The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1869-04-06


istsnoe as matter q fact Al e1ela-
nation in 40 Ordinary tone of voice,
upon ars, being shot, a request made
10 oomrade to bs helped cut Of the
way, add sigh o. two. loag drawn, as
the breath leaves the body. sum up the
noise made by the dying from wounds
received in battle.
Ths mere act u dying is seldom. in
any sense o. tbe word. painful proc
eaA. II is true that some persons die
in state Of bodily torture, as in the
case Of 'rtaw that the drunkard dy-
ing OF d,iiriam trrmeas is haunted by
terrific visions; and that the victim Of
that most horrible OF All diseases, by
drophobia, in addition TO those Pecul-
iar bodily EuiFerings from which the
disease derives its name. may be in a
state Of terror from the supposed pres
snce of frightful objects. which are pre-
sented to him as realities. even TO the
last Bnt the general rule is, beyond
all doubt, that both mental aud bodily
suferings terminate before the scene is
finally closed.
During the frightlul days Of the
French Revolution, w<sheads fell by
scores every day, aud the very gods
seemed athirst, there was a popular be-
iet that sensibility remained for long
er or shorter time after decoliation. 1t
Was said that blush suflused the cheek
Of Charlotte Corday, that the eyes Of
Madame Roland, which were large and
expressive, opened as il with sense Of
surprise; and that the lip Of Philip Egg
alite curled in unmistakable scorn when
his head was held mp to the multitude.
Analogy between his r pu Q retention
Of sensibility in the trunkless head and
the locomotion OF fowls, after their
heads were of, was attempted to bo
shown. Recent experiments, however,
indicate the idea 10 be a fallacy, as the
following account proves
M Bonnafont had ready near the
guillotine, under which two Arabs were
to be executed, vessels filed with pull
verized plaster, placed on a low table.
His friend, associated in the expert
ment, was provided with small speak
ing trumpet, and sharp pointed probe
At the instant the first head fell it was
placed in one Of the vessels containing
the plaster, in order to arrest hemorrh-
age; the speaking trumpet was then
applied to the ear of the head and the
mans name shouted through it, but
there was neither motion OF the eyellds
nor corrugation OF the brow; the eyes
were dull and motionless, the complex
ion eolorless, the expression Of the face
not indicative of pain. Neither were
the muscles contracted upon being
pierced with the tube, With the sec
ond head the results were the same
The syncope induced by the section Of
the large arteries instantly produced
death ~
1t was the old belief, handed down 10
us from the grim creeds Of the middle
ages, that religious faith alone disarm-
ed death Of its terrors. There is no
doubt that firm reliance on God as
our Father, which is the great truth
taught by Jesus, gives equipoise 10 the
mind 1t does SO alike in health and
sickness; but it neither creates nor re-
moves the fear OF death. That feur,
happily, is Independent Of religious
moods or faiths. At the decadence Of
the powers1n old age; upon a sudden
attack Of q fatal epidemical disea Sc
after the occurrence of a sudden death
to relation or acquaintance; or when
discovery is made OF mortal disease
within the system, the influence of re-
ligion to calm the feelings cannot be de-
med. But it is rarely perceptiole when
death is actually impending Whether
il comes to the old, who are ready,
Like ripe fruit. TO drep
Into the mothers lap"
or to the Lefevre OF Stearne where the
soldier, after the tongue is silent,
"looks Rrst at bis son and then at my
uncle Toby" TO those who retain oil
their faculties, or others who make 10
sign, the dread is removed and the
change welcomed
In regard 70 The premonitions Of
death there is ample room FOR skepti-
cisn. The discnse Of Fletcher, which
caused him TO send for sculptor aud
order bis tomb; tho salutatioL Of Wo,-
sep TO the Abbot Of Leicester. drama
tized by the great master, the predio-
ton Of the renowned coniestor, Philip
Howard. Earl Of Arundel; the whining
cant 81 Foole, when Weston died
Soon shalt others sAy, poor Foo;e 7
/ the last picture Of Hogarth, which be
entitled the aend d all things, adding
"this is The end and 8 hundred Ike
records q Old biographers, are 70 be re,
garded as merely eniious coincidence
Il not old wives fables John Hunter
said upon this subject. with bis uSual
alNst .. -