STRANGE TOMBS

Gisborne Times, Volume LXXIII, Issue 11833, 14 January 1933, Page 12

STRANGE TOMBS

MONUMENTS OVER- GRAVES. -

ENGLISH EXAMPLES

FAMOUS AUTHOR’S STONE-TENT.

In walking through the Canipo Santo of| Genoa I have always wondered (writes E. V. Lucas in the “Sunday Times”) to what extent the pompous and florid mansions of the dead, for which the cemetery is famous, were the work of those who occupy them. Were there family conclaves at the bedside of tho dying man—such as one of the most elaborate groups suggests—where the details of the last Testing-place were under consideration; or while still in the vigour of life did the deceased send' for the architect and sculptor and discuss designs with them; .or was, it:all an affair of the sorrowing survivors? Remembering' Browning’s Bishop and Michael Angelo’s Pope Julian who were 'both Italians, we may he sure that the living do occasionally take a hand, in their posthumous celebration, and I can conceive that when all hope lias gone and philosophical surrender (if-ever) sets in, some-alleviation from the dread fact might result, from consultation as to the form one’s memoral should take, the artist to be employed. and even the probable cost : just as a- frequent change of codicils is said to have ligliteucd'ihp.lastJioiirs of many a dying capitalist, or, for that matter, pauper; except, that the pauper would not have the additional beguilenient of harassing a legal adviser. ' ENGLISH EXAMPLE.?. Although the pretentious or magnificent tomb is more to the taste of ‘the Latins,than to the English, .as one can. see not only at Genoa blit.at Perc La Chaise, there are not a few examples of splendid-;or eccentric mortuary work in England. * Every one must remember one or two, such as the imposing vaults in classical churchyards of villages which enjoy the patronage of a noble family. There also conies to mind the tomb of the first Lord and Lady Esher, at Esher, where tlio recumbent figures ci tho old jurist, and his wife were carved and in position for some years before the time came for their originals to be placed for ever beneath them : and there, is the pyramidal tomb ’ of John Fuller of Rose Hill in Sussex, which you may see in Brightling churchyard, where, according to legend, the body of the ; arrogant squire was buried seated in a favorite armchair. This, an undistinguished version of Canova’s beautiful pyramid in the church of the Frari in Venice, was, I am sure, made to Fuller’s 'own specification. “THE NONPARIEL.” And then ip Ilighgato Cemetery, London, which I used to visit very often when, many years ago, I lived on tho top of Diclc Whittington’s Hill, but without- the solace or encouragement of -a cat, there is,tho grave of “Tho Nonpareil.” This imposing memorial must have been undreamed of by the straightforward uncomplicated' cricketer who lies beneath.'it, the first of the" Lilly-" whites; Frederick William, 1792-1854, better known as William ; “One who did h>9 duty,” as part of the'lengthy inscription states, “in that state ■ of life in which it' had pleased God ■ to pall him”; who taught, “bpth by pre*-

cept and-examples sport in which .the blessings of youthful ’ strength ‘ And spirits may be most innocently. enjoyed, to the- exercise of’.the mind, the disciplne of the temper, and the general improvement of the man.” '

’ Lttle can the first-great -proficient of‘round arm, the, simple Sussex-pro-fessional who said: .“Ale bowling. Pilch batting, and Box. keeping -wicket; that’s cricket'”—little can-he-have foreseen this marmoreal testimony: to his long service . . SIR RICHARD. BURTON. And I am doubtful if that great) adventurer, traveller, explorer. Tinguist, soldier, and scholar, who lies within the most unusual mausoleum that I have ever seen in England—the Arab tent of marble in the' Roman Catholic cemetery at Mortlake—had any foreknowledge of the -strange yet fitting environment which • ' fiis remains, brought from Austria; were to enjoy. I refer to the tomb of Sir Richard Burton, who succeeded in’ disguising his occidentalism so well that he penetrated to the sacred city of Mecca, and who gave us the'fullest translation of the “Arabian Nights.’’ Seen from a distance, rising above the ordinary graves, the'mausoleum is as much -a- tent- as any-en Salisbury Plain. Only on near approach does hoe detect the artifice.

East and West, mingle here as'they did in Burton’s life ;• the-tent is Arabian in form: there is. a'frior.e of. the crescent and the cross around it, and over the entrance is a crucifix. Two

stars surmount it, one serving as a vane. Within is an altar, and side by side are the coffins on Burton and his his devoted widow, .to-whom, I imagine, we owe the tomb, although :she, poor lady, was in nc>-position to’pay for it.

Indeed, the inscription says that it was erected ‘‘by his loving countrymen.' At the entrance is a marble book open at the. page -where- Justin. Subtly jJacCarthy’s sonnet may. be read-:—"

"Farewell, dear friend, dead hero': ' ' . The great-, life . Is - ended, the 'great perils, .the' great joys, ■ And -hp to whom adventures were aa

• - toys, Mho seemed to bear a charm .’gainst spear or knife, ) • Or bullet, now lies silent A frdm at strife. ...” : -

FEVERISH CAREER:' A

.Let. ns hope That after life’s ■ fitful lever Burton sleeps well, for seldom can there have been more fitfulness, more fever, in any career, but.'iioti.eeably in the career of ,-one who.was intended for the. Church. . Thai, fafe Burton, evaded, when at Oxford,, r, by beliberately performing acts.- which, fould lead +o his rustication, and, once his. escape was accomplished,’he joined, the Army, .where.his-heart had.always been. - .. . s . Perhaps the greatest. contrast to his career.is. not .that:of .the- person, for- parsons have-not.seldombeen.mil-itant, -but-- of .that .other son, of a. university, his contemporary,, '.to,.whj>m also wq ,are- indebted, for. unlocking; to us -an Oriental masterpiece Fitz-Gerald, who sank front; form of activity or interference.. .",. i The . two men had,- however,,'' on© thing in.common; they each white, a mystical, poem marked by wistfulrfesa and inquiry; and I rememberßeskethPriehard, .the traveller, cricketer, 'and novelist-,, once, telling- -me that-he thought Burton’s “Kasidak’.’-'a,- ’finer acheievement than tho ’ Suffolk ’ t€* cluse’s version, of Omar. Khayyam. ,* •l . .' r ' v