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Show j Famous last words prove interesting i i By SUSIE DAVIS j j 'Rest in peace' is often found as j an epitaph on tombstones. It is a simple sentiment, but a sincere one. j Around Halloween, tradition dic- j tates that decorations of pumpkins S and goblins, ghouls and graveyards don windows and homes, offices, j and schools. Gravestones are not ! confined to cemeteries because j through the years Americans have I embraced the holiday of Halloween. Hallo-ween. j Started as a pagan festival of the dead, Halloween originated as we J know it with a day called ; 'Allhallowmas.' The evening i before became 'All Hallow e'en', or Halloween. We continue to this day ! to try to scare each other and con- j jure up the dead. i This quaint grave yard is located in Bostom, Mass. Some of the worn tombstones date back to the 1700's. The writing is visible on most of them in spite of centuries of weathering. Humorous epitaphs are seen on I these decorations or often just j 'RIP, which stands for rest in i peace. An epitaph, coming from the Greeks, is written in memory or in tribute to the dead. It is a brief com-position com-position of prose or poetry written ir'y on a tomb. Sometimes the verse is a j f.-i warning or the benefit of the life : experience of the deceased, ! The earliest epitaphs were found i A on Egyptian coffins, and the Greeks excelled in creating them. Old y$ English graveyards yield much ad-y'J ad-y'J vice as do the graves found in New England. The West yields a simpler, more factual approach with more j? commonly the death and birth dates i and names of family. f Reading the actual epitaph can amuse, teach and stir. Following are y a variety of epitaphs. Entomb'ed beneath this mound of clay, Lies Arabella Young - Who, on the twenty-fourth of May, Began to hold her tongue. i This is a humorous epitaph , written in the Sussex Register published pub-lished in March 1814. Epitaphs seem to fall into some general categories. The advice and warnings to others was a very popular format Oh! Youth think of me As you are now, so once was I. As I am now so you must be. Prepare for death and follow me. References of the concept that our bodies are dust and remain in the grave until the resurrection are reflected often in epitaphs. God his redeemer lives And ever from the skies, Looks down and watches all his dust, Till he shall bid it rise. There is advice to friends and family as exemplified by this epitaph my husband and I saw while wandering through an old Protestant graveyard. "Draw near my friends and take a view. For this cold earth must cover you." Suffering is another topic used often for epitaphs. They die in Jesus and are bless'd How kind their slumbers are; From suff'rings and from sins releas'd And freed from every snare. Scripture is also the basis of many epitaphs, with Psalms 37:37 quoted. "Mark the perfect man and behold the upright, for the end of that man is peace." And a simple, "I know that my Redeemer liveth.' Strange epitaphs are among the traditional. This is an epitaph from a cemetery in Vermont: It is in the scriptures as a blessing for insomniacs - The law of Moses. There are two things you never want to See made, Sausage and law. Artwork is another dimension to headstones. Art can convey symbolic sym-bolic messages. Some common symbolism of artwork are the "going to God" symbol of the back of hand facing the viewer, meaning going home. Crossbones with a skull symbolize sym-bolize death and are found on many old tombs in the Boston area. Weeping willow trees denote extreme ex-treme sadness. Fallen rosebuds signifies a young person's death in the flower of youth. An oak leaf signifies courage, strength and endurance. en-durance. It is evident that headstones can inform, instruct, and symbolize. An epitaph can represent philosophy, religion, wisdom, a broad spectrum of emotions and sometimes humor. So I am going to respond to the admonition ad-monition 'prepare yourself to follow me." "To follow you I'm not content, Unless I know which way you want!" - y r y s .. 0 i i Hi .' J V.; a- I A ' 1 - I LI Yi r! I n 1 This is one of the most im-; im-; ,Z pressive monuments in the f : Kaysville City Cemetery. The : O draped urn is a standard symbol V . of death. n |
