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THE PEACEABLE KINGDOM The Peaceable Kingdom is the title of a painting by early nineteenth century primitive painter Edward Hicks. It is in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. Hicks based this work – one of many he painted on the subject – on Isaiah XI in the Bible, which speaks of such animals as a “wolf…lamb…leopard…lion…kid…calf…sharing the green grass where they lay. Hicks’ vision is a world of love and peace, a world that is beautifully realized in the pet cemetery at Hartsdale where animals of every kind – cats, snakes, dogs, hamsters, alligators, chickens, gerbils, rabbits, parrots, turtles, pigs, goldfish, mice, pigeons, guinea pigs and even a lion cub – share the earth forever. And with them are lovely trees and flowers, ageless rocks, lush green grass, darting insects and birds and small animals that visit at night. Thus, Hicks’ painting of The Peaceable Kingdom was also the inspiration for a book authored by the late Malcolm D. Kriger. The book, titled, The Peaceable Kingdom in Hartsdale, was published in 1983 and is now currently out-of-print. The Peaceable Kingdom in Hartsdale presents hundreds of true stories, illustrating the accomplishments, idiosyncrasies, and adventures of domestic animals, as well as colorful sketches about some of the people who knew them best. The pets represent the population of the nation’s oldest and most respected pet burial ground, the Hartsdale Canine Cemetery in Hartsdale, New York, where every kind of pet can be found – from snakes, rabbits, parrots, pigs and goldfish to pigeons, guinea pig, lions, cats and dogs. Following publication of this book, many people began referring to Hartsdale Canine Cemetery as “The Peaceable Kingdom” and the name has remained. Mr. Kriger was a free lance writer who created several books for children, articles on American history, and award-winning promotions for some of the country’s most prestigious firms. His idea for The Peaceable Kingdom in Hartsdale was conceived in 1969, and actual research and writing begain in 1978. Mr. Kriger chose to take full responsibility for publishing the book, so it would be exactly as he envisioned it. Mr. Kriger loved animals. His six cairn terriers – Wickets, Wick, Rose, Rocky, Clyde and Min – are all buried here at the Peaceable Kingdom in Hartsdale. Mr. Kriger was a graduate of the University of Maryland and Syracuse University. He lived in New York City but called his home in Maine his true paradise. |
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