FLORID EPITAPHS

Evening Post, Volume CVIII, Issue 118, 14 November 1929, Page 17

FLORID EPITAPHS

LISTED VIRTUES OF DEAD

Everyone who has strolled through an old cemetery is familiar with the epitaph that-warns-the "friend" who is.passing by of death and the judgment, says a 'Writer in. the: "New York Times;"- On the. very, old stones, so old that deciphering.the: epitaph is difficult, the .passerby, .was not •■■ hailed ; as friend, but as "passenger.". "Stop, Passenger," is the beginning of many epitaphs-dating back twoW. three hundred centuries. ■ ■.••■_•■:,.■:•.

"Stop, Passenger, "begins an epitaph dated 1781, ott:a stone in. a "cemetery in Elizabeh, N. J., '.< here lie the remains of a woman who exhibited to the world a bright constellation of the ' female virtues. On.that memorable day, never to be forgotten; when a British foe invaded this fair village and ■ fired even tho temple of: the Deity, this peaceful daughter of Heaven retired to her hallowed apartment imploring Heaven for the pardon of her enemies. In that s cred moment she: was by the bloody hand of a British ruffian dispatched like her. divine redeemer through'a path of blood to her long- wished for native skies."

There were few brief epitaphs in those early, days. It was apparently regarded as-a lack .of reverence to fail to. enumerate the virtues of the departed, and as a disregard of' opportunity to fail to warn' the '^passengers" of what was in store for them.