Democratic standard. [volume] (Georgetown, Brown County, Ohio) 1837-1850, 1840-11-24
THE PUNISHMENT OF DEATH

The introduction iEto the British Par
lament Of a Bill to abolish the Punish
ment Of Death has induced the puLlca-
ton of several meriiorious works on the
subject, and among them OF a translation
from the French of Victor IIugo's Last
Days of a Condemned" This consists
of series Of papers, supposed TO be dai-
Iy writings during six weeks Of a Condem.
ned criminal, confined during that period
in the .Bicetre prison, previous 10 his ex-
ecntion. These present a a powerful
picture Of the hopeless despair of one
destined to end his life on the scaffold.
We have not space fer extracts from the
augmentatve part of the work, nor yet TO
present more than. one of the many thrill
ling scenes which Victor Hugo has depic-
ted. From near the close of the volume
We copy an account Of the prisoners last
interview with his little child, who adds
10 his grief by not remembering him; it
is powerfully written:
"My child looked rosy and happy, and
her large eyes were bright--oh! she is so
pretty! drew her towards me, | raised
her in my arms, and, placing her on my
knees, kissed her dear hair. asked,
"Why is her mother not with her!" and
learned that she was very i'll, and my poor
old mother also. Mary looked at me
with astonishment. CaEcssed, embraced,
devoured with kisses, she submitted qu-
etly; but from timu to time cast an unea.
sy look towards her nurse, who was CRY.
ing in the corner. Al length was able
to speak. Mary exclaimed, my own
little Mary and Ipressed her violently 10
my breast, which was heavng with s0bs.
She uttered little cry and then said,
'Oh, you hurt me, sir Sir! it is nearly
year since she has seen me, uoor child!
She has forgotten me-face, words, voice;
and then who could know me with this
beard, this dress, this pallori What! al
ready effaced from that memory, the only
one where wished to survive! What!
already no longer faIher, am condem-
ned to hear no more that word, so soft IN
the language Of children, that it cannot
remain in the language of men, 'pGpdr
And yet to have heard it from the sweet
mouth once more, only once more, thai
is all would have asked in the payment
for the forty years Of life they will take
from me.
s'Listen, Mary said to her, joining
her two little hands in mine. DO you
not know met" She looked at nae with
her bright beautiful eyes, and answered,
oh! no, indeed.' rLook at me well.'
repeated, 'what! dost thou not know
who | ami Yes, sir she answered,
you are gentleman Alas while loving
one being on earth, loving with all your
deep affections, having that being before
you, who spes and looks at you, speaks
and answers you, and yet knows you not;
you wish for consolation but from this one
being, who is the only one that does not
know that you require it because yon are
going to die! Mary | continued, hast
thou a paPaF Yes, sir said the child.
t!Well, then, dearest, where is heF She
raised her large eyes. in astonishment;
'ah,you don't know, sir,papa is dead I here
she began TO cry; | nearly let the little
angel iall. 'Desd9 exclaimed Mary,
knowest thou what it is to be deadg'
Yes, srr.' she answered, be is in earth
and in heaVen.'-and she continued of
her own accord, I pray 10 God for him
every morning and evening at mammals
knees ! kissed her on the forehead.
sMary, say 10 me thy prayres.' 4 could
not sir; a prayer yon do not say in the
middle Of the day. Come 10 night to the
house and you shall hear me say IT,
| This was enough, ! interrupted her.
Darling Mary,it is | who am thy papa
'Youn returned she. | added, 'wouldst
thou like me for toy Papas' The Child
turned away; NO, sir, my papa was much