00_1885 Scrapbook of Newspaper Clippings Vo 2, 2005.120.002

14

MASSACHUSETTS HORTICULTRAL SOCIETY. — [illustration of flowers in a Greek amphora]

BOSTON, Feb. 15, 1890.

An adjourned meeting of the society was holden at half past eleven o'clock, the president, William H. Spooner, in the chair. The following vote, presented by Francis H. Appleton, was unanimously passed— Voted, That this Society extend to such incorporated Agricultural or Horticultural Society of Massachusetts, having a delegate on the State Board of Agricultre, an invitation to appoint one of its members who shall have the free use of this library and room (no book to be taken from the room) during the year 1890, for the purpose of preparing essays for delivery at institutes of their own or other societies. THe said member to be appointed by the president and secretary of their respective societies.

Joseph H. Woodford moved that a committee of three be appointed to nominate a committee on window-gardening. The motion was carried and the chair appointed as that committee, Mr. Woodford, John G. Barker, and Robert T. Jackman.

At the meeting for discussion John G. Barker, superintendent of Forest Hills Cemetery, Jamaica Plain, read a paper on "Cemeteries and Parks." This was mainly a description of cemeteries and parks visited during a journey to Detroit to attend the third annual convention of the American Cemetery Superintendents' Association.

The first plan mentioned was, however, neither a cemetery nor a park, but the nursery of the venerable Louis Menand at Albany, N.Y. Mr. Menand at the age of seven years had a little money which he spent for a few cacti, and this family of plants has been a favorite with him since that time, now seventy-five years ago. In answer to an inquiry, what species were most desirable for general cultivation, Mr. M. named Cereus glaucus, a plant of hwich he has owned for forty years. Opuntia pulvinata or microdasys and O. tunicata, var. ferox variegata. Mr. Menand's collection is otherwise very choice, and many one specimens were noticed, especially of the new and rare Japan evergreens, the choicest of herbaceous plants, and a true Ginkgo tree (Salisburia adiantifolia) twenty feet high. He has never been carried away with anything new because it was new, though always ready to recognize the good in the new; his standard has always been high, and it has been a matter of considerable pride in him to try to elevate his profession, and at the age of eighty-two the enthusiasm of this truly wonderful man for the culture of plants is charming to witness.

A short walk brought the lecturer to the Albany Rural Cemetery, incorporated in 1841, and now comprising three hundred acres. The varied surface of hill and dale was very striking, and the beautiful natural ravines were so charming that it seemed as if Nature had done her best to provide a fitting place for this rural cemetery. The long changing drives, showing a vista here and in another plan a more distant view, were truly delightful.

The next cemetery visited was Oakwood at Troy. This is situated at the summit of an abrupt line of hills, overlooking the Hudson, the view taking in a range of distant hills and mountains nearly a hundred miles in extent, the cemetery itself extending a mile and a half on the home hills and comprising more than three hundred acres. At the bends in the course of its western hilly outline there are stretches either of new landscape or of different views that are enchanting. In different parts of the grounds are several lakes, which add much to the attractiveness and interest of the place. The planting and arrangement of the trees and shrubs are in excellent taste, and the rearrangement of the early occupied part of the cemetery, by the removal of hedges, iron fences, crowded trees and shrubs, and sodding over useless walks, has made it nearly as attractive as the newer part.

Forest Hill Cemetery at Utica was next visited. The situation of this cannot be excelled, overlooking the city and the surrounding country, which has great wealth of natural beauty. The outlook in every direction is very interesting, and from many points the distant views are very fine. One slope, on which, in the same lot, are the last resting places of Governor Seymour and Roscoe Conkling, commands a beautiful view of the Saquoit and Oriskan valleys

Many persons visiting the cemetery have noticed a peculiar granite boulder on a little mound near the entrance, and have wondered what it was, and why it was there. This is the famous Oneida stone which was held in great reverence by the Oneida Indians. It was fabled to have fallen from heaven as a speical gift from the Manitou to their tribe. Their councils of war were held around it, as it was supposed to bring them success against their enemies. When the tribe fell under the rule of the white man the stone mysteriously disappeared, and all trace of it was lost. It was afterward found on the top of a hill at Stockbridge, N.Y., and placed in Forest Hills Cemetery, and among the many rich and beautiful memorials that fill the cemetery there is none more appropriate than this monument to the ancient people of Central New York, the Oneida Indians. The sacred character of the stone was doubtless attributed to it on account of its peculiar shape, as well as the fact that it is of a kind of granite not generally found in this part of the State.

The next stopping place was Syracuse, where Oakwood Cemetery is delightfully situated in a beautiful oak grove. Within its one hundred acres is embraced a combination of attractions which, if anywhere equalled, is nowhere surpassed. Placed most fortunately not too near the city, nor too far from it; mostly covered with young and thrifty woods of the second growth, so abundant as to allow great opportunity for selection, its surface diversified by the most beautiful and varied elevations and depressions, presenting views unparalleled in their extent and their magnificence, rendered attractive by natural lawns and the most picturesque scenery, it is all that the highest judgment and taste can demand or the liveliest fancy paint, and the careful hand of improvement will each successive year develop and heighten the charms with which Nature has liberally endowed it. Many elegant monuments and one costly mausoleum have been erected, and these are not so crowded as to injure the natural beauty of the place, as in too many of our cemeteries.

is more beautiful than any other, and these were the richest that Mr. Barker had ever seen.

Elmwood Cemetery is the oldest in Detroit, and is about filled up, but it was pleasant to notice that whenever the opportunity for improvement existed it was taken advantage of. Near the entrance were some floral designs, in good taste and not overdone. Mount Elliott Cemetery is also one of Detroit's principal burial grounds, but presented nothing calling for special notice.

Woodlawn Cemetery at Toledo, O, is delightfully situated; it is cut by a deep ravine in which an artificial lake has been formed, which is a great ornament to the grounds. The trees and shrubs are appropriately planted in single specimens and in groups, and are now attaining a size which makes them very effective. The evergreens were very conspicuous, and give life and character to the place, especially in winter. The lawn plan is adopted here. It was pleasing to notice the great variety of size and shape given to the lots, the sameness of which is often distressing; it seems as if the tastes of all might be satisfied here. This having been commenced later than the other cemeteries mentioned, the trustees have had the opportunity to profit by their experience, and the result shows that they have not neglected it.

Spring Grove Cemetery at Cincinnati is well known, and reported the most beautiful cemetery on this continent. It contains about six hundred acres, 350 of which have been improved and laid out. Near the gateway is a large stone building containing rooms for visitors, directors' room and superintendent's office. Further to the left is the chapel, connected with which are two receiving vaults. The heavy bronze doors to these tombs are of very elegant design. The subject of the first is the widow's son, the Saviour touching the bier, with the inscription, "Young man, I say unto thee, Arise." The second has Jairus's daughter, the Saviour touching her hand, with the words, "Be not afraid, only believe." The third represents Martha and the Saviour at the grave of Lazarus, with the words, "Thy brother shall rise again," and the fourth the Saviour rising from the tomb, with the words, "I am the resurrection and the life." The large window in the chapel is 14 1/2 feet wide and twenty feet high, representing the ascension of Christ accompanied by two angels, while the eleven disciples stand below, gazing in awe and wonder upon the heavenly scene.

Passing from the building we come to a beautiful level lawn, enriched by single specimens and artistic groups of evergreens, so charmingly arranged as to form a study for all who have a love for landscape art. It is truly wonderful what art has produced on what must have been a barren plain. In a selected spot on this lawn has been planted a memorial group to the late Dr. John A. Warder.

Passing under the railroad bridge we come in sight of a chain of beautiful lakes interspersed with small islands, the largest of which was given by the corporation to the late Mr. Straub, the superintendent, as a family burial ground, and there his remains are now laid.

The trees and shrubs are a special feature of the ground; among the most noticeable are a very fine group of the Louisiana cypress; superb specimens of Abies excelsa, some very large Abies polita (the Corean spruce), A. compartunana, A alcoquiana, A concolor, Mangol[ia?] [?]eliata, M. [glanea?], M. tripetala, elegant specimens of liquid-ambar, most beautiful laurel-leaved oaks; grand American White oaks (Quercus palustris); pin oak, tall and elegant trees; Pinus Mugho, Pinus Cembra (the Swiss stump pine), a handsome and distinct species, particularly well adapted for cemetery planting; some of the largest and finest American beeches we have ever seen; magnificent trees of Liriodendron tulipifera; Vitex Agnus-Castus; [a?] Platanus Orientalis at least a hundred feet high; [the?] chestnut oak (Quercus castanea), one of the most graceful of the oaks; and an elegant tree of the Osage orange, full of its bright-colored fruit, the tree low, spreading and round-headed, and of such fine proportions as to be truly fascinating. There were oaks, maples and evergreens of many varieties, including the new and rare evergreens from Japan, and all the old and new species and varieties of shrubs in great abundance.

The only monument to Dr. Warder was a scar let oak, planted, we believe, with his own hands. A tree of the same kind is planted at the head of the grave of Robert Buchanan, the first president of the corporation, and a well-known horticulturist. The grave of Judge John MacLean, who delivered the consecration address in 1854, is marked by a chestnut oak. In this there is a suggestion to [?] and polished granite are very monotonous in many o four cemeteries. Is not the use of trees a step in reform and far more appropriate than many meaningless stones that are erected?

All the improvements since 1855 have been from plans by the late superintedent, Adolph Strauch, who was very successful in blending the old and the new, so that where they come together the change is hardly perceptible. Mr. Strauch was eminently successful in all his work as a landscape gardener, standing at the head of his profession, and no man could leave a more fitting monument to his memory than the work that he accomplished at Spring Grove.

The last cemetery mentioned by Mr. Barker was Cedar Hill at Hartford, Conn., which is laid out on the landscape lawn plan, free from unsightly curbings and iron fences. It contains nearly three hundred acres, charmingly diversified with hill and vale, lawn and stately trees, and the natural beauties have been heightened by the tasteful hand of art. There is a beautiful chapel built with the funds bequeathed by the late Charles H. Northam and known as the Northam Memorial Chapel. Mrs. Julia Gallup also bequeathed twenty-five thousand dollars for a gateway, and the plans for this have been successfully carried out in harmony with the style of the chapel.

The lecturer came next to the second part of his subject, viz.: Parks, and here he had time to speak only of the parks and other public grounds in Boston, and of Washington Park, Albany, N.Y. Of the Boston Public Garden he said that notwithstanding the criticism directed at it, some of which may be just, it fills its place, as is evidenced by the fact that from the blooming of the first pansy until the last hydrangea is destroyed by frost, there may always be found there those who cannot get beyond the borders of the city. He especially commended the Arnold Arboretum as of immense value in affording instruction in regard to trees and shrubs. Of the general park system in Boston he said that only time is wanted to develop the whole system so admirably planned, so as to make the parks the best known in America.

Forest Lawn Cemetery at Buffalo contains about two hundred and fifty acres, laid out on the most liberal scale, with broad avenues, which were found in an unusually excellent condition. The whole grounds had more of a park-like appearance than any cemetery that the lecturer had seen. The views of the projectors of this cemetery were that in many particulars, such as the style, kind, and relative position of monuments, the laying out, adornment and decorations, individual fancies should be subordinate to a general plan and subject to rules designed to secure harmony and uniformity, and exclude such manifest violations of good taste as often mar our places of sepulture. They felt that it would only be necessary to state this general plan and to mention a few of the arguments in support of the rules adopted to secure the assent and hearty coöperation of all who took an interest in the success and prosperity of the enterprise. The soundess of these views is shown by the results visible today.

It was also considered of the first impartance to locate this cemetery where it would enjoy a permanent seclusion; where the expenditure of taste and money would be a heritage for all coming time; where the desecrating tendencies of modern commercial growth should never violate its sanctity, or the encroaching waves of a noisy, restless city life disturb its repose. More than twenty years have passed since these views were expressed, and the spot selected seems in a remarkable degree to fulfill the conditions named.

A deficiency noticed here seems to be that there were too few shrubs and flowers, not the perishable ones that must be renewed every year, but groups of choice evergreens and hardy flowers.

At Hamilton, Canada, although the cemetery was found well kept it was crowded to excess with monuments and iron fences, and there were no signs of modern improvements.

At Woodmere Cemetery, Detroit, Mich., which is admirably adapted for the purposes of adornment as a rural cemetery, there is a broad expanse of water, which when cleared and improved will form lakes two miles in length, that will add very materially to the beauty of the place. The grounds are laid out on the landscape lawn plan with liberal avenues and broad sections of lots. Many fine trees and shrubs were noticed, among which the tupelo tree, or, as it was then called, the pepperidge, was strikingly beautiful. The rich scarlet or crimson autumn foliage of this tree

Washington Park, Albany, contains about ninety acres, centrally located, and being surrounded by dwellings it is a nursery ground for children, and the desire of the board having it in charge is to make it attractive to all classes of the citizens. It is found that a great deal of pleasure is afforded by the floral effects, and many persons owning small places in the suburbs or country endeavor to introduce similar ornamentation at their homes. The promiscuous introduction of flower beds in a park is, however, not in good taste and should not be encouraged. It is more economical and better in every way if floral planting is used as a relief to some formal architectural design than to spoil the harmony of a long sweep of turf by the introduction to patches of brilliant coloring, as is frequently done in public parks and gardens. The floral planting at Washington Park appears to have been located in appropriate places. The area is too small to allow of extended lawn effects [?] the planting of masses of trees for distant sky outlines. The roads, walks, etc., have been adjusted to the topographical features, and the general effect is very pleasing and the area appears much larger than it really is. A just criticism might be made of the monotony of planting, too large a proportion of the trees being elms, but a large part of these were established before the ground was devoted to the purpose of a park, and a gradual introduction of a more ornamental character of planting is being perfected as protection is offered by structural windbreaks surrounding the site on the north and west, and as the undesirable original growth disappears from age and other causes.

Mr. Barker's paper was illustrated by interesting photographic views in the various cemeteries described by him and by a plan of Washington Park. At the close, the subject was discussed by John C. Hovey, Henry Ross, William J. Hargraves and others.

Next Saturday Professor G.H. Whitcher of the New Hampshire Experiment Station, Hanover, N.H, will read his paper on the "Growth and Nutrition of Plants."

Jackson Dawson, gardener at the Arnold Arboretum exhibited a very pretty hybrid between Rosa multiflora Japonica and General Jacqueminot. James Comley, gardener to Mrs. Francis B. Hayes, exhibited Oakmont roses and a sport of the Catherine Mermet rose, of deeper color than the type.

George F. Stone exhibited lettuce, parsley and radishes, for which a gratuity was awarded by the vegetable committee.

15

NO CREMATION TRUST — [B?] Transcript BOSTON CREMATIONISTS KNOW NOTHING OF THE PROPOSAL April 5 [1901?] — O.L. Stevens An Interchange of Cremation Certificates May Be Discussed by This Year's Convention of Cemetery Superintendents— Growth of a Sentiment in Favor of Less Ostentation at Funerals — Some of the people around Boston who have become converted to the idea of cremation rather than earth-burial have been interested lately by the appearance in Western newspapers of a paragraph stating that all the crematories of the United States and Canada were to be consolidated into one association and that the organization of the international society would be effected at the Buffalo Exposition this summer. The interest of the paragraph lay in the reason given for the association, namely, that it was desired to secure a uniform price for cremations, and to make the certificates entitling a holder to incineration at a particular crematory equally good at all the others in the association.

But, so far, Boston cremationists seem to have no information about any such combine more authentic than that contained in the press statements. They are at a loss, too, as to who is behind the movement. It is true that G.R. Fletcher, manager of the Odd Fellows' Crematory in San Francisco, has been endeavoring to make cremation certificates issued by the San Francisco association good at the other principal crematories of the country, in order that if a member should die at a distance from San Francisco the body might be incinerated near the place of death instead of being transported across the country; but inquiry of Mr. Fletcher by letter brings the reply that he knows nothing of the proposed meeting at Buffalo or of the intentions in regard to it. There is to be a meeting of the American Association of Cemetery Superintendents at Pittsburg, early next September, and the matter of interchangeable certificates may be brought up at that time; but most of the crematories in this country now charge $30 for an incineration, and no association will be needed in order to bring about a uniform price. The associations now existing in connection with this matter are chiefly for spreading the doctrine of cremation, or for securing its advantages to members on a coöperative basis. In some a membership fee is charged, large enough to cover the cost of an incineration; in others, notably those at San Francisco and Philadelphia, dues are paid in until they amount to slightly more than the cost of an incineration. The result under either system is that the association then issues to the member a certificate entitling the holder to incineration at a particular crematory with which the society has a permanent arrangement. The only thing in the nature of an attempt to make foreign certificates good at the Boston crematories so far came at about the time of the opening of the Mt. Auburn institution. A cremation society in Connecticut which had been making use of the New York crematory wanted to effect an arrangment with Mt. Auburn by which its certificates would be good here as well as in New York; but the local institution was not willing to make a special rate, and nothing came of it.

A new and philanthropic plan is in contemplation for the new crematory now building at Montreal, Canada, which may in time be imitated in this country. It is nothing less than the endowment of the institution with $50,000, or an amount sufficient to enable the managers to make incinerations at a merely normal price, say five dollras, or in deserving cases to dispense with the charge altogether. Sir William MacDonad is the originator of the idea. He believes that by its agency much can be done to stem the tendency toward extravagant ostentation in funerals among the poorer classes of Canadian people, who are largely of mixed French blood, with all the tendency which that implies toward the hysterical in emotional matters. Extravagance in the matter of death ceremonials there is carried to a much greater excess than in this country. Often a poor family spends all it can scrape together for the sake of making a splendid display at the last ceremonies for a dear one, and the result is heavy debt and real privation for the living. Sir William believes this to be a public detriment, and he hopes his endowment idea will tend to counteract it.

This Canadian stand against ostentatious funerals is only an echo of a sentiment which has been growing in this country, particularly right here in Massachusetts, ever since crematories became numerous. Clergymen, physicians, cemetery authorities are coming more and more to exert their influence against lavish display and expense and in favor of simple burial ceremonies. Speaking of the growth of this sentiment in a talk about cremation a few days ago, the superintendent of the Mt. Auburn Crematory made this observation:

"We find that it is almost always the well-to-do people who accept the idea of simplicity. The poorer classes of people as a rule feel that they are not doing the right thing unless they spend a large amount of money. Some time ago I was asked to look into the Cleveland plan of having funeral cars on the street railway. I found that the use of the car from the house to the cemetery and return cost $10. The same service furnished by a hearse and carriages could not be obtained for less than $40. But I was told by one of the Catholic clergymen of the city that the car was used very largely by the well-to-do classes; that the poorer classes preferred the carriages."

The funeral car in Cleveland is divided into three sections. The first corresponds to the hearse and is intended for the coffin. Next is a section curtained off from the rest of the car and capable of seating eight or ten persons. This is for the chief mourners. The last section will seat twenty or thirty people and is for the people who would otherwise ride in the train of carriages. It is said to be seldom that the car cannot reach to within a short distance of a house of mourning, and the tracks take it directly to the cemetery entrance. There the cemetery authorities meet it with the cemetery hearse, and the mourners walk to the grave or the crematory. The expense covering the conveyance outide the street car is merely nominal. The use of a funeral car on the street railway has been mentioned in connection with Knollwood Cemetery in Sharon, and also here in Boston. But the chief point against it here is that only one or two of the principal cemeteries are reached by the street car tracks. There are none to Forest Hills, or to Cambridge Cemetery, or to Mt. Hope, for instance, though two lines of road terminate at the gate of Woodlawn Cemetery, and the line which makes the long run down to Linden, the site of Holy Cross Cemetery, the largest Roman Catholic burial place, serves not only Boston but Everett, Malden, Medford and Somerville, and all other places reached by the Boston Elevated Railway Company.

If the idea of simplicity grows only slowly among the poorer classes, it has been taken up by the well-to-do since the advent of the crematories to an extent that would have been thought radical a few years ago. Not so very long ago a funeral took place in this city at which the service was held over the ashes of the deceased, the cremation having taken place privately beforehand. People educated to the old traditions would find it hard, no doubt, to accommodate their ideas to such a method of procedure; but to the family mentioned it was the idea of a hearse, coffin, black draperies, and grave that was repugnant, and the simple urn surrounded by flowers as the only sign of the presence of death in the gathering of friends at the funeral allowed, to their minds, a much more appropriate and beautiful form of ceremony than that decreed by custom.

14a Our Mail Bag

Many Untidy Graves in Mount Auburn Cemetery

To the Editor of The Herald: While the hitherto abandoned and neglected cemeteries throughout the country have been made presentable by the ERA or other governmental alphabetical agencies, visitors to Mount Auburn are getting the shock of their lives when they observe the conditions of scores of lots in that most beautiful of all cemeteries.

This is owing to the new policy put into effect this year by the trustees, "requiring the payment of the annuual cafe charge before any work is begun." As a result, if payment is not made in advance the lots are placed "in the neglected classification."

And disgracefully "neglected," they certainly are, as we found to our dismay when we paid the bill this week on our first visit since Memorial day.

Recent abundant rains have kept the new mown lawns in most of the cemetery in a remarkably inviting condition, in sharp contrast with the unkempt appearance of many of the lots where the ripened grass, one or two feet deep, obscures the headstones.

If automobiles could eat hay, a fairly profitable crop could easily be obtained. And the lots which are not under perpetual care would be self-sustaining.

WILLIAM PREBLE JONES Somerville, July 10. -1935 —