St. Landry democrat., 1878-11-09
Wind TEN sion.
THE MENTAL DEAD-POINT, AND HOW IT
Is EXPLAINED.
Thu .oni,n ,,,u.<r anvs.

The London LaiceJ snys:
1t is Il common subject OF marvel that
criminals in presence of Immediate exc
cution are usually self-p,>sessed. and
often exhibit singular compnsure. The
doomed creature sleeps through the
night before his vinient death, and rises
composed to pass through the ordeal.
The exceptions to this rule are few, and
there il no reason 10 suppose that the
individuals who display greater en,"-
tim, OF who are plnstrated hy the agon-
izing prospect Of death, feel their posi-
ton more acutely than those who pre-
serve contrul OF their demtanor. 1t is
a prevalent but g,oundlesS error to sup
pose that the state of mind i'll which
most capital offenders meet their doom.
is one ot scarce OF paralyzing amaze
ment. They retain every faculty. taste,
consideration and even fancy. They
frequently give Tokens of especial
thougIttulness, and are pnnctilious in
the observance Of rules and the attnp-
ton of measures to minimize their own
pain, aud the trouble and sympathetic
suffering OF those Ivy hnm they are
surrounded, or who will be eft hurdened
with their memories. Mentally and
phy sicallv the criminal, during the last
few hours OF his life, in the imnrsliat.
presence Of Il cruel death, is self pos
sessed aud tranquil. His pulse is eyri.
less disturbed tiian those of the ntf!c!nl-
who are compelled to take part in his
execution. Why is tlnS7 Tie answer
viii! he ohvioIs on retl>.ctinn. The mind
has reached what may be designated Il
dead point" in lis tension. The tX-
citen,ent il over, the agony of untici
patton, the trembling doubt between
irnpe and fear of escape has exhausted
the ir,itability of the mind, and There
il, its We're, IL pause, an Interval nf pas
sive endurance htt Wstn the tU,t of the
struggle for life, and the bitterness 0i
rttiIur>e ami agony of disappointment
hiCi may M.gin at death. In tins i'll
terval tue mind is released from tho
tension of it's effort for self fprc>,rva-
tion, aud almost rrlmundS with th'
senre ef relief that c,n,"~ with certain
fv, even thnugh the ASSURANCE h4 tfia
"f impending death. lu the pause th'r
j. time and opportunity for the rtrog.
nitiDu ut surrounding rrcHMStanr~
which have t'ern, us it were, o,erl""ked
in the yt;trnilg for life. Tie cirasnrS>
of mental Vision, tile cOgiZ luce at de-
tiaI displayed III sucl, Il nIn:lrut, :s't T.
nIrkai, IT, DDG only oh account "t th'
strange circumstances under hich t:Ir,
occur, but in degree. M-n and women
ho hsye for some time previously cx-
bliated no trAre of t!elicAry or reiinr-
n+nt, txhibit characteristic traits "i
tnnughttulness. They are, SO +" eay.
lifted our of themselves, and placed III
pew cuh,;liinns, calculated to nWnkc,
feelings ~. rulvtrsy, which seldom tai;
to rrspou,.. The lnrutal state ut q Grim
inai during tIIr hours prrceenlng exrrn-
ton pres,.,iIs fc;,tnres nf Intense iute,
est TO tho psychologists, aud, rightly
c"mprelendtd, it is to I've feared the,
would throw new light on the supposed
preparation these unfortunate persM>
evince for fate which. being inevita-
bic, they at HE final moment are at,lr
to meet with u compnsure in-:wlici.
liypocraey nr self-deccption fluids the
amplest scope.