Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1872-05-14

lady" was Hendricks adopted daugh-
ter. She knew nothing of her putative
fathers profession. There was also "a
young gentleman" at the Prince Impe-
riaPs Lycee, near Vanves. Before the
master of the house returned, the gar
rulous crone managed to enlighten us as
to his domestic arrangements, and the
manner in which he was summoned from
his household gods to discharge his pub
lie functions. A lancer brought him
the summons from the Parquet invaria-
bly, at nine in the evening. Horrible
detail-when the fatal missive was re-
ceived, the headman, after ordering
solid repast for three in the morning, in
order to strengthen his nerves, went into
the coach house with an assistant, who
served him for gardener, to operate on
calf, which he kept for the purpose of
rehearsing. The headsman returned,
wearing his official suit of black, and
white cravat. He did the honors of the
coach-house with quiet ease, offered TO
send for a calf, which he said would cost
him nothing, whereupon to test some
recent improvements he had effected in
his instrument. One of the questions
put to him by me, in my assumed char
acter of member of benevolent So
ciety, was, whether he thought the
separated head continued to live
after it rolled into the basket. He
pondered few minutes, as if to
collect his memory, and then related in
stances which went to support an affirm
alive answer. His experience was very
extensive, and he thought he had better
data TO go upon than no matter what
member of the Academy of Sciences.
How many persons had passed through
his hands? One hundred and thirty
ninel For a moment the idea crossed
my mind that Heindrich might be
haunted by the heads of those he had
the most trouble in executing. But he |
appeared so unimaginative, not to say |
coldly stolid, that | half credit what he |
related to us Of woman head making |
a faint effort to spit at him, and the vio-
lent contortions of Orsini's facial mus
cles. Heindrich took a pride in his
thorough knowledge of his business, In
point of fthoroughness-to compare small |
things with great-he was in his way
Moltke. What do you think of an exc
cutioner following Velpeau's lectures to
make himself acquainted with the exact
locality of that point of the spine de-
scribed by French anatomists as the
nRud ritatg On the eve OF Tropmann |
execution NJ. de Paris passed three hours
in the parlor of the Governor of Roquette
prison, chatting ON professional matters
with group OF French journalists. The
conversation happening to turn on
the tortures inflicted on Chinese and
Persian criminals, NJ. de Paris said: "I
have read of what they call in China
the torture of the ten thousands bits of
flesh, which consists of cutting living
man into mince meat But the brutes
engaged to do the work are so grossly |
ignorant that not one of them knows
exactly where to find the joint.
Heindrich obtained the post Of pub
lie executioner Of Paris against 552
competitors. He had fixed salary of
5000 francs a year, qualification D of
$50 francs for every execution, an allow
ance for cabs and calves, and for coffee
and brandy on the mornings on which
he exercised his odious calling. 80
The London Orchestra speaks thus of
the musical glory and shame of Paris:
Paris-the city which owns a good
opera, the city for which Rossini, Mey-
erbeer, Gounoud. Hugo, Sardou, Feuillet,
have written-is also the cradle of
Schneiderism and Thereism, the city in
which Herve has helped to degrade mu-
sic, and Dumas fills has used the stage
for the main drainage of social ethics
The era of the second empire was a
glorious era for the subsidised play
houses; they revelled in their subven-
tons; millions were spent on the exter-
nal beautifying Of the theater; an opera
house was raised which was the wonder
of Europe. With all this, never did
prohigacy in art assume such alluring
tints as under the empire; never did
dramatic vice raise bolder front. The
virtuous Hugoian drama disappeared
Moliere, Racine, Corneille
put in an unwilling appearance because
that was in the agreement, and they
we're compelled; but none cared for
them, the house was empty. The triumphs
Of enterprise were reserved for the
Biche au Bois and the "Chatte
for Chilperic and Belle
for the innumerable dramas IN
RhiehPhryne andPotiphar wifesuppled
all the motive power. The cafe-coneert
'prang into existence; the market hall
attained its worst development, the Fete
IF the Rosiere were made ironical by
he presence of half the wealthy liber-
ines of Paris, and boulevard and bois
Ind theater asserted the contested su-
,remacy of Anonyma. Oh what avail
we're few cold classic models amid such
4upercalia? They exercised no inhu-
nee whatever on the taste of the age.
they were disregarded in the universal
out. There is no such existence as a |
rational morality or national taste apart
rom the sum total of nations habits.
The general condition cannot be quoted
IS distinct from its integers; and the ,
presence of few fine specimens in the I
mass does not qualify the aggregate. q
ialf dozen performances of a classi-
al comedy, and new opera here and
here, no more made what the Compile
'0smoy calls the national glory of
rance" than couple Of vinegar bot d
les made healthy feverstricken neigh
orhood"
Vincennes, Ind, is to have a hotel a
un exclusively by females.
II