Butte record. (Bidwell, Butte County, Cal.) 1853-1858, 1857-03-28
Sketches OF a Medical Studcnt In Paris.
THE SHADOW CT A HAND.

the matter here, but simply relate an
incident that came TO my knowledge
some years since, proving, think in-
contestibly, that some of the fairer por-
tion Of creation are endowed in an en-
inent degree with this virtue.
In the autumn of lS45 circumstance
es called to Dieppe. To tell the truth,
| was by no means sorry TO visit this
fashionable watering place. The change
is very agreeable one after long So
iourn in Paris. 1t was late in the af-
ternoon of the 18th of August that
arrived at the end of my journey, and
proceeded at once to the Hotel des
Bains, (Which by-the-by, [ can recon-
mend to those Of my readers who may
happen to visit Dieppe,) and after a
light supper, retired to rest.
was always an early riser. 1t makes
no difference what time l go to bed at
night, | am sure to get up early in the
morning. | suppose this Is habit, more
than anything else. However that may
be, the morning after my arrival at Di-
eppe | was up by cosk-crow. | looked
at my watch, and found il wanted few
minutes to four. | determined | would
90 and explore the town.
When | arrived in the street | was
very much surprised to find it full of
people. | gave the Inhabitants Of Di-
eppe credit for being very industrious,
beating their Partisan brethren to moth
ing in the exercise Of the virtue of ear
ly rising, and expected to discover up>
on inquiry practical illustration of
the truth of the adaee, by finding the
citizens of that pretty but slow town,
noted for their health, renowned for
their wealth, and courted fol their
wisdom.
| was disturbed from these refcc-
tions by observing that the people
were all going in one direction, and
they hurried forward as if stimulated
by some extraordinary curiosity. ad-
dressed inquiries 10 some of them, but
they were too breathless and in too
great a hurry to make any reply to me.
All they dad was TO point before them
and nod their heads.
Not being able to obtain any salts
faction from them, | determined to fol-
there must be something to be seen.
We advanced at very quick pace
down handsome street, which | af-
wards learned was the chief stree in the
town, called the Graud Rue; the
crowd all the time getting denser, SO
as to render it more difficult to pro-
ceed. We might have gone a mile,
perhaps, when the street suddenly
opened into large square; this square
was densely packed with a great mob.
The most distracted noise and confus-
on prevailed, but saw nothing there,
raised on a platform at the farther end
Of the square, that engaged my whole
attention. and made my blood feel as if
it were turned into ice
1t was a guillotine
Yes, there was the hideous frame
work, painted black, that | had seen
once before at the Place du Trome III
Paris At the moment | turned my
eyes on this instrument of death.
man was engaged oiliRg the grooves,
and to enable him to do it more con-
veniently, the knife was lowered half
way down between the two posts, and
the morning sun made the blade gilt
ter, rendering 1t easily to be distin-
guished by the whole multitude.
Although | had before seen an ex-
ecution, and was well aware of the pain
full effect it had upon my mind for
months. morbid curiosity impelled me
to remain and see the conclusion of the
tragedy. | had not to wait long a
neighborlng bell began to toll, and a
cart made its appearance bearing the
criminal. He appeared to take mat
ters very easy, and when | first sa"
him, he was conversing gaily with the
two gendarmes who accompanied him.
He was smoking a cigar, and glanced
around at the multitude with the most
perfect nonchalance. The populace,
when they saw him, raised a yell of ex-
eeration palpable sneer was the on
ly reply he deigned to make.
He ascended the steps leading to the
scaffold with an easy gate, and turning
sharply round to the mob, stood a min
ute OF two with his arms folded, and
foot advanced as if defying them. He
glanced at them a look of unutterable
scorn. and muttered between his tsett
the Eord 'Canaille.'
1t Ees during this minute or two tha
/ had tu.e to make a note of his ap
pearanee. He seemed to be about thir
iy-6ye years of age. He was tall anc
powerfully built. but his features wer'
the very epitome Of v'lla!ny. His eye
were dark and large, surmounted b,
bushy eyebrows. He wore long nous
= tache which extended far beyong hi
cheeks Every bad passion seemed t
be expressed in his face, In fact hi
eountenance might be called perfect.
devilish. An involuntary shudder RAJ
through me as | gazed upon it.
He resigned himielt into the hands
of the executioner, and in few min
utes all was over When the tim