Only way to start it

Kent Burying Ground, in Fayette, Maine. Established in 1880 by Elias Kent, it is unusual for its layout of concentric rings around a central monument.

Edwin Valentine Mitchell (1890-1960) in his book It’s an Old State of Maine Custom, recalls the story of the tourist being shown around town by a local who remarks to his guide how very old the townspeople seem:

“‘Seems as if everybody we meet is old,’ says the tourist.

“‘Yes,’ the guide admits, ‘the town does have a lot of old folks.’

“‘I see you have a beautiful cemetery over there,’ remarks the tourist a bit later.

“‘Yup,’ is the laconic answer. ‘We had to kill a man to start it.”’