The Democratic advocate., 1876-01-15
WESTMINSTER, MD. SATURDAY, JANUARY Is, 1875.

siShe VI ~ tehT, pftPdieu chfVnie
nightmare for me, and nearly gave the rest
Of the party the Mysteries.
The prison is named after this instru-
ment Of death; or at least it came to be so
called; for no one that entered the cell
containing the ''iron maiden was ever
seen again. The people at that tiue were
kept 10 happy ignorance Of the nature Of
this young woman; but they knew her to
be very malignant, for her victims never
reaPPeared.
70 get to this dread being We had to 60
through seven narrow dark passages, shut
of from each other by tremendous iron
doors; and the guide was Obliged to light
a number Of lamps along the way to keep
our spirit up, until at last We reached the
little cell at the very extremity Of the
prison, aud deepest under ground. The
walls were crusted with mould, and the
ground damp and slippery; no ray Of light
had ever penetrated there, aud no one en-
tering that room in past centuries-excep-
ting, Of course, the masked executioners
ever came out to tell its horrors to the
world. In the middle Of the cell rose up
a tall figure, grim and ghOstly by the flick
ering light of the torch the guide held; and
our party drew near with faces much resem-
bling those elongated visages in the picture
gallery walls, at which We were laughing
so heartily few hours before.
The figure proved to be the iron statue
of woman enveloped in cloak, which
covered her head, and hung down to the
floor, leaving only her face exposed; fine
featured, handsome face. The whole fig
ure was covered with rust, and glistened
with water, which came oozing out Of every
crcvice in the cell. The guide marched
up othe figure, and, pulling open the two
sides of the cloak, which proved to be two
doors, disclosed the inside Of this immense
statue, 1t would just hold person, and
was lined with iron spikes, which bristled
from the doors and back in terrifying mum
bers. Opposite the doors was machine
for grinding them slowly, shut upon the
miserable victim, who was run through in
every part Of his body. Under the figure
was a trap door, which, in order to pass
away the last moments of the criminal
pleasantly the executioners opened and let
the body down upon dozen or more sharp
knives which revolved, and cut the already
mutilated remains into atoms. The guide
opened the door, aud threw down pie,e
Of lighted paper to show us that this hor-
ror was really there. How thankful | am
that live in an age when they only hang
people or cut their heads off. 1t is non
sense for people to say that choice in a
death Of violence could make but little
difference. fancy that those who have
seen these old machines would esteem q
choice an inostinable privilege for one who
had to suffer by them.
You can imagine with what alacrity We
ran up the old, worn stone steps leading tc
daylight, and what long breath of fresh
air we took upon reaching it once more
We went from the prison up to the castle
to visit the interior, and were conducted
over the building by two of the house ser
wants, who showed us first the picture
gallery, of course, where / was greeted
with long array of my beloved portraits
of woodeny old kings, who stared malici
ously at me from their silded frames but
| rushed into the next room and found
some rather interesting pictures there
porcelains, Jas-reiiets, and many quainI
things. The living rooms came next il
order, and were very pretty, especially 1
reception room furnished in oak and black
walnut deliberately carved;it thorough
ly modern apartment, for in one cornel
stood beautiful grand piano, in two kind'
of wood, carved, and quite fresh and new
A writingdesk, inlaid with pearl and ivory
was in the same room. One of the bed
chambers was fitted up in very old style
with antique furniture and hangings ant
in one Of the wall panels was a mysterious
door;slcadihg to a secret staircase, whicl
pleased me greatly. There were man,
other rooms Of which We took passin.
inventory, and then descended to tn,
lower part of the castle to look at som,
more of those charming Instruments o
torture with which this city seems t,
abound. The ghastliness Of the scene wal
greatly dissipated this time, however, al
the room was we'll lighted by large win
dows, and the machines" hung on tn,
wall like an artistically arranged collection
of ancient armor or curious weapons
Then, too, a woman, a sort of Jean dare
showed them to us, with running accom-
paniment Of Information.
Romance fed. But the instrument
remained. They were mostly small ii
size, but intended to be extremely aggra
waiting There were irons to tear Of nails
pull out tongues, cut off ears and claw
to hold the eyelids open, with irons t,
scar out the eyes, thumb-screws, and every
thing with which to perform such innocent
and amusing deeds.
| wonder If the inventors Of these me
chanical monstrosities patented and mad
fortunes out Of them, like the 'geniuses
OF the present day2
In the middle of the courtyard aroun,
which the castle is built we noticed a grea
lime-tree, which was planted seven hun