, 1880-12-26

t shoot wall;lbies in the scrub till evening. The
latter amusement we tried also, but, like
hars-shooting Z at home It soon paledt: -, fet J.
! worse than earn his wages as a kangaroo
hunter in Australia
A "NATIONAL RAZOR"
| History and Description Of a Doctors
Deadly Contr1vancc-EkoxE 1t Does Ita
Deadly Work-Some Memorable Vic
Tins.
| Edtnburg SsotsYnan-
Tho adoption of the guillotine was pro
| claimed in France, March, 1703, aud the first
| execution by the new machine took place Oh
| the following 25th Of April, the subject being
| a highway robber, and the little affair passed
off quite satisfactorily, too satisfactory, in
decd. for the revolution fell In love with the
smooth-working headchopper, and from the
9Th Ut April, 17}, to the 2sth Of July, l794 (lt
TAer1nidor, AnnolD executions to the awful
number of 2,6o5 took place. The "mill OF
silence" ground out Its bloody grist morn
ing, noon, and night; the national razor ~
shayed rici, and poor alike freely, and the
eullotue was made goddess Of the revolu-
I journal Lies Revolutions de Paris, Sept
s. 1sa.), it is recounted that In several hotels
OF Paris the artstocrats, WHO saw themselves
doonled, killed time, by having little
dessert. Little dolls, made to, represent the
| chief magistrates, were then beheadcd, and
when the head was off red. perfumed
| liquid issued from the body,-a bottle,--into
| which all dipped their finest handkerchiefs.
Though at first there was some attempt made
| to connect the name of DR.. Louis with his
machine, and it was dubbed Mile. Louise
BY many, the unpleasant association Of Or.
Guillotin's na1ne with the fr1ghtful toy
gradually BECAME universal. The Assembly
| man was seized with q profound chagrin
when he saw to what a horrible use the
machine, which he had advocated through
motives of humanity, was put During the
reign of terror he was himself imprisoned as
Robesplerre.
DR.. Guillotin has written an autobiography,
but 1t is q significant fact that of the machine
which bears his name not word Is men-
toned, so odious has the name become to
him. One would think the descriptions OF
the manner in which the executions are con-
ductcd in France would be ready at hand.
and 50 they are, only it is the patient. and
attention. At last after long search, a mi,
mute and careful description of the national
machine was found i'll q comparatively old
number Of the Repte tles DeuE Mondes,
that description the following condensed
translation is made: The scaffold, says Du
Camp, is nearly square, heing four metres by
three metres eighty ccntlmetres, raised from
the ground tive ;2 metres by for6 IT. pests 4ost4 and
now done away with, and the scatfold
lies on a level with the ground.
At two.thirds OF its length rise
thu, parallel posts, four metres higl'
b. a eros ss-piece called the, cap. To the cap
is fixed the knife, COMPOSED of triangular
blade Of steel, sharp as q razor, and riveted
to heavy leaaen rack, like the ra1nmer Of .
plle-tiriyer. The rammcr is thirty-tiye cent?
OF one metre FROM tue floor OF the scnftold
two planks are set between the uprlgh4ts,
each to have a. semi-circular opening: The
bton plank IS xed out S uRpep Gno
manner that when the two CONG together
lunet or fui-m6on Is formed. Between the
uprights and the entrance to the scatfold Is
found a bascnle,-.a narrow plank directly in
the middle in see-saw fashion. In repose la
bascule Is upright, but a single gesture Of
propulsion throws It forward and horizontal.
In descending it falls on 2 solid table which
and, being fitted with rollers, runs very
rapidly with these on the table in the direc-
tion of the lnnet At the right Of the table,
and held to it by hinges, an Inclined plane
the edge Of an enormous " illow basket; lined
the lunet, on the bascule side, lies an, OBJ
long trough, while before the upright there
is placed sort Of of g }na that II 6y
the head escapes his hand. 1t falls therein,
and does not roll upon the scatfold. All the
machine is painted Of disagreeable, dull red
color. The baScule is fitted with leather
are very seldom used. The upper half-moon
drops down very quickly BY simply pressinga
button. The knife with IFS leaden setting Is