Democratic Sentinel, Volume 15, Number 18, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 15 May 1891 — EMMA ABBOTT’S MONUMENT. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

EMMA ABBOTT’S MONUMENT.

An Imposing Shaft Erected by Direction of the Date Singer at Gloucester, Mass. The handsomest mortuary memorial ever erected in any cemetery in the State of Massachusetts is now in process of construction and will be erected in the beautiful Oak Grove Cemetery of Gloucester, to mark the final resting place of Emma Abbott, the famous opera prima donna, and her husband, Eugene Wetherell. The memorial is of the gothic style of architecture, and its total height from the ground is 57 feet. Five massive granite steps lead from the ground to the floor of the canopy, and under this floor the ashes oi the famous songtress will be placed. The interior arrangement of the tomb is novel. The lower eompartmeiit contains the casket in which the body of Mr. Wetherell is incased; this "in turn is inclosed in a catacomb receptacle

of pure white marble, hermetically sealed, on top of which will be built a unique Columbarium to receive the remains of Mrs. Wetherell (nee Abbott). The heavy slab of Quincy granite composing the center piece of the floor will securely seal the receptacle. From the base up the memorial is to be of selected Westerly granite. The carved pillars supporting the three sections will be highly polished, while the remaining decorative work shown in the cut is to be carved in the rough, in high relief. The apex of the monument will be crowned by a carving of thc< lamp of life. This memorial was selected by Miss Abbott from a great number of designs submitted to her by the principal constructors of this class of work, both at home and abroad. The Legislature of Maryland will be asked soon to consider a bill for an act to impose a taT upon bachelors. It will be a practical revival of a statute ia force 100 years ago.