The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1874-10-10 00:00:00

AN EXECUTIONER'S "PARTY."

The proposed tour of M. Roch (the public execu-
tioner of Pans) in the I lepartments has led to the fol-
lowing authentic story being exhumed by a French
paper : .

Towards the year 1750, in the middle of the night, throe
young gentlemen, belonging to that class possessing the
monopoly of breaking windows and wrenching ,d 1 knockers,
were seen descending the Faubourg St. Martin, after having
partaken of a delicious supper, laughing, singing, excited be-
yond measure, and, above all, discussing questions about
which people know very little when they are in their "cups."
They did not wish to gain their apartments before the break
of (lay, and not a wineshop open I Arriving in one of those
narrow streets of Paris. so well known at that time, the Rue
Saint Nicolas, their ears were assailed by the sounds of music,
Joyous, and interspersed by the hazy movements of the dance.
one of the young men knocked at the door, which was
opened by an individual extremely well dressed, and of very
ivilished manners. "Sir, we beg pardon, you are en fete, we
are in a joyous humour, and the sounds of music have for us
a wonderful charm. Will you allow us to be of the party "

" Impossible," rejoined the other with the greatelit as-
surance, mixed with a consummate politeness." As this lie
family fOte, we eould not possibly think of admitting
strangers."
" You are wrong, sir; no better society than ourselves ever
entered your saloons."
"1 am very sorry. sir, but I molt still refuse"
"lie careful, sir; we are all three attached to the Court,
and our presence in your saloons would be a fortune t
•

- -
'Well, gentlemen, I can only repeat for the last time that
I cannot possibly accede to your desires , furthermore, if you
only knew who I really am, you would only be too happy to
retrace your steps rather than persist so strongly in wishing
to join our society."
"Quite charming," replied one of the young mer, who had
shown himself so anxious to gain admittance. "Wall. then.
in Heaven's name, who are you?"
"Sir, I am the public executioner of Paris !"
"Indeed! What you are really the man whose dexterity
in cutting oil heads is so well known everywhere; who can
attach a man to four horses and dismember his body in a
twinkling? " . .

•
Yes, sir , those are positively my functions . but gene-
rally I leave the execution of them to my subordinates, with
this single exception, that when a gentleman of quality—a
seigneur like you—has the misfortune to place himself under
the severe rigours of justice, I never leave that duty to
others; on the contrary, I make it a point of onour to
always perform the last dread work myself."

Twenty years later this young and dashing seigneur,
become the Marquis de Lally, died at the hands of
this same man whose functions SS public executioner
of Paris had caused him so much misplaced amuse-
ment. —Pictorial World.

TAKING HIX IN I—Some years ago a gentleman
living in one of the frontier towns of a far Western
State had some friends staying with him, to whom he
gave a little dinner,—the best the place could furnish,
—and invited to meet them a few half-civilized Indians.
Of course the "noble red men" were treated to
delicacies they had not seen before, and displayed a
perhaps excusable inclination to "go through" the bill
of fare. A young chief, who had partaken of nearly
everything on the table, had been eyeing the mustard
for some time, no doubt thinking that such a pretty
paste would taste as good as it looked. At length,
opportunity occurring, he reached forth in a dignified
manner, took a liberal spoonful, and swallowed it
without moving a muscle of his countenance; but, in
spite of his utmost exertions, the tears soon streamed
down his cheeks. An aged chief opposite to him, who
had been watching the whole proceeding, leaned for-
ward and inquired what he was crying for. He
replied, " I was thinking of my poor old father, who
died a short time ago." Soon afterwards the old man,
being unable to restrain his curiosity, also solemnly
took a dip from the mustard-pot and swallowed It
without the of a muscle; but his eyes were

ivering , -
not ss.strong as his will, and the tears soon trickled