 13th of April, 1844, to hold a consultation on the subject, and adopt measures for carrying their object into effect. David Loring was appointed Chairman of the meeting, and J. B. Bussell, Secretary. It was, after discussion, decided that this object was not only desirable, but feasible ; and a Committee was appointed to make the necessary examinations, and recommend a suitable site. * Homer represents the departed spirits of his countrymen as greatly dissatisfied with their change of abode. The ghost of Achilles says to Ulysses u Rather I choose laboriously to bear A weight of woes and breathe the vital air, A slave to some poor hind that toils for bread, Than reign the sceptered monarch of the dead." t The gentlemen who composed this meeting were G. W. Neff, William Neff, Jas, Hall, Griffin Taylor, S. P. Chase, A. H. Ernst, S. C. Parkhurst, Dr. J. A. Warder, T. H. Minor, Dr. M. Flagg, R. Buchanan, David Loring, J. B. Russell, and Peter NefF, who was one of the earliest and most efficient promoters of the institution. &ei w.neff's family monum [5] The requisites for such a site were, — first, that it should be as near the city as would be consistent with the necessary distance from the annoyances which the smoke, the turbulence and the noises of the city of industry and commerce, might occasion to visitors of the "city of the silent.' ' Secondly, — that it should be pleasantly situated, with an agreeably diversified surface, combining as many of those features which constitute landscape beauty as could be found in the necessa- rily limited space required. Thirdly, — that the soil should not be un- derlaid by the stiff, tenacious clay which retains water, and which renders many, otherwise suitable, sites ineligible. Many beautiful situa- tions on the hills which surround our city were rejected for want of these requisites. Another objection to some of them may, perhaps, have had some influence, though probably the circumstance was thought of but by few. This was a feeling of repugnance to place the bodies of our departed friends in so elose companionship with the fossil remains of beings which existed before the creation of man : and although those of our hills are not of the huge horrid monsters that are found elsewhere, the ideas they awaken are not such as it is desira- ble to call forth in connection with those of departed friends. After all the necessary researches and observations had been made, the Garrard farm, situated about four miles from the city, containing 166 acres, was selected, as combining more of the requisites sought for than any other, and the price being considered reasonable, its pur- chase was recommended by the Committee, which had been appointed at the meeting above mentioned. This Committee consisted of the following gentlemen, well fitted for the duty assigned them, viz : William Neff, Melzsr Flagg, T. H. Minor, David Loring, R. Buchanan, S. C. Parkhurst, and A. H. Ernst, and their recom- mendation was approved, and adopted. A meeting was held on the 4th of May, and a committee was then appointed to prepare articles of association. It consisted of Timothy Walker, G. W. Neff, Nathan Guilford, Nathaniel Wright, D. B. Lawler, Miles Greenwood and Judge James Hall, and on the 1 1th they reported thirteen articles, which were ordered to be published in the newspapers, for the consideration of the citizens generally. On the 19th of October, these articles were referred to a committee consist- ing of Timothy Walker, S. P. Chase, James Hall, N. Guilford, N. Wright. D. B. Lawler and E. Woodruff, with instructions to prepare a Charter in conformity with them, to be presented to the Legislature for enactment. This was done, and Judges Burnet, Walkei and Wright were, on the 1st of December, appointed to lay it before [6] the Legislature, and obtain its passage. It was passed without objec- tion or alteration^ on the 21st of January, 1845. Of the above committees, eight members already rest in peace, in the pleasant places which they had chosen in their life-time, for their "last of earth ;" the others remain to aid with their accustomed zeal and energy, the progress of this and other patriotic and useful public institutions. Of the act of incorporation, the prominent features are as follows : " Every lot-holder is a member, and entitled to a vote. " The Corporation is authorized to hold land exempt from execution, and any appropriation to public use, for the sole purpose of a Ceme- tery, not exceeding 300 acres, 167 of which, such as shall be desig- nated by the Directors, shall be exempt from taxation. " All receipts, whether for the sale of lots, or otherwise, shall be ap- plied exclusively to laying out, preserving, protecting and embellishing the Cemetery, and the avenues leading thereto. " The original conveyance of lots from the Corporation to individuals, shall be evidenced by a certificate under the seal of the Corporation, which shall vest in the proprietor, his heirs and assigns, a right in fee simple to such lot, exempt from execution, attachment, taxation, or any other claim or lien, or process whatever, for the sole purpose of inter- ment, under the regulations of the Corporation, and said certificate shall have the same force and effect as a deed, duly executed in other cases." Much discussion took place in relation to a suitable name. Several were proposed, among them that of "Spring Grove," which being preferred by a large majority, was accepted. The approbation of the citizens in relation to the proceedings of the committee, was general, and the exertions of Messrs. Peter jNeff, Jas. Pullan and A. H. Ernst, in obtaining subscribers, were so suc- cessful, that as soon as the lots were surveyed, enough were immedi- ately taken up to establish the institution on a firm basis. The first meeting of the lot-holders for the election of Directors, in compliance with the requisitions of the Charter, was held on the 8th of February, 1845, when the following gentlemen were elected, viz: R. Buchanan, Wm. Neff, A. H. Ernst, R. G. Mitchell, D. Loring, 1ST. Wright, J. C. Culbertson, Charles Stetson and Griffin Taylor, and on the 11th the Board was organized by the appointment of R. Buchanan, President, S. C. Parkhurst, Secretary, and G. Taylor, Treas- urer. The original plan of the grounds was made by J. Kotman, of Philadelphia. It has since been materially improved ; important alter- ations having been found necessary to adapt it to the surface of the ground. And it may be useful to others engaged in similar undertak- — 4 O [7] ings here to remark, that a large outlay might have been saved, with a manifest improvement of the plan, by a reduction of the roads and gravel walks to about one half the number proposed. Considerable progress was made in the embellishment of the ground, under the di- rection of Thomas Earnshaw, Chief Engineer, and D. Delany, Super- intendent. But the present plan of adopting a system of Landscape gar- dening, by which the capacities of the ground are developed, and made to contribute to their attractions, is due fco the taste and talents of Adolph Strauch and his efficient asssistant, Henry Earnshaw ; and their aid in heightening and exhibiting in their best light, the various beauties of nature, has been faithfully and skilfully directed towards rendering Spring Grove one of the loveliest among the many lovely objects in the vicinity of Cincinnati. This city of the dead seems to have arisen as by enchantment, to testify that the city of the living, to which it belongs, is inhabited by those to whom the tombs of their loved ones are not emblems of sad despair, or of cheerless doubt, but of confident and cheerful belief of a happy re -union. The cultivation of the most beautiful of nature's products — the bright flowers, the ornamental trees and shrubs — recals to imagination that paradise, lost by the transgression, which brought " Death into the world with all our woe,' and, with it, recalls the promise of that lovelier — glorious — paradise, prepared by the conqueror of death, for those that love Him. The Cemetery was consecrated on the 28th of August, 1845, with appropriate solemn ceremonies, and an address by the Hon. Judge McLean, and the institution is constantly increasing its attractions and growing in favor with our citizens, who regard it as one of those in which they may feel a legitimate pride — as one whose tendency is to improve the taste, to soften the manners, and purify the morals of the people. Cincinnati is proud of the resting places she has prepared for her citizens after death. She is proud of her schools, which prepare her youth for life — for a life which shall conduct them to a death from which the sting has been taken — to a peaceful rest in hope, in that beautiful "field of God,"* that holy field — from which they may, like the flowers around them, rise in the spring time of eternity, in renewed beauty, to everlasting happiness. *Gottesaker, — the field of God — is the German appellation of a Cemetery. Campo Santo — the Holy field — is the Spanish designation. [81 MENTAL AND MORAL INFLUENCES OF SPRING GROVE. The following lines were written by a young mother, whose first born was laid in the Cemetery of Spring Grove, soon after she had begun to display those graces and beauties of character, which seemed to require a higher state of existence for their due cultivation. They are an exemplification of the brighter, happier feelings, excited on seeing the last resting place of a beloved object, situated where nature's loveliness is calculated to awaken feelings in strong contrast with those exci- ted by the melancholy, neglected, grave yards of our ancestors. The painful emotions which naturally arise, when we are parting for- ever, from the earthly remains of our loved ones, are soothed by the feel- ing that they are laid where art and nature are so directed by cultivation, as to seem designed to offer consolation to the afflicted and desolate. They seem to sympathize with us at those periods when sympathy is most, grateful to our feelings, and to join in paying those tributes of affec- tionate regret, which relieve our hearts in seasons of desolation. The contrast which our bright and beautiful, rural Cemetery presents to the grief-heightening Church-yards, and burial grounds of our ances- tors, is a cheering example of the progress of refinement in our feelings and manners, by the cultivation of the Christian virtues of Faith and Hope, whereby the greatest of those virtues, Love, is strengthened. The belief — the feeling — that these virtues are seeds of happiness which, plan- ted on earth, will bring forth flowers here, and fruits hereafter, in Heaven — fruits of glory, honor and immortality — must lead to their cultivation, and to that of every thing pure and lovely, and of good report. THE GRAVE OF THE FIRST BORN, " Of such is the Kingdom of Heaven." Beneath the forest trees, Waved by the summer breeze, While birds with gushing throat, Poured forth a joyous note, We laid thee : — there S.S.L'HOMMEDIEU'S FAMILY MONUMENT [9] Where wild wood blossoms shed Pale leaves upon thy bed, And sun-light, glimmering lay, Gilding each leaf and spray, Where all was fair. For meet it was my child, Thou pure and undefiled, That earth's most lovely hues, And nature's fragrant dews Should weep for thee. That her soft, grassy bed, Should pillow thy young head, In silent slumber laid, Where nothing shadow made But sheltering tree. For in thy sunny days, Amid thy childhood's plays, Thou ever lov'd'st to wear Her glories in thy hair, And sung thy song, Ever of birds and flowers ; And wove thy summer bowers Where blossom, bird and bee Were playmates dear to thee, All the day long. Sweet sounds, soft airs, bright wreaths, How didst thou joy in these. A memory now they seem, A sweet and precious dream Of thy bright life. - [ io ] Bright ! tho' this life is sad, Thine, thine was ever glad. A joyous cadence : — fled, — A perfume o'er us shed, With blessings rife. Thy merry, bounding feet, Thy laugh so silver sweet, And more than all, the bliss Of thy mouth's rosy kiss, Told but of pleasure. We have the grief, the woe, The weary days, and slow, But it was given to thee, Only life's joys to see, In fullest measure. And as I thanked His love, Who gave thee from above, To dwell awhile on earth, Gladdening our happy hearth With hopes most bright ; So do I thank Him now Who sealed thy fair, young, brow, With His own name, and gave To us, the gloom, the grave, To thee the li^'ht. - Spring G-rove, How sweet to lay our precious dead In such a spot to sleep, Where waving trees their branches spread, And stars their vigils keep, Looking from Heaven with angel eyes To guard the sacred dust we prize. The wild-wood flowers their pale leaves shed, The siq-hino; breeze doth wave, The drooping bud that bows its head Above each cherished grave. Beauty on earth and joy in Heaven, To His beloved, God hath given. Hearts broken with their weight of woe How slowly learn to feel, That He who struck the bitter blow Has still the power to heal. But tears that dew the flowers bright, To-morrow's sun can gem with light. Then, not despairing, let us come Where nature still doth tell They are but taken to His home, Who " doeth all things well.'* We, see but darkly in our night, They, face to face in Heaven's own light. Sing then sweet birds your joyous note, Breathe soft thou summer air, In fragrant thanks let perfume float, On incense breathing prayer. His lambs He gathers to His breast, The sad have joy, the weary rest. [12] The two foregoing pieces refer to the feelings excited by our rural Cemetery, in the contemplation of the beauties of nature, during the sea- sons of Spring and Summer. The Wintry period and the fading flowers have also their softening influences on the mind and heart, which are beautifully set forth in the following touching stanzas. They are addressed by a young lady to a mother bereaved of a most lovely child, whose early death was the cause of an affliction which appeared to be too deep to be reached by any ordinary mode of consola- tion. They point to the only source of comfort to the mourner bereaved of her children, and awaken feelings that lead the heart from the gloom and despondence which every thought of earth seems to cause to sink deeper, by the exhortation to " look above." The influences of our rural Cemetery are exclusively pure and holy, for there the dead whom we loved in life speak to us from their graves,— not in words of rebuke and reproof, but of love and hope ; and earth's loveliness, when contemplated in connection with such words, tends to raise our thoughts to the source of all that is good and beautiful, and to give us a confident hope that those who are taken away are but removed to scenes of greater beauty where hope is forgotten in fruition. THE DEATH OF THE FLOWERS. TO A BEREAVED MOTHER. Mournfully, sweetly, the slow passing hours Chant a low dirge o'er the summer flowers, As they die ; Tenderly, softly, the pale virgin snow Descends to the earth, gently and slow ; It windeth their shrouds, as bending low, Fading they die. Quietly, sadly, a funeral train, For the withered flowers that ne'er bloom again, Is passing on. And one by one, as they sadly depart, They echo the wail of the stricken heart : The ceaseless wail of the broken heart, " Forever gone." W.S.JOHNSTON'S MONUMENT. [13] "Forever gone ! " and the jewelled chain Of hopes thou hads't woven, is severed in twain. Look above, Shining afar, through the mist of tears, Which dims the brightness of coming years, Is the arch of promise thy Maker rears, In His love. " Forever gone," life's shadows no more Shall darken their brows on that happy shore, "Where they rest. They wait for thee in that summer's shine, And swiftly the silent waves of time, Are bearing thee on to that shadowless clime, Of the blest. Borne on the breath of the summer showers, Come the faint odors of blooming flowers, From a far-off land. And the music that floats on the breeze of spring, Is the echo from golden harps that sing Glad songs of praise to the Heavenly King Of that angel band. These are the jewels from earth's dark mine : In the crown of the Heavenly King they shine Forevermore. These are the flowers all washed from stain Of mortal birth, — when thy lips shall drain, Life's bitter cup, they are thine again, To fade no more. r 14 ] Mioiioameirb The love of beauty, that precious endowment of humanity which con- tributes so largely to human happiness, and which like hope " Travels through, nor quits us when we die," is exhibited in our monuments to the dead, as well as in our architecture for the living. To connect the remembrance of those whose memories we desire to preserve, with beautiful forms of art, as well as with the beauties of nature, seems to be an inherent wish of our being, and it is strong in proportion to the refinements of social life, and the cultivation of kindly feelings. Mausoleums and stately monuments to the memory of the mighty dead — those whose lives influenced nations — are not more consistent with our human feelings and sentiments, than the humbler memorials of those whose lives have influenced a few humble and loving hearts. Beauty is always desired ; and art and nature are invoked on such occasions, to give their combined influence to effect the best expression of the beautiful. Success in producing this expression, is a test of the degree of refine- ment and good taste, which characterizes any people, and their progress is one of those ennobling traits of humanity, which all civilization brings forth, and in which Christian civilization displays its superiority. Its memorials should be beautiful, for they speak of heart-felt love instead of admiration and the hero-worship of the heathen, which require stately and magnificent monuments. Memorials of love adorn our rural Cemeteries ; those which we dedicate to the memory of the great — of public bene- factors — must be too grand and imposing to accord well with those gentler feelings symbolized in our more modest monuments ; they may suitably adorn public buildings, or they may be so constructed, as to be useful for public purposes. The adoption of Egyptian monuments and funeral symbols, has been general, in modern times, and the obelisk is a favorite form of them in our own country, as well as in England. In the early period of Egyptian J.G.RICHARDSON'S MONUMENT u s CO g a [15] history, the preservation of the body, after death, from that corruption and decay to which God and nature destined it, seems to have been con- sidered a sacred duty, due from the living to the dead. In the progress of civilization and mental improvement, other methods of preserving their memory, have been devised in a better and more rational taste, and other duties to the dead from the living, have been discovered, in the perform- ance of which, our characters are strengthened and improved. Greater and more costly memorials of kings and other potentates, have been erected in Egypt than elsewhere, during the periods of her ancient history, and this, together with other marks of extraordinary devotion to the preservation of the memory of the dead, is probably the reason of the frequent adoption of the Egyptian symbols in modern Cemeteries. The change of our vile, natural bodies into spiritual bodies, was not compre- hended in ancient times, tho' the winged globe of the Egyptians is con- sidered as the manifestation of a faint belief in the immortality of the soul, and their system of enbalmment, seems to be founded on a belief that it will return to the same body from which it was separated. This symbol — the winged globe — is now frequent in modern Cemete- ries, but the obelisk, which is considered a peculiarly suitable form for funereal monuments, is far more common. It's outline being simple, and admitting of no variety, except in size, gives it a peculiar identity ; and except that of the pyramid, is best adapted to confer durability ; and this is, combined with the gracefulness which the pyramid lacks. The monument, in the Egyptian style, erected by D. B. Lawler, is unique. It is not an obelisk nor a pyramid, but a massive solid block of grey marble, giving a pyramidical appearance of durability, surmounted by a sphynx in very dark marble, with a graceful, pleasing female face. It does not accord with the prevailing taste, but it helps to relieve the monotony of which some persons complain, caused by the too frequent recurrence of obelisks, columns, and Gothic pinnacles ; and its colors, sober and sombre, suit the taste of some who complain of the too great prevalence of white marble in our Cemetery. This last mentioned mate- rial for monuments seems, indeed, to be the favorite with a majority of the members of the association. They consider it the most suitable for giving that contrasted beauty in the works of art which gives the best affect to the beauties of nature. Some specimens of the blueish granite of New England are seen in Spring Grove, as well as of the variegated marble of Pennsylvania, and the grey sandstones of our own State and Kentucky, which accord better L lfl] with the taste of many persons as being more appropriate than lighter colored materials. The family monument of Jacob Hoffner, of which a representation is given in our frontispiece, copied from a photograph, is the most attractive to visitors, generally, of any one in the Cemetery. It consists of a Gothic shrine, in which is the statue of a graceful female scattering flowers upon the graves of the dead, all of white marble. The statue was executed in Florence, by Fantoci ; the shrine by Rule, of this city, from a design by J. Earnshaw, architect. The accompanying decora- tions could not be given in this view. The monument of the Baum family is one of the most conspicuous in the Cemetery, and attracts attention from its height, which is thirty feet, the base being five feet square. The material of which it is formed, being the Quincy granite of New England, gives an idea of strength and durability, and with the severe simplicity of its form, seem to render it peculiarly suitable to perpetuate the memory of that worthy pioneer of our city, Martin Baum, who was an excellent specimen of the best mem- bers of that class of worthies. A very superb mausoleum is in progress of erection for Jacob Strader. It is a Gothic chapel of twenty-five feet width in front and twenty-three feet in depth. It is built of the brown [red] sandstone of Connecticut, and the accompanying lithograph gives a view of it in front. It contains twenty-six catacombs, and is from the works of J. G. Batterson, of Hartford, Connecticut, the designer and builder. The family monument of Peter Neff is a beautiful sarcophagus of white Italian marble, the design taken from the tomb of Scipio. Some other monuments in the Cemetery are copied from the same, and they are generally admired. The monuments and vaults on that portion of the grounds which was first laid out, are already as numerous as they ought to be in that locality in order to the production of the best and most picturesque effect. The extension of the grounds has, therefore, been considered by the directors desirable, in order to afford sufficient space for future improvements — for the erection of monuments sufficiently distant from each other, to be free from the appearance of being crowded too closely. This consideration induced the Board, in 1847, to purchase forty acres for an addition to their grounds on the north, making their whole terri- tory at that time include (206) two hundred and six acres, which war inclosed by fences, surrounded by a hedge of Osage orange. WILLIAMS MONUMEN [17] Another addition of sixty acres was purchased in April last, by which their northern boundary was extended to the Greytown road. The asso- ciation now possesses two hundred and sixtj'-six acres, bounded on three sides by public roads, together with fourteen acres between the Hamilton Road and Mill Creek, amounting in all to two hundred and eighty acres, and containing varieties of surface sufficient to enable the landscape gar- dener to produce by his improvements many picturesque beauties. A monument has lately been erected by the association on which are the following inscriptions. The one on the rear refers to a reversionary legacy contingent on the death of the child to whose memory it is inscribed, which has lately been received by the association, amounting to above eleven thousand dollars. Inscription on the front : « fier W lc cUldren t0 c <>me to LAURA WILLIAMS, DAUGHTER OP CHARLES E. AND MARY WILLIAMS, Was born on the 23d September, 1847, and on the 18th July, 1852, was suffered to go to her Savior. Inscription on the rear : THIS STONE, ERECTED BY THE SPRING GROVE CEMETERY ASSOCIATION, IS A MEMORIAL OF LAURA WILLIAMS, And of the liberal bequest of her Father To the funds of this Associotion. The monuments to the memories of William Woodward and Thomas Hughes are the noblest in the city of Cincinnati ; — but they are not in Spring Grove. They are the two High Schools which bear their names, and were endowed by their liberality. The first named is one of those rare examples of such endowments made during the life of the donor, 3 [18] which were almost unknown until the American character began to rise above the influences of the habits of their European ancestry. Another name ought to be added to those of the early benefactors of the youth of our city ; it is that of John Kidd, who, although his noble benefaction was lost to those for whom it was designed, by one of those cases of injustice sanctioned by law, which disgrace the administration of the laws of our country, — is entitled (the more for that cause) to a memorial of gratitude from our city, and it is to be hoped that such an one may soon be found in Spring Grove. In the lessons of the dead for the instruction of the living, those from the tombs of such men as Woodward will be peculiarly impressive, for they exemplify faith by works. And Kidd — as the portion of his wealth which he gave to promote the instruction of the young was lost, — ought to be enabled to give instructions from his tomb which the subtleties of the law cannot cause to be lost. One of the beneficial influences produced by the establishment of our rural Cemetery, will be the correction of that miserable, barbarous, obtuseness of the finer feelings of our nature which permits the desecra- tion of our grave yards, and of which our city, young as it is, exhibits melancholy examples. The improvement of our taste and habits in relation to our Cemeteries is a testimony of moral and mental progress as decided and impressive as is the enslavement of steam and electricity to our physical progress. The establishment of such a Cemetery as Spring Grove is not only an acknowledgment of the debt due from the living to the dead, but a con- tribution to the mental and moral education of the unborn, who will owe us a similar debt hereafter. We all acknowledge the duly incumbent on us to provide for those who are to succeed us, and to profit by the lessons taught by those who have preceded us : but we are apt to imagine that those only who have acquired celebrity by their writings, or by their achievements in the field, or the cabinet, can give profitable instructions after death to the living. And it is true that history derives its lessons from these alone. But these lessons are like instructions in the higher departments of literature and the sciences, which alone are thought worthy to be considered constituents of education. We overlook the value of humbler teachers of the alphabet and the spelling book, without whose aid the occupation of the teachers of the sciences would be gone. In relation to the lessons we should learn from the graves of the dead, the case is similar. [19] Those of the pioneers of our city and State, humble and unpretending as most of them were in life, might teach us lessons of fortitude, stern self-denial, patience and perseverance through sufferings and dangers and privations, of which we can hardly form an idea at the present day. The desecration of their graves has been a disgrace to our city, but we trust that a spirit has been awakened which may redeem our characters in regard to them. To one of them who labored long and faithfully from an early date, a monument has been erected — a stately obelisk of white marble, bearing on its front this inscription, with other suitable ones on its other sides : IN MEMORY OF JOSHUA LACY WILSON, Born in Bedford County, Virginia, Sept. 22d, 1774, Removed with his family to the State of Kentucky, A. D. 1781. ORDAINED TO THE GOSPEL MINISTRY, BY THE PRESBYTERY OP TRANSYLVANIA, And installed pastor of the churches of Bardstown and Big Spring, A. D. 1804, Came to the State of Ohio, and took charge of the First Presbyterian Church in the city of Cincinnati, May, 1808, of which he continued Pastor until his death, after an illness of 3 weeks and 3 days, in which he underwent the most intense suffering, with triumphant patience. He fell asleep in Jesus and rested from his labors, Au- gust 14th, 1846, in the 79th year of his age, and the 42d of his ministry. To some others of the early immigrants to our city, its founders and builders up — suitable monuments have been erected. Those of Ethan Stone, James Ferguson, and David Loring, are distinguished among them, as well as that of Dr. Daniel Drake, who gained a world-wide fame by his untiring labors in the cause of medical education and medical sci- ence. That of David E. Wade has not been removed to Spring Grove, nor that splendid specimen of sculpture in the grey sandstone of this region, the memorial to Gen. John S. Gano, now in the Baptist Ceme- tery, in the city. These men were eminent among the pioneers of our city, together with Gen. William Lytle, whose magnificent donations in [20] the early period of the history of our city, for the promotion of educa- tion, with those of Arthur St. Clair, Judge Jacob Burnet, Gen. James Findlat, Wm. Corry, Judge Goforth, and others, were among the seeds of our present prosperity, ought to be memorialized in Spring Grove. Oliver M. Spencer, David Kilgour, Andrew Mack, and others of their class, ought also to be among them. A public monument to the memory of Gen. Wm. H. Harrison, is to be erected, and a lot in Spring Grove, has been dedicated to that purpose. A conspicuous place in the city has also been selected on the site of Fort Washington, as a most appropriate situation of such a monument. The founder of Cincinnati, John Cleves Stmmes, must not and can- not be forgotten among the early benefactors of the city, and of the extensive and fertile regions round about ; nor his brother, Judge Daniel Stmmes, distinguised among the earlier and most efficient of our pioneers. In the beautiful Cemetery of Frankfort, Ky., the memory of their ear- liest pioneers, has been honored in a style, which is honorable to the good taste and good feeling of the Kentuckians. The remains of Boone and his wife have been brought from the far West, and laid on that lofty emi- nence on the Banks of the Kentucky river, which gives a most extended view of that lovely country whose beauties so charmed the adventurous explorer of the then far West, as to induce him to devote a life of danger, privation and labor, to the object of making it the abode of civilization, and its name, the emblem of fertile fields, and treasures to be obtained from earth's surface. The lessons we may learn from the graves of our ancestors, and of the pioneers of our City and State should not be neglected. We know — tho' we are apt to forget — the benefit we derive from their lives, but few reflect on the benefits they can confer on us after death, if we study the lessons which we ought to find on their tombs. The Philanthropy which calls forth those living exhortations from the dead, which are more pure and free from taint and stains of earth, than any that can be called forth from the living, is peaceable, undefiled, full of mercy and good fruits ; and tho' these good fruits may require time to ripen and glow with the influences which the sun of righteousness will impart, yet they will in due time, bless and gladden the hearts of those who mourn now, but shall be com- forted hereafter. Many monuments besides those already referred to, in various styles of beauty, decorate Spring Grove. Among them are conspicuous those of Capt. J. Pierce, W. S. Johnston, J. C. Wright, L. Rehfuss, S. S. L'Hommedieu, in whose grounds lie the remains of Charles Hammond, rf»i «»- 'i i B «*W *i . «iM >lnW w l M *i « ifr« l ' CHABLES NEAVE'S FAMILY MONUMENT [21 ] 1 man distinguished not only for talents of the highest order, and scru- pulous integrity in private life, but of incorruptible and rare honesty in a political career, which the prospect of offices of the highest distinction would not influence. But few vaults are found in our Cemetery, the policy of the Board being to discourage them. The following are distinguised by finely orna- mented fronts, with convenient and suitable interior arrangements, viz : Those of Vachel Worthington, Samuel Wiggins, F. Bodman, Jas. C. Hall, Griffin Taylor, A. B. Coleman, S. Davis, S. G Brown, and E. S. Haines. The Monuments of Larz Anderson, R. Cameron, Bonte, J. Darr, Jas. McLean, C. Bates, J. 0. Sawder, (a graceful statue,) J. T. Foote, Dr. Fore, T. C. Day, J. H. Groesbeck, and I. Iuppenlatz, decorate the grounds appropriately. A small monument of white marble, on which is sculptured a rose bush with a bud separated from it by an arrow, and lying on the ground, exemplifies an appropriate, poetical idea, is seen in the grounds of G. K. Shoenberger. The monuments of Wm. Resor and K. Yardley, are also highly orna- mented. The family monument of Thompson Neave, commemorate in enduring granite, two of our early and useful settlers, Jeremiah Neave and Oliver Martin. Those of R. Beresford, G. M. Shields, M. Southgate, G. H. Bates, A. Hurdus, John Kennett, and J. R. Coram, together with those of the efficient members of the small band of founders of Spring Grove, G. W. Neff and William Neff, are in various styles of beauty, with many others erected, and in progress of erection, are among the attractions by which it is distinguished. Two of those in the south west portion of the grounds, excite much attention ; one on account of the graceful statue, of life size, with which it is surmounted. This is dedicated to the memory of Mrs. Groshon. The other is a memorial of Mrs. Frances Wright D'Arusmont, celebrated for her splendid talents as a writer, and for her disinterested efforts to improve the lot of the poor and humble, on earth, all of which failed, not being based upon Christianity. The lot on which is erected the monument to J. D. Douglass is a flower garden, cultivated with incessant care by a mother who has established already her own monument beside that of her son. [22] Several hundred other monuments have already been erected in the Cemetery ; many more are in progress of erection and in contemplation, showing that the addition to grounds which have lately been made consti- tute a judicious investment, and a provision for a considerable period in the future, against that crowded appearance which a superabundance of monuments already gives to Mount Auburn and Laurel Hill. LEWIS WHITEMANTS MONUMENT L23] Trees The tree of life is a beautiful image — an image of a concentration of beauties, more extensive than any other object ; and that form of the manifestation of truth, which beauty affords, has no fairer emblem than trees. A rural Cemetery without trees, would be like a sandy desert without water, affording as little nourishment to the heart, as the latter can give to the body. The first impression of each, would be a desire to turn from it our steps, and our thoughts. The number and variety of the original forest trees of our country, contained in the site of Spring Grove, formed one of the causes of its selection for our Cemetery. Their names are included in the following catalogue, together with those that have been added from other parts of our country, and it is determined to continue these additions until they include all those which can be made to flourish in this climate. A valuable arboretum will thus be established, in a favorable situation, as well for the study of their peculiarities, as the enjoyment of their attrac- tions. Trees must necessarily be beautiful objects. Good taste in their arrange- ment, in their varieties, and in their relative positions toward each other, and toward different objects, may increase their beauties, but nothing can take them entirely away, as long as they continue to flourish. The indigenous trees of any country, are always among its interesting characteristics, and they form an important portion of its wealth. In our city of the silent, will be found the remains of natives of a great number of countries — chiefly of the temperate latitudes — and above them, the trees of all their various native countries, are intended to be assembled. The solemnizing influence of a deep forest has always been experi- enced and remarked. The beauties of the trees in their endless varieties, is seen and felt, inspiring solemn thoughts and feelings, without terror or repulsive gloom. This was probably the source of the Gothic style of Architecture.* *We arc aware of the discussions on this subject, but give our own opinions. [24] This style, admitting of an endless variety of ornament if required, or of exhibiting beauty in severe simplicity, if necessary, is peculiarly suitable for sacred architecture ; and the ancient cathedrals of Europe, by the adoption of this style, have become perpetual models of beauty and grace, more attractive to the sight, and more exciting to the higher feel- ings of our nature, than any of those heathen orders which include the Parthenon, the Erectheion and the Pantheon—or of the heavy Egyptian or ornate Indian. The object of the unknown inventors of the Gothic style, was to com- bine, like nature, the grand and magnificent in outline with great variety of beauties in the details — beauties which may be multiplied or dimin- ished, according to circumstances. Trees can not, naturally, be made to inspire melancholy feelings, altho , some, such as the Yew and the weeping Willow, are supposed to have that effect, but this is because they have been selected as emblematical of mourning. But seen even in this light, they are like sympathizing friends who weep with us in our afflictions, and thereby lighten instead of increasing our distress. The variety of indigenous trees in our Cemetery, altho' to most of our citizens it will appear greater than they expected, will seem small to the naturalist, but the number of exotics in the following catalogue, will exhibit a fair commencement of the design above mentioned, of establish- ing an arboretum. List of Trees and Shrubs cruisrrv-AjrjsiT* ajt sfhxng- gj-iro^vts cemeteey. 1 Acer dasycarpum, Silver leaved Maple. 2 " platanoides, Norway " 3 " rubrum, Red 4 " saccharinum, Sugar " 5 " " nigrum, Black Sugar " 6 " striatum, Striped Barked " 7 Aesculus hippocastanum, Common Horse Chestnut 8 " ohioensi.s, Ohio Buckeye, *. L?mW »Vfln*W V« #7: ft^f* R?J55?$iPJ?S l &~ - • ; ^ ^#. ! :• v :V, : ;. •; . it Itv, MILLER'S MONUM 1 25 ] 9 Ailanthus glandulosa, 10 Alnus glutinosa, 1 1 Aralia spinosa, 12 Betula alba, 13 Castanea americana, 14 Carpinus americana, 15 Caryaalba, 16 " amara, 17 Catalpa syringifolia, 18 Celtis occidentalis, 19 Cercis canadensis, 20 Chionanthus virginiana, 21 Cornus florida, 22 Crataegus Crus-galli, 23 Cytisus laburnum, 24 Diospyros virginiana, 25 Fagus sylvestris, 26 " purpurea, 27 " " pendula, 28 Fraxinus americana, 29 " " sambucifolia, 30 " aurea, 31 " " pendula, 32 " excelsior, 33 " " pendula, 34 " lenticcifolia, 35 " in tegri folia, 36 " quadrangularis, 37 " salici folia, 38 Gymnocladus canadensis, 39 Juglans nigra, 40 Kcelreuteria paniculata, 41 Laurus Sassafras, 42 Larix europaea, 43 " microcarpa, 44 Liquidamber styraciflua, 45 Liriodendron tulipifera, 46 Madura aurantiaca, 47 Magnolia acuminata, 48 glauca, Chinese Ailanthus. European Alder. Hercules Club. White Birch. American Chestnut. American Hornbeam. Shell Bark Hickory. Bitter Nut. Catalpa. Nettle Berry. American Red Bud. White Fringe Tree. White Flowering Dogwood. Cockspur Thorn. Laburnum, or Golden Chain. American Persimmon. American Beech. Purple leaved Beech. " weeping " White American Ash. Elder leaved Gold barked " weeping English " weeping Lentis leaved Entire-leaved Blue Willow-leaved Kentucky Coffee-tree. Black Walnut. Chinese Kcelreuteria. Sassafras. European Larch. American " Sweet Gum. Tulip Tree. Osage Orange. Cucumber Tree. Fragrant Magnolia. L 26 ] 49 Magnolia macrophylla, 50 " tripe tala, 51 Magnolia purpurea, 52 Mimosa jullibrissin, 53 Negundo fraxinifolia, 54 Nyssa aquatica, 55 Ornus europaea, 56 Ostrya virginica, 57 Platanus occidentalis. 58 " orientalis, 59 Populus alba, 60 " " acerifolia, 61 " balsamaea, 62 " hudsonica, 63 " canadensis, 64 " fastigiata, 65 " trepida, 66 Ptelia trifoliata, 61 Quercus alba, 68 " coccinea, 69 " ambigua, 70 " ferruginea, 71 " macrocarpa, 72 " rubra, 73 " imbricaria, 74 " lyrata, 75 " prinus acuminata, 76 " " discolor, 77 " cerris, 78 Rhus cotinus, 79 " typhina, 80 Robinia pseudacacia, 81 '* viscosa, 82 Salisburia adiantifolia, 83 Salix vitellina, 84 *' babylonica, 85 " fragilis, 86 " forbyana, 87 " purpurea, 88 " rosmarinifolia, Large leaved Magnolia. Umbrella Purple Magnolia. Sensitive Tree. Ash leaved Maple. Sour Gum. Flowering Ash. Virginia Hop-Hornbeam. American Sycamore. European " White or Silver Poplar. " Maple leaved. " Balsam Poplar. Hudson " Canadian " Italian American Aspen. Shrubbery Trefoil. White Oak. Scarlet " Gray " Black Jack Oak. Burr Red Laurel Over-cup Yellow Swamp-white Oak. Turkey Venitian Sumach. American " Common Locust. Pink Flowering Locust. Maiden-hair Tree. Yellow Willow. Weeping " Brittle Basket Purple Rosmarin leaved Willow . **<*«:• v. uv. - ^^Bki -^Mff^Ji ■ MONUMENT OF JAMES B.BELL [27] 89 Salix americana pendula, 90 " crispa " 91 Sorbus aucuparia, 92 " " pendula, 93 " aria dentata, 94 Sophora japonica, 95 " " pendula, 96 Taxodium distichum, 97 Tilia americana, 98 " platyphylla, 99 Ulraus americana alba, 100 " " rubra, 101 Ulmus campestris, 102 " suberosa, 103 Amorpha fruticosa, 104 Amygdalus pumila, 105 Berberis atropurpurea, 106 " vulgaris, 107 Caly can thus floridus, 108 Corchoros japonica, 109 Cornus alba, 110 " variegata, 111 Daphne mezereum, 112 Deutzia scabra, 113 " gracilis, 114 Elaeagnus argentea, 115 " hortensis. 116 Euonymus americanus, 117 " europaeus, 118 Forsythia veridissima, 119 Hibiscus syriacus, 120 Hydrangea hortensis, 121 " quercifolia, 122 Hippophsea rhamnoides, 123 Laurus benzion, 124 Ligustrum vulgare, 125 Lonicera tartarica, 126 Mahonia aqui folia, 127 Pavia macrostachia, 128 Philadelphus coronarius, American Weeping Willow Crisp -leaved " " Mountain Ash. Weeping Mountain Ash. White Beam Tree. Japan Sophora. Weeping Japan Sophora. Deciduous Cypress. American Linden. European " American White Elm. Red European Elm. Cork Indigo Shrub. Dwarf Almond. Purple-leaved Berberry. Common " Sweet-scented Shrub. Japan Globe Flower. White-fruited Dogwood. Yariegated-leaved " White Flowering Deutzia. Graceful. Silvery Oleaster or Wild Olive, Garden " American Burning Bush. European " " Green Forsythia. Althaea. Garden Hydrangea. Oak-leaved " Sea Buckthorn. Spice-Wood. Common Privet. Tartarian Honeysuckle. Holly-leaved Berberry. Dwarf Horse Chestnut. Fragrant Syringo. [28] 129 Philadelphia grandiflorus, Large Flowering Syringe 130 " gordoniana, Gordons ** 131 " nana, Dwarf " 132 " speciosa, Scarlet « 133 Pyrus japonica, Japan Quince. 134 Rhamnus catharticus, Purging Buckthorn. 135 Robinia hispida, Rose Acacia. 136 Sambucus nigra, Black Alder. 137 Shepherdia argentea, Buffalo-Berry. 138 Spartium junceum, Spanish Broom. 139 Spirae. i chamsedrifolia. Germander-leaved Spiraa. 140 salici folia, Willow-leaved " 141 sorbi folia, Mountain Ash-leaved Spiraa. 142 opulifolia, Snowball-leaved tt 143 prunifolia, Plum-leaved *t 144 ulmi folia, Elm-leaved it 145 leavigata, Smooth-leaved tt 146 Reevesii, Pure White ft 147 Niconderti, Nicondert's tt 148 japonica, Japan tt 149 species du Nepaul, Species from Nepaul tt 150 rotundifolia, Round- leaved tt 151 Symphoria racemosa, Snowberry. 152 Syringa vulgaris, Common Lilac. 153 " alba, White Lilac. 154 sinensis, Chinese " 155 persica, Persian " 156 josikea, Chionanthus-leaved Lilac. 157 laciniata, Cut-leaved 158 Tamarix gallica, French Tamarisk. 159 germanica, German " 160 africana. African " 161 Viburnum Ian tana, Wayfaring Tree. 162 oxycoccus, Cranberry Tree. 163 opulus, Snowball. 164 Vitex Agnus castus, Chaste Tree. 165 Weigelia rosea, Chinese Weigelia. 166 Abies alba, North American White Spruce 167 " excelsa, Norway tt 168 " canadensis, Hemlock tt MONUMENT OF JOHIST B L 29 ] 169 Abies rnorinda, Hymalaya. 170 Cupressus thyoides, White Cedar. 171 Juniperus communis, Common Juniper. 172 " suecia, Swedish 173 " sabina, Savin. 174 " virginiana, Eed Cedar. 175 " pendula, Weeping Juniper. 176 Picea balsamaea, Balsam Fir. 177 " pectinata, English Silver Fir. 178 " nobilis, Noble 179 " religiosa, Mexican " " 180 Pinus austriaea, Austrian Pine. 181 " excelsa, Bhotan 182 " laricio, Corsican " 183 " rigida, Pitch 184 " strobus, White 185 " cembra, Cembran " 186 " sylvestris, Scotch 187 " pumila, Dwarf 188 " inops, Jersey " 189 " rubra, Red 1 90 Taxus baecata, Canadian Yew. 191 Thuja occidentals, American Arbor Vitse. 192 " orientalis, Chinese " 193 " tartarica, Tartarian " 194 " filiformis, Thready-leaved Arbor Yitae. 195 Buxus suffruticosa, Dwarf box. 196 " arborescens, Tree Box. 197 Cotoneaster microphylla, Small-leaved Cotoneaster. 198 Crataegus pyracantba, Pyracanthus Thorn. 199 Euonymus japonica, Japan Euonymus. 200 Yucca filamentosa, Thready Adamsneedle. Additions to this list have already been made, and more will be con- stantly added. Spring Grove Cemetery at present contains 280 acres of land, including all the different purchases. [30] EEPOET8 PROM THE Landscape Gardener and the Superintendent, In the following reports from the above named officers will be found so many useful hints and judicious observations in relation to the affairs of their several departments, that they will give a permanent value to this publication. The members of the Association will perceive that the care and management of their grounds are in the hands of intelligent per- sons who understand their duties, and possess the good taste requisite foi their proper performance. The present Agents of the Association are : Adolph Strauch, Landscape Gardener and Superintendent. Chas. Moon, Sexton. Cyrus Davenport, Secretary. The Landscape Gardener is improving, laying out, and decorating Spring Grove in conformity with the rules established by the most emi- nent authors, who have given attention to the subject of rural Cem- eteries. The Superintendent and Engineer has charge of all matters connected with the disposal of the lots, and of the interments. The reports of the Secretary, which will constitute a separate chapter, will indicate the various details belonging to his department and the care- ful attention paid to them. Spring Grove Cemetery,) October 1,1856. j To the President and Directors of Spring Grove : Gentlemen : — In compliance with your wishes, I will briefly state my views respecting the laying out and keeping of a rural Cemetery, with reference to their practical appli- cation at Spring Grove. ElirgoM &Forbriger LiftiXin.0. JOHN ELSTNEO MONUMENT [31 ] Good taste would seem to suggest that a rural Cemetery should par- ,»ake more of the character of a cheerful park or garden, than of a com- mon grave yard, where everything has a gloomy and dismal appearance, and every inch of ground is used for graves. A rural Cemetery should form the most interesting of all places for contemplative recreation, and everything in it should be tasteful, classical, and poetical. I would, therefore, recommend the preservation of all corner lots at the junction of the Avenues, for the planting of forest trees, which will afford to Stockholders and Visitors places of delightful shady repose and pleasant drives, avoiding exposure to the burning sun, as is now the case in consequence of a large number of our forest trees having died. In planting those places care should be taken, that too many varieties are not mixed together, always bearing in mind, that sim- plicity is the foundation of true beauty. " The elevated grandeur of form, the delightful distribution of varied coloring, the magical interchange of tints, and the delicate transition from light to shade, can only be produ- ced by the employment of trees and shrubs corresponding in kind." The effect produced by the colors which certain trees assume in autumn, should be especially attended to, as the monotonous appearance of a plan- tation of evergreens, common on many Cemeteries, is wonderfully relieved by introducing trees, whose leaves assume brilliant colors in autumn ; such as the Scarlet Oak, the Scarlet Maple, the Sour Gum, the Tulip Tree, and the Sugar Maple. The grading of the entire surface of the grounds should be done under the control of the Directors, and in no case should private fancy or caprice be so far indulged as to deform the harmonious beauty of the grounds with petty terraces and vertical lines. As it is far easier and cheaper to grade an entire section in order to produce a natural and pleasing surface, than in grading only here and there a lot, and having the grounds always in an unfinished state, I would recommend, that in future, the grading of each section be done before it is surveyed and sold. This will save lot holders the expenses of grading, and the Asso- ciation will have the grounds always clean and in order. Another important item is the fixing of a certain time, in which a vault, tomb, monument, etc., when once begun, should be finished, and none should be permitted to leave stones, timber, etc., used in the erec- tion of monuments, scattered over the grounds, thereby spoiling the grass and shrubbery of the adjoining lots. In respect to the improvement of individual burial lots, I can state with confidence, that lots not enclosed, are not as much trespassed upon [32] as those surrounded with stone posts, iron bars, and chains ; for there really seems to be a disposition in the human mind to disregard useless restrictions. Visitors to Spring Grove will have an opportunity to con- vince themselves of the correctness of this statement. Corner stones of the same material as the monument, with the name of the owner and the number of the lot and section engraved on them, is all that is necessary to indicate the boundaries of each lot, and the sav- ing of money to the owner is very great. The trees and shrubs could be so arranged as to form a background to the monument, which should always be in or about the center of each lot, in order to place the graves around it, thus saving the expenses of head and foot stones to each grave, and giving a lot more the appearance of what it should be, — a family burial place, — whereas, when filled with head and foot stones, it looks too much as though designed for single interments. The dispensing with unsightly fences, hedges, head and foot stones, and other useless appendages, will enable lot holders to spend more in a family monument, which would be the admiration of generations to come, and give sculptors a chance to produce something besides the com- mon marble shaft, now rather too numerous at Spring Grove. Too many monuments on one lot give it the appearance of a marble yard, where they are for sale, [as is often remarked by visitors to these grounds.] " To render a rural burial place all that it ought to be in the way of monumental beauty, the utmost care should be taken in the selection and proper variety of its sepulchral devices. An understanding of purely classic forms and a chaste taste will cause an enduring monument to be erected over the grave of a departed friend, and will certainly abstain from a servile imitation of others. But the finest of models and the choicest of materials will avail but little, unless the foundation and erection be made with care. The monument should rest on a bed of concrete and be below the action of frost and the grave-digger. Limited pecuniary means will probably ever be a reason why the majority of the tributes to the departed will be of a simple character and erected at small expense. But good taste is happily not subservient to the power of gold, and should ever be consulted even in the simplest memorial." — (Rural Cem- eteries of America.) "I have seen," says the venerable Chateaubriand, "memorable mon- uments to Croesus and Cesar, but I prefer the airy tombs of the Indians, those mausoleums of flowers and verdure refreshed by the morning dew, mbalmed and fanned bv the breeze, and over which waves the same MRS. WALKERS II.YMOS' [33 ] branch where the blackbird builds his nest, and utters forth his plaintive melody." There are burial lots in this Cemetery so crowded with trees, shrubs, and flowers, that they actually destroy each other, hide the monument, and leave hardly a place for interment, especially when such a lot is cut up with little walks and filled with the sweepings of the marble yards. Those paths are not only useless, but are also a favorite place for the growth of weeds, and the expenses of keeping them in order are more than lot holders in general are willing to pay, and yet, by right, they should be charged with the exact time devoted to the keeping them clean. In such lots economy and simple beauty is sacrificed, and the result is only an immense mosaic, unfortunately too much the case in many Cem- eteries. In planting a family burial lot, great care should be taken in the selec- tion of appropriate trees and shrubs. As the monument is the principal object, it is quite natural that it should be shown to the best advantage. I would therefore recommend, for example, the planting of the Norway Spruce for a background to the monument, having in front the Hemlock or White Spruce. Both, properly combined with the silvery foliage of the Bohemian Olive, will produce a fine effect. The Cypress is also a suitable tree on account of its roots not spreading much, and therefore not interfering vvith the digq-iug of graves. It is also the emblem of immortality, and was planted by the ancients over the graves of their dead. The Arbor-Vitae and the Yew are historical trees, and well adap- ted for a burial lot. There are many other varieties, equally suitable, but too numerous to mention. "A rural Cemetery in the neighborhood of a large city, properly designed, laid out, ornamented with mausoleums, vaults, tombs, columns, vases, urns, etc., tastefully planted with appropriate trees and shrubs, and the whole properly kept, might become a school of instruction in archi- tecture, sculpture, landscape gardening, arboriculture and botany, and in those important parts of general gardening, neatness, order, and high keeping." — (/. C. Loudon.) "A garden Cemetery and monumental decorations," says the learned and eloquent author of Necropolis Glasguensis, "afford the most convin- cing tokens of a nations progress in civilization, and in the arts which are its result." We have seen with what pains the most celebrated nations of which history speaks, have adorned their places of sepulture, and it is from their funeral monuments that we gather much that is known of their [34 J civil progress and their advancement in taste. Is not the history of Egypt written on its pyramids, and is not the chronology of Arabia pic- tured on its tombs? Is it not on the funeral relics of Greece and Rome, that we behold those elegant images of repose and tender sorrow with which they so happily invested the idea of death ? Is it not on the urns and sarcophagi of Etruria that the lover of the noble art of sepulture still gazes with delight? And is it not amid the catacombs, the crypts and the calvaries of Italy, that the sculptor and the painter of the dark ages chiefly present the most splendid specimens of their chisel and their pencils. In modern days, also, has it not been at the shrine of death that the highest efforts of the Michael Angelos, the Canovas, the Thor- waldsens, and only recently by our own eminent artist, H. Powers, have been elicited and exhibited ? The tomb has, in fact, been the great chronicler of taste throughout the world. In the East, from the hoary pyramid to the modern Arab's grave ; in Europe, from the rude tomb of the Druid, to the marble mausoleum of the monarch ; and in America, from the grove which the Indian Chief planted round the sepulcher of his son, to the monument which announces to the lovers of freedom, the last resting place of Washington. "Why," says Washington Irving, "should we thus seek to clothe death with unnecessary terrors, and spread horrors around the tomb of those we love ? The grave should be surrounded with every thing that might insure tenderness and veneration. Can this be done by having burial lots enclosed with stone posts, iron bars, and chains ; the sight of which is repulsive in the extreme, as it conveys the idea of rudeness and confine- ment ?" "The ancients, from their feelings never being aroused by the revolt- ing emblems of mortality and confinement, contemplated death without terrors, and visited its shrine without fear. They knew nothing of sacred enclosures, but they knew of sacred groves of trees ; they saw beauty and grandeur in a massive monument, but not in an iron fence around their graves ; they knew how to produce variety, but abstained from destroying variety by its excess. Iron railings around burial lots derogate from the sacredness of the scene, by supposing it possible, that the Cemetery would be visited by per- sons incapable of conducting themselves properly, or that the grounds were pastured by cattle, which, fortunately, is not the case at Spring Grove. Another, and the most important question is : how much will it ulti- mately cost to keep the grounds in proper order, supposing all the lots MONUMENT OF A L35] to be enclosed? Certainly more than four times the amount requisite to the keeping a Cemetery without enclosures. The suggestions prescribed above, are made with reference to improv- ing Spring Grove tastefully and economically to individual lot owners, and to the association, as a body. My views are the result of experience and observation, during my travels on the continent of Europe, England and the United States. And when fully sustained by the eminent Authors quoted, I do not hesitate to submit them for your consideration. Respectfully, A. STRAUCH, Landscape Gardener at Spriuy Grove. To the Board of Directors of Spring Grove Cemetery : Gentlemen : — In compli- ance with your request, I beg leave to present the following suggestions for your consideration, as being in my opinion necessary to be adopted at this time, in view of the increased number of lots that are constantly being improved. FOUNDATIONS OF MONUMENTS, &C. An examination of the foundations of several monuments, fences,