BARBADOES STREET CEMETERY

Press, Volume LXX, Issue 21324, 17 November 1934, Page 20

BARBADOES STREET CEMETERY

TO TH« »DITOI Of T*E PKISS. Sir,—l read with interest the truthful statements of Mr L. W. Broadhead, which, liowever, did not disprove any of the facts contained in my previous letter. Your readers are witness to the fact that I made no accusation against anyone; in fact I really thought that the cemetery was a city property. I simply commented on the ugliness of the clay bank, of the poor state, due to old age, of the still living hedge, of the bad state of parts of the inside cemetery, not due to the lack of activity of the caretaker whose good

work is quite noticeable, but to the non-performance of their duty by those who own burial grounds which are sadly neglected. Some of the crosses need painting: others need supports. The inscriptions on some tombstones are illegible: others are falling, and weeds are plentiful. I said that the Barbadoes Street Cemetery has an appearance of wretchedness, and nobody can deny this. My suggestion that the Beautifying Society should take charge of the grounds and turn them into a place of beauty by the aid of an expert, architectural landscape gardener is quite justified. We have a beautiful river frontage, and the site could be turned into a real hymn of praise to God. Now, I wish to address a church body who cannot uphold the so-called sacred right of private property for land which is but a gift of God to humanity. The only thing a man has a right to own is the product of his own labour; but if anyone has that privilege of temporarily controlling any natural wealth, he cannot forget that a privilege brings with it its responsibilities for which one must be answerable. Any action of the Church Trustees in furthering the interests of the community must receive the approval of that Great Teacher, who said, "As you have done it unto the least of my children you have done unto me."— Yours, etc., COUNT BALSAMO CAGLIOSTRO. November 16, 1934. TO TBI IDITO* or the rn»ss. Sir, —Reading in your issue of the state of the Barbadoes street cemetery, I think it is kept in good order. The fence might be improved. Which reminds me of a parson's daughter meeting the old sexton in a rural village in the Old Country. They had put up a fine new fence round the cemetery. She said: "Good morning, Giles. What do you think of the new fence?" He replied: "I don't see how it was necessary, Miss! Them's in can't get out, and them's out don't want to get in." So they parted.—Yours, etc., CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS. November 16, 1934.