Muscatine journal. [volume] (Bloomington, Iowa) 1849-185?, 1853-07-01
Celebrated Characters who have
Tested when Diving.

1t is recorded OF one who was going
to execution. that he requested not to
pass by certain street, lest tailor to
whom he was indebted should arres,
hin, on the way. Another said to the
eXecuItOurT, ieet as he was going In
strike, .Do not touch my neck, for
am SO ticklish that you will make me
burst with laughter" A fourth asked
for some drink, but seeing that the
hangman helped himself before he
handed the cup to him, flung the con-
tents into his face and said, 81 will
not sully my lips by drinking after such
a miscreant as thou art" Petronus,
who was master Of the ceremonies, and
inventor OF pleasures at the court OF
Nero, when he saw that elegant indul-
gence was giving place TO coarse de-
hatchery. perceived at once that his
term Of favor had arrived, and it was
time to die. He resolved, therefore, to
anticipate the tyrant; and disrobe death
of his parapharnalia of terror. Accor-
dinghy, he entered a warm bath, and
opened his veins, composed verses,
tested with his familiar associates, and
died off by insensible degrees. Demo-
criius, the laughing philosopher, dislik-
ing The inconveniences and in6rmities
of old age. made up his mind to die on
q certain day; bu. to ohlige his sister,
he postponed his departure until the
three feasts of Ceres was over. He
supported nature on pot of honey to
the appointed hour and then expired by
arrangement.
Pomponius Atticus, the intimate
friend Of Cicero, had fortunately for
himself passed through life without med
ding with politics, and unvisited by
sickness. Feeling i'll for Inc frs, time
in extreme old age, he assembled his
family and informed them that he had
made up his mind to leave this world.
He then abstained from all food, main
,afsed his habitual gaiefy, and suffered
nature to snuff herself out by merry in
stallments. Sactonius relates Of Au-
gusius, that, throughout his last illness
he retained his self-command and ha
bitually tranquil temperament. Per-
ceiving his end approach, he called for
mirror, carefully adjusted his hair,
and turning with smile to his attend
ants, said, IAN ! not an accomplished
actori" When Phocion was going to
execution, thoughtless Alhenian COM
mitted the outrage Of splitting in his
face. He smiled, and said to the magis.
trates who accompanied him. TELL that
foolish young man not TO open his mouth
SO disagreeably." The first Darius
King Of Persia, when dying desired 10
have this intellectual epitaph engraved
on his tomb:
"Here lies King Darius. who was
able to drink many bottles Of wine with
out staggering"
Jerome Cardan, celebrated Italian
physician, cast his own nativity, and
ascertained, by the conformation Of h i
horoscope, that his death would take
place on certain day. He was such a
devout believer in astrology, that he
determined to die at the appointed time
rather than his favorite science should
be detected i'm an error. He, therefore
starved himself gradually, and calcula-
ted with such mathematical nicely. as
to hit the very day and hour foretold
All astrologers should Sc. up Cardan as
their high priest and central pillar. The
learned Baylie was so occupied with his
critical work in opposition TO La Clere,
that he totally forgot and neglected a
flow fever, which was killing him BY
measured advances. He died while cor.
recting the las. sheet Racan in HE
life Of Malherbe, his instructor in poe
try. gives very characteristic anecdote
Of his death. An hour before he ex.