Gone to graveyards, everyone

Ubi sunt qui ante nos fuerunt? (Where are those who were before us?)

Mikhajl Aleksandrovič Šolokhov (Михаил Александрович Шолохов) in the first chapter of And Quiet Flows the Don (1934) has Darja singing a lullabye:

...А где ж гуси?
В камыш ушли.
А где ж камыш?
Девки выжали.
А где ж девки?
Девки замуж ушли.
А где ж казаки?
На войну пошли. ...

...A gde ž gusi?
V kamyš ušli.
A gde ž kamyš?
Devki vyžali.
A gde ž devki?
Devki zamuž ušli.
A gde ž kazaki?
Na vojnu pošli. ...

...And where are the geese?
They've gone into the reeds.
And where are the reeds?
The girls have mown them.
And where are the girls?
Married and gone away.
And where are the Cossacks?
They've gone to the war...

Pete Seeger read this, and in 1955 wrote the song, Where have all the flowers gone?, which was expanded by Joe Hickerson, in 1960, to include:

...Where have all the soldiers gone?
Gone to graveyards, everyone.
Oh, when will they ever learn?...

Woodland Cemetery Cleveland has a contiguous plot of veteran graves of the XIXth century. Some are so worn in lettering, that it is difficult to tell the front side from the back side. A typical legible stone reads:

S. A. MILLER
CO. F
1ST MICH. L. A.

neo-Gothic Angel

Angel imagery is common in cemeteries of the gilded age (late XIXth century). The most genre perfect, and impressive one in Cleveland may be the one for Freda Schubert in Cleveland's Woodland Cemetery.

When i first saw this statue, i was surprised that i had not heard, or read about it before.* I am very inclined to believe that Herman Schubert loved his wife very much.

The red stone of the pedestal is soft, pitted, and smudged with soot.

supra, profile view; infra, three quarters

Lake View Cleveland has several programmes throughout the year. One is the angels tour. A very few, two at least, are outstandingly interesting. Most are equal to those found in several other local cemeteries. Why Freda's angel is not better known is comparatively odd. When walking through Woodland Cemetery this statue is striking, it commands attention. All the information, that i have, is what is on the monument itself. It has been there an hundred years. Is anyone from Herman and Freda's family about? and know anything of the sculpture?

The angel's left hand is missing the forefinger, and the end of the [palm] frond.

The drapery became convenient for wasps to build comb nests.

____________________________

*postscriptum: Michelle Day of Woodland Cemetery Foundation brought to my attention, a photograph of this monument made the cover of a book: Silent Cities: the Evolution of the American Cemetery. Princeton Architectural Press. Kenneth Jackson (Author), Camilo Jose Vergara (Photographer). 1989 .I was not aware of this book beforehand. Professor Jackson has much of the same thoughts that i have on American burial yards. He is right on two big points. The 'memorial parks' beginning with Glendale California's Forest Lawn changed the landscape (for the worse). This spread throughout the country, with noticeable resistance from immigrants and their children. Thus began a symbiotic and continuing process of isolating and reducing the cultural niche of the graveyard. He does not go as far as to say that this style of burial ground of aesthetics, commerce, and spiritlessness could only go farther by having cemeteries double as golf courses.

Artificer

Veterans are entitled to a government issued grave marker. Veterans also end up indigent to a greater degree than those whom did not serve. It is not always because of pride in service that they, or their families, wish a government stone. Most people would consider it shameful for a veteran to have an unmarked grave. [i have no information on this burial pictured, i am just stating actualities]

The 10th Ohio Volunteer Infantry never saw combat. The Spanish American War was brief. It destroyed the remnants of an imperial, and military Spain. The United Stated achieved status as a naval, and imperial power. Most of what was the remaining Spanish empire, became part of the US empire. The Spanish called the war "El Desastre" — the Disaster. The war was fought in the Caribbean, and the Pacific from April to August of 1898.

In July the 10th Ohio was mustered with 1280 men and 42 officers. The armistice began on 12 August. The next week, the 10th Infantry was in training camp in Pennsylvania. They would finish their service in Georgia in March 1899. Twenty one men died of disease, two in accidents.

A military artificer is a term not now used in the US military. He was a mechanic, craftsman, maintenance man for arms and equipment. One artificer per infantry company was standard.

Sacred Heart of Jesus

While the other representations of Jesus are familiar in the Orthodox, and Byzantine world, and in the Protestant, this one is quite Roman Catholic. The Beloved Disciple of the Sacred Heart was St. Margaret Mary Alacoque *1647, 1690†. The devotion existed for centuries, but her affection and attachment was the most zealous in its wider practice.

the bleeding, Sacred Heart of Jesus, pierced by a crown of thorns

stained glass in a mausoleum with angels with thuribles (incense burners) and candles

with an altar to say Mass

Erie Street Squirrel

Red squirrel in a saucer magnolia tree

Erie Street (East Ninth) Cemetery Cleveland, O., is a green space between asphalt, brick, and cement. There are relatively few monuments, and burials remaining. It is a quiet spot just south of Cleveland's financial district, and across the street from the new base ball park.
There is one drive that splits the long rectangle of a graveyard, betwixt East 14th and 9th, in twain. The building in the background is the home field of the Indians of the American League.
The stone on the left is the same in two photographs. It is pitted plaque on multi-cracked cement. It is a Memorial Day Association veterans' commemoration for the Grand Army of the Republic (Union troops).

Cross and crown: religious or masonic?

Is this cross and crown, religious or masonic?

Catholic burial at Cleveland Calvary.

Now, the anchor is another symbol of faith. In this admiralty anchor a cross is, ever so slightly, hidden. Of course, the man could have been a sailor. The anchor echoes the cross and crown. The anchor was used on the graves of the catacombs. What does that signet mean? Although in life there is suffering (cross), life ends in the glory (crown) of heaven. That is a comforting thought for the departed, and his love ones.

The answer is masonic. It is a mark of an additional masonic order of the York rite, Knights Templar. Masons borrow liberally from Catholic Christian symbolism and adapt it to their mythology. Here, in Woodland Cemetery, a civil graveyard of Cleveland, it is cut in the middle of this stone pillar. The pillar is made broken to symbolise a life ended. Masonic symbolism is infatuated with death.

and to confirm, the monument is further engraved with compass and square

More Czechs · Více Čechů

Here is a family buried side by side, progressively in death, left to right. The parents (2nd, 3rd stones), assuredly, were born in the old country (a Czech province [probably Bohemia] in the Austrian Empire); the younger son (first stone), maybe. The last stone is of an older brother *1873, and either his wife or a sister *1875. The youngest child died first. His Christian name, Ladislav, is not anglicised; his parents', and the others' names are.

The European War (WWI) started 28 August 1914. American entry came 6 April 1917. During 1916 American nationalism was surpassing American pacifism. When America mobilised for war, a strong propaganda effort pushed a bellicose Americanism. The use of English only became more dominant. Many people, especially Germans, changed their names. Here in 1914 'Naše Matka' died, in 1917 'Father' died.

Naš Syn · Our Son

Ladislav Pejsa
Roz[ený] List[opad] · Born 6 November 1878
Zem[řel] 17 Unora 1902 · Died 17 February 1902

Naše Matka · Our Mother

Father

Otec

'Otec' is not a surname. It is Czech (and Slovak) for 'Father'. The distaff is 'Matka'. Supra is a bolster stone in Monroe Street on the west side of Cleveland, next to it is an hedge apple, on top of it is squirrel shredded hedge apple. Infra is a stone at Woodland on the east side of Cleveland. There were Czech neighbourhoods close to each, and both have many Czech burials. This is an English language essay, and many of those who would read it would only be conversant in English. The inscriptions in most languages say similar stuff.

Zde odpočiva Tomas Můžik · Here rests Tomas Mužik
Nar[odený] 18 Pros[inec] 1832 · Born 18 December 1832
Zem[řel] 20 Řina 1903 · Died 20 October 1903
Spi Sladce · Sleep Sweetly

Hall of Famer makes a Splash

Edward J. Delahanty is buried in a family plot with his parents, and a sister.

Cleveland's Calvary Cemetery has buried more people than any in the county of Cuyahoga, and its neighbors. The most interesting graveyard in the vicinity is, easily, Lake View. There are lists of notable burials in graveyards. Politicians and base ball players are very well indexed. While Lake View has the rich and famous of Cleveland's dead, Calvary has Catholics. Find A Grave website logs 113 'famous internments' to 22.

Ed Delahanty, *1867- 1903†, played professional major league base ball, as did four younger brothers. He was born in Cleveland of recently arrived Irish. He died in a way that would fit a Hitchcock movie. He went over Niagara Falls after being kicked off a train. The documentable details are few.

I knew of the incident in reading references some thirty years ago, and wondered why a book had not been written. Well, since then, there has been at least two: Ed Delahanty in the Emerald Age of Baseball by Jerrold Casway (February 28, 2006); July 2, 1903: The Mysterious Death of Hall-Of-Famer Big Ed Delahanty by Mike Sowell (July 1992).

Delahanty's last days were awful. He lived in serious depression, and drunkenness. He was in debt from betting on the ponies, and was pressed by management.

He took a Michigan Central train from Detroit, which travelled the Canadian shore. He wanted to get to Buffalo. He got drunk, and mean. He took out a straight razor. He was removed from the train at Bridgeburg Station Downtown Fort Erie. He walked the railroad bridge, fought with the night watchman, and ended falling into the Niagara. A week later, most of his body was found below the Falls. I knew there was a story there, but it is open to imagination and speculation. Why has this made neither a novel, or a movie?Ed Delahanty played for the Washington Nationals/Senators in the new American League in 1902, and led the league in hitting at .376. He was the best hitter (combined power and average) in baseball in the 1890s, and in the beginning of the next century. He did not want to play for Washington in '03, having signed with the New York Giants for double his Washington pay, of then big money — $4,000. In a Base Ball 'Peace Commission', he and others were told which teams to play for and how much to be paid. It was going to cost him to play for Washington. He had lost his advance from New York, and "owed" money to Washington. This was a time when players had 'jumped' leagues for better pay. The owners were solidifying control. Players were no longer free to 'play' (work) for the league of their choice.

He hit over .400 three times. His lifetime average was .346, only four players surpassed that. He still holds batting records. He played in three major leagues, led two of them in hitting (Philadelphia Phillies .410 in 1899). He hit home runs in the dead ball, small ball era. He had a strong arm, and played most games in left field. He was fast a foot and stole 455 bases. In 1945 he was selected for Cooperstown.

Drowned by the Explosion

The story on this stone is interesting. It is a big stone, and it had to be impressive in cost. Just a few details lead to more details. A Connecticut Yankee comes to Cleveland, becomes successful, and dies in the deep South months after the War for Union.

SAMUEL RAYMOND
BORN IN BETHLEHEM CONN. MARCH 19. 1805.
DROWNED BY THE EXPLOSION OF THE STEAMER CARTER
ON THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER FEB. 2. 1866.
MARY NORTH HIS WIFE
BORN IN NEW BRITAIN CONN. AUG. 11. 1811
DIED JULY 28. 1872.

A son, James, lived 40 days in 1839. Another, William, lived 8 months in '43- '44. They never saw Cleveland. Grave markers are memorial stones, not every stone has a body near it. These young Raymonds are not there, and neither is their father. The family came to the city in 1853. Where Samuel Raymond became a wholesale dry goods merchant in the Raymond Lowe Company. Another child, Mary Louise was born in 1848, and died 1872 in South Carolina.

On another face is listed, another son, Henry North Raymond *1835, 1911†. His wife, Elizabeth Adair *1835, 1911†; and Helen Adair *1862, 1923†.

A son, not listed, is Samuel A. Raymond *1845, 1915†. He was partners with his brother, Henry, in the family business, but left to work with the millionaire industrialist, Amasa Stone, whose family he married into, and after Stone's suicide ran his estate. They are both buried in upscale Lake View Cemetery.

Disasters often happen at the sleepiest hour. That hour is well after midnight, but still before dawn. In mid-winter, 2 February, 1866, 35 miles north of Vicksburg, Mississippi disaster came to the steam boat W. R. Carter. There were some 200 people on the boat. A boiler exploded. Shrapnel created splinter. The boom set the ship afire. The ship sank. People drowned, people died of exposure. Estimates of above 125 died in various torment.

Buried at sea

O'DONNELL
JOHN O'DONNELL
BORN IN NEWPORT, IRELAND - 1778
DIED IN CLEVELAND - 1874
HIS WIFE
MARY MULLEN
BURIED AT SEA
1884 CHARLES R O'DONNELL D.D.S. 1976

What an interesting stone. One in seeing a stone, must consider that, those memorialised are not necessarily there, nor is the stone necessarily contemporary to an internment.

This stone tells of three people; one explicitly never reached Ohio. So many people died in the crossing to America. Her, and notice her maiden name is used, husband died a very old man. The third person never saw the first two. He, or someone, thought it proper to remember the long departed. This speaks fondly on familial unity.

Newport is in County Mayo. It is a village on the main island by Clew Bay. Nearby Achill Island, is where many early Cleveland Irish originated from, as other spots in the far west of Ireland. These people were quite poor, even for the Irish. John came to Cleveland in 1836 with eight children. We see, one descendent became a doctor of dentistry.

Death and Resurrection

I once read a Mexican writer comparing Catholic Mexico with a Protestant United States. Mexico was a land where it was Good Friday everyday. At university, i met Evangelicals and encountered their views. Being as polite as i can be, while still being honest, i found them rude to the point of being hostile in their aggressiveness and their dismissiveness. Some could not tolerate, at the slightest, the solemnity of the Day of Crucifixion. Some were revolted by a Corpus on the Cross.

Many Catholics are buried with a crucifix. In a catholic graveyard it is easy to find a gravestone etched, or incised with one. A stone crucifix in an older graveyard is common. Partly, it is a remembrance that God as man suffered, and died too.

This grave memorial, supra, has both Good Friday and Easter, the Crucifixion and the Resurrection. On the cross these two passages are cut:

"We adore thee, O Christ, and we praise Thee, because by thy holy cross Thou hast redeemed the world." Liturgy
"I am the Resurrection and the Life. He who believes in Me, even if he dies, shall live." John 11:25

The first passage (older phrasing) is recited at the Veneration of the Cross on Good Friday, and traditionally whilst making the Stations of the Cross.

Agony in the Garden

NOT MY WILL BUT THINE BE DONE

After the Last Supper Jesus went to the Garden of Gethsemani and prayed. He prayed that this cup of suffering would be passed, but He accepted it. There on the stone is cut the cup of the Eucharist, with both Species; this addition makes the sculpture not generically Christian, but Catholic Christian.

And going out, he went, according to his custom, to the mount of Olives. And his disciples also followed him. And when he was come to the place, he said to them: Pray, lest ye enter into temptation. And he was withdrawn away from them a stone's cast; and kneeling down, he prayed, Saying: Father, if thou wilt, remove this chalice from me: but yet not my will, but thine be done. And there appeared to him an angel from heaven, strengthening him. And being in an agony, he prayed the longer. And his sweat became as drops of blood, trickling down upon the ground. — Luke xxii. 39-44.

Saint Augustine

1 of 2 Sisters of Charity of Saint Augustine memorials at the cemetery

Augustine *354, 430† is shown, wearing a mitre (bishop's hat), with a Bible in one hand here, and a flaming and pierced heart in the other. Often he is holding just a flaming heart. The heart is burning with love of God (and man), and has been pierced with pain (or ecstasy).

Thou hadst pierced our heart with thy love, and we carried thy words, as it were, thrust through our vitals. The examples of thy servants whom thou hadst changed from black to shining white, and from death to life, crowded into the bosom of our thoughts and burned and consumed our sluggish temper, that we might not topple back into the abyss. And they fired us exceedingly, so that every breath of the deceitful tongue of our detractors might fan the flame and not blow it out. — Confessions, Book IX, ch. ii, paragraph 3

If one were to take courses in mediæval history, civilisation, philosophy or theology it would be impossible to have one of any depth, or comprehensiveness without reading Augustine. There is a Spanish saying, that there is not a good homily/sermon without a quotation from San Agostino.

One statement of his is equivalent to "it's over when the fat lady sings". Roma Locuta Est, Causa Finita Est. (Rome has spoken. The cause [or dispute] is finished.)

Crosses on the rack

temporary crosses in storage

Jesus, Good Shepherd

Now, a statue of Jesus is not unexpected in a Catholic graveyard. There are several presentations. Jesus the Good Shepherd was the earliest representation of Jesus in art.

very traditional portrayal

mid XXth century

The Pastor on stained glass inside a mausoleum.

Cement weathers

It may may been cheaper than solid stone.