St. Landry democrat., 1880-04-24
Capital Punishment i'm Africa.
IN. o. DeInOcrat.l

count Of the mode practced by the AL
Quadjis, a small tributary off shoot of the
great and powerful Dejour tribe in Cen
trail Africa, will, doubtless, be of interest,
although it is not likely that it will be
adopted in the United States for more
than one reason. The malefactor con-
dem ned to die is bound to post firmly
driven into the ground in an open space
where no trees afford Il shade, and is
there slowly roasted to death, not by
any artificial means, involving waste
of fuel, but by the natural heat of the
suns rays as they reach the earth in its
tropical regions. To protract his stuff
eriDgs and to avert his too speedy end
by sunstroke the ingenious Al-Quadjis
cover their erring compatriot's head
with fresh green leaves, which effectu-
ally shield his brain from the fiery darts.
No such protection is, however, accor-
ded to his body, which gradually dries
up, shrinks together and ultimately be-
walton is open to the roasting man. If
cloud pass between the sun and his
place of torment he is at once cast loose
from his post and becomes the object
OF popular reverence as a mighty
magician in whose behalf the supernat-
ural powers have deigned to intervene.
But it is remarked that clouds seldom
interfere with the administration Of
justice on the days of public executions
by the Al-Quadjis authorities, in which
respect these African clouds differ
materially from the average State
executive in this country, especially on
the eve of a new election. No doubt
the people of Texas, who are complain
ing of their Governors communications
of the death penalty would find it advis-
able to incorporate the law OF the AL
Quadjis in their criminal code.
A decided case of the ruling passion
strong in death is told in an old book of
sporting anecdotes, to the effect that
once upon time a famous huDtsman,
of the suggestive name of Fox, being at
the point of death addressed letter to
was gone his silver-mOunted whip, with
old Merrilas and her litter of pups en-
graved upon the handle, should be
presented to our sporting parson, DIR.
Dasher, upon condition that he will
preach funeral sermon over me from
the text "Foxes have holes" In addi-
ton, the dying wielder of the horn
Enclosed a copy of his own suggested |
epitaph, in the following terms: "Here
lies Tim0th Fox, who was unkennelled
at seven O'Clock q. M, upon November
5, 1868 and having availed himself Of
many shifts through the chase of life,
but being at last unable to get into any
hole or crevice, was run down by Captain
Deaths bloodhounds, Gout, Rheuma-
tism, Dropsy, Catarrh, Asthma and
Consumption
Jules Favre was asked by baroness
once to be her counsel in divorce case.
He refused, it being then a rule with
him to have nothing to do with sepera-
tions. She burst into. tears, told him
couldn't even pay if he did take charge
OF her case. Then he asked for the
papers, promising to study and return
them in day or two. When the time
was up, he said he would take charge
of it, and handed her an envelope con-
tanning five notes of a thousand francs ,
each, telling her not to open it until she ,
got home. He was SO eloquent in plead
ing as to gain the case, and thereafter
made a specially of divorce cases, in
which he became known as the most !,
eloquent lawyer in France.
Philadelphia is almost the only CITY in !
this country which has increased its !
debt instead Of diminishing it, since :
1878, and Philadelphia, it is worth re- :
political corruption is all on one side, is
the only large city in which Republic
can city government has had control
during this period. In 1870 the debt |
was but $40, 401 1888 it is now sos ,031, /
about three fourths the debt Of New f
Y ork city less its sinking funds, and the a
Third largest city debt in the world, G
Paris ranking first. First and last the 0
city ring has thrown a
away, or stolen, at o rough estimate, Q
$40. as the New York ring from 1866 to t
.a7l. +