The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-11-24
THE IDOLS or DELAWARE.

THE IDOLS or DELAWARE.
THERE is now at the oiice of TIE EVENING TELB-
GRAPH for the inspection OF the curious, a work or
art such as could scarcely have been produced in
any other than n sembarbarous state of society,"
and yet it has ali the essentials art Of the very
highest grade for the artist has evidently put his
whole soul into the execution OF the work, and IL
expresses all that he intended The best effort OF
the most finished sculptor could do more than
this, and in this performance we have brought
before our eyes, in a manner at once edifyng and
suggestive, proof OF the state of civilization at
place not more than forty miles from Philadelphia.
On Saturday last took place the usual half-yearly
sacrifice at the shrine OF St. Pory, and the usually
quiet town OF New Castle treated to the exhibit
ton it so fondly admires There, just between the
Episcopal and Presbyterian churches which point
their spires to heaven, seeming to indicate that
Christ anity has some foothold in Delaware, stands
Delawares idol that Christianity las not yet been
able to overthrow. Indeed, Delaware may be said
to be joined to her idol for while the entire press OF
the United States was condemning the barbarsms or
St. Pilory, she took down the bloOd-stained whip
png-post that had stood for so many years IN the
jai-yard, and erected dcfantly in its place.
The wood OF the old whlppng-post was eagerly ap-
propriated in bits by the faithful relics and the
work of art now In our possession ia iilade of some
of the splinters. The artist is prisoner in the New
Castle jail, and OF the victims who have suffered
under the lash OF the Sheriff OF New Castle
county. This, therefore, is no idle effort
of fancy, but u stern reality, that tells
the story OF the whipping post and pillOry in
graphic manner than any words can do 1t is re-
presentation i'll miniature OF the New Castle whip
ping post and plllory, with couple of offenders
against Delaware law confined neck and hands,
while below the Sherr is Operating" the back OF
victim. One of the most remarkable features OF
this specimen Of Delaware art is the resemblance
the figures bear to these hldeous grotesquc idols
that pOus missionaries are fond OF bringing home
from Africa and the South Sea Islands, to snow
to Sunday School children for the purpose OF
impressing them with horror OF heathenism. We
especially admire the figure of the Sheriff, which Is
evidently taken from life and the artist has exeR-
cised all his ability in the attempt to represent the
ferocous features OF this minister of the law. The
Sheriff ID certainly q success, whatever may be
thought of the other figures. lie looks more
than half ashamed OF his work, as If
there were about half dozen reporters looking ON
to inform the civilized world exactly how he laid on
every stroke, and at the same time there is wicked
expression about his eyes and fierce twist in his
beard, if he would be particularly delighted If he
could only get chance to swing his cat over the
backs OF all the editors and reporters who have
united in denouncing the Delaware instrument of
torture. All Of our readers have heard of the whip
ping post and pOry, but few OF them, happily have
ever seon them in operation. Even those who are
curious the subject cannot very well make trip
to New Castle whenever the semi-anuual perform
ance comes OIL, and for the benefit, therefore, OF
those who desire to see for themselves exactly what
the Delaware whpping-post and pillory looks like,
the model we have referred to be inspected at
this office for few days.
The denunciatons of the whlppng-post system
which have taken place bJ the press all over the
country have been bitterly resented 10y the people Of
Delaware; and the old cry OF the prO-slavery advo-
Gates, 'let alone" is repeated with all due yehe-
mence. But the eyes Of the civilized world are on
Delaware; her whipping-p post is an orense against
civilization; it is nuisance to all the neghborlng
States, who have to receive and support the crmi-
mails that are driven her borders by the lash
OF the sheriff, because her people are too mean to
build penitentiary and take care of them in
proper manner; and it is impossible that we should
let Delaware alone until she aboshes the whipping
post and becomes civilized like her nelghbors There
are people in Delaware who are heartily ashamed OF
her criminal code and who are agitating with good
effect to have it done away WITH but as yet they
in the minority and the worshippers of st. Pllory
are too strong to be Overthrown. Delaware moves
slowly, and conservatism has fast hold, In the
lower counties especially; bus Delaware is too small
to withstand for any great time the pressure OF pub
lie opinion and the day cannot be far distant when
the whippng-post will follow slavery and other
denominations.