The New Orleans Democrat. (New Orleans, La.) 1875-1876, 1876-01-29
81. I'atrick's Fair.

| Last night st. Patrick's Hall wore an appear
ance Of gayety and mcrrinent II was tho open
| Ing OF 81. Palrick's Fair. Tho various tables
were decorated In exquisite taste and the ladies
presiding were tho faireat of tho fair Entering
the hall. we FIRST observed ''St Theresa's Table
! adorned with overgreons and cotton. presenting
| "A most striking appearance. we cannot wonder
at this when We know that tho ladies who pro-
| side arc Mrs. Domingo and Miss O'llara.
Then the Hiberniau Branch No. 1 " Table in
| eharge of Mrs. Tilbury and Conway and Miss
0rayer
"st. Alphonsus Table was ono conspieously
decorated in u manner which did ample credit 10
those connected with it, and whose labors have
been crowned with success. Mrs. Fitzgerald pre-
sided. while Miss McCollough her assistant,
| throw Il ray Of sunshine around tho table.
Tho Irish American presided over by Mrs.
Mcmahon and Misses Alexander and Burns, WIS
worthy Of note.
Conspicuous among tho attractions was the
Crescent Table" at tho head Of tho hail. over
which Mrs. Gilmore and Iorwig reigncd. The
Centennial. In charge of Mrs. Thad Waterman
| and Mrs. Dr. Folwell adorned with our native
palmetto. presented quito nm attractive appear
ancc while the Southern Star stand Of Mrs. DR..
Briekoll and Mrs. WENDELL was faultIessly ar
ranged. ''St. Patrck's Table eano in. too. for
u liberal amount of praise. being decorated In u
most tasteful manneri In green tarIetan and pre-
sided over by Mrs. Houston.
And last. though not least. TINT cosy and
unique bower. tho PostoiIice." where lovers
sought TO hayes thoir fatos decided by some
anonymous missyo written by tho charming
postnistress Miss Adilo Townsend. who reigned
supreme in her little kingdom.
Take 1t all in all we predict for vt. Patrck's
Fair grand success. and only trust that our
prediction may bo verified
ia man must be hanged, the sooner
the revolving work Is over the better for
him and the operators. The law Is not
reycngeful. All it wishes to do In the
case OF culprit whose death 1t has com
manded Is to get him out OF the way.
| The usual means Is by hanging him by
the mock until he is dead, but the length
Of time that he may hang before he is
dead, depends largely upon the skill and
humanity OF the executioner. To stran-
gle man with rope, when death may
| be instantaneously produced by break
| ing his neck, Is barbarous. Professor
Haughton, of the University OF London.
has been looking into the subject, and
says m, !, .a,,;.bo
convict's life by sufYocation is inhuman-.
ly painful, unnecessarily prolonged, and
revolving to the spectators whose duty
1t is to be present. 2. That the object OF
an effective execution by suspension
should be the immediate rupture OF the
spinal column by the fall. B. That the
use of long drop Is not only much
preferable from humanitarian point Of
view, but is the only method by which
the desired object can be effectively at
tanned. 4. That the short fall and the
position of the knot employed for so
many years by Caloraft are barharisms
which should cease to be permitted.
| s. That the fracture of the spinal col
umn can hest be instantaneously effect
ed by placing the knot under the ohin
and allowing a fall Of at least ten feet.
| 6. That in the carrying out OF a capital
sentence care should be exercised in the
selection of suitable rope. In the ex-
ecation Of Henry Wainwright it would
seem from the published accounts that
these principles were adopted by,Mar-
wood, the executioner, and with perfect
success, and that the instantaneous rup-
ture of the spine resulted from placing
the khoe under the culpFit's china po-
sition which was unintentlonaI in Mont
gomery's case, butwas purposely adopt
ed IN Wainwright's."