The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1875-03-18


the head in it's soft. embalmed state on
the block, flattened the nose. on one side.
making it adhere to the face. The hair
grows promiscuously about the face, and
the beard. stained to exactly the same
color by the embalming liquor, is tucked
up under the chin, with the oakcn staff
of the spear with which the head was
stuck up on Westminster Hall, which
staff is perforated by worm that never
attacks oak until it has been for many
years exposed to the weather.
The iron spearhead, where it protrudes
above the skull, is rusted away by the &C.
ton of the atmosphere. The Jagged way
in which the top of the skull is removed
throws us back to time when surgery
was in its infancy, while the embalming is
so beautifully done that the cellular pro.
cess Of the gums and the membrane of
the tongue are still to be seen. Several
teeth are yet in the mouth; the membrane
of the eyelid remains; the pia-mater and
the dura-mater, thin membranes, which,
clinging to their inner and upper part Of
the skull. The brain was, of course, re-
moved, but the compartments are very
distinct. When the great sculptor, Flax
man, went to see it he said at once, ''You
will not mind my expressing any disap.
pointment may feel on seeing the head!
.sOh, no." said Mr.. Wilkinson, ''but will
you tell me what are the characteristics
by which the head might be recognized!''
'sWell," replied Flaxman, Il know
great deal about the configur-
alton of the head Of
Oliver Cromwell He had a low, broad
forehead, large orbits to the eyes, high
septum to the nose, and high cheek
bones; but there is one feature which
will be with me crucial test, and that is
that, instead Of having the lower jaw-bone
somewhat curved, it was particularly
ort and straight, and set out at an
angle, which gave him jowlish appear
ance.' The head answered exactly to
the description, and Flaxman went away
expressing himself as convinced and de-
lighted.
The head has also length from the
forehead to the back of the head which
is quite extraordinary, and one day, be-
fore Mr.. Wilkinson retired from practice
his assistant called him into the surgery
to point out to him how exactly the
head Of lad who was there as patient
reese mbled the embalmed head of Crom-
well upstairs, and more particlarly in the
extreme length between the forehead and
the occiput.
Mr.. Wilkinson mentioned the circum-
stance to the gentlemen who brought the
lad to him. mo WONDER" said the gen.
tleman, "'for this lad is direct descen-
dant Of Oliver Cromwell, whose name,
like this boys was we'll 1t was curious
that this type should reappear or remain
after so many years.
When the head was in the possession of
Samuel Russell, he was frequently intox-
icated when he showed it to his friends.
and then cut off pieces of the hair, until
the head was closely cropped.
A correspondent in the Globe of the
oSth of September, or thereabouts. be-
lievcd that the body of Cromwell, after
removal from the Abbey, was buried in
Red Lion Square, and another body sub
stituted and sent on to Tyburn with
Ireton and Bradshaw. Bat it is not prob
able that they coulG have obtained an
embalmed body for the purpose.
The embalmcd head is now in the pos.
session of Mr.. Horace Wilkinson, Seven
oaks. Kent.
There is a small hole where TIE wart
was on his forehead, and the eyebrows
met in the middle. The head has the
appearance of hard, dry leather.