River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1882-06-22

these illusions of friendliness. An I'M
fortunate wretch, all rags and patches,
his cheeks followed from long fasting,
was struggling in the clutches OF some
half dozen persons.
~ have caught him !" screeched a
female voice. HE was attempting to
steal the yenison pasty sent for James
Dux !"
Gentlemen, if you please, ladies, "
gasped the poor beggar. Il have not
tasted food for two days, and-I never
murdered anybody"
He was flung neck and crop out OF
the room.
A negro domestic here entered and
announced to Mr.. Dux that dinner was
served in the adjoining apartment.
The company filed out into the dining
room OF the governor of the Jail, which
had been amiably placed, together with
the governors plate and French cook,
at the disposed of the prisoner and his
friends for the occasion.
The condemned man took his sta
ton in the seat of honor, Judge Black
stone ON his right, and the district at
torney on his left. A popular preacher
of Talnadge type said grace before
meat, and made an impromptu prayer,
in the course of which he introduced
some eloquent illusions to the cere-
mony of the following day.
Mr.. Dux ate heartily and drank CO.
piously, and burst into frequent explo-
sions of humor, which were vastly adj
mired by the guests. The roast was a
veritable banquet in its Righteousness,
and fete in its joyous spirit. Several
effective selections of music were per-
formed during the course on harmo-
MUM by the leader of the popular
preach er's choir. After the coffee
came liquors stronger than wine, and
with them came the toasts. The short
est and most delicate of those was
given by the twin brother of George
Brown in the following neat speech
'Ladies and Gentlemen: Our ur-
bane and much to be regretted friend
James is on the eve of his departure.
May the detection of his leave-taking
be softened and may his pains be
abridged"
Dux got on his legs, and in robust
voice Responded as follows:
Ladies and Gentlemen: This shall
ever look upon as the happiest and
the proudest moment in my career. Its
rem embrance shall not quit me till my
dying hour. In many former period
of my existence / was cast down by
disappointment and often almost gave
way to despair. Little did | then i'm
agine that / should one day have this
honor. 1t was furthest from my hopes
that l should have the pleasure of be-
ing entertained by such distinguished
circle, until gave that rooster Brown,
his pass-out checks for the other side
of Jordon. The death of that miser-
able sinner has made new man of
me, so to speak, with second life.
From the moment my sentence was
pronounced by my friend, the judge
here, / felt myself another being-in-
deed, l may safely say without boast
ing, that should have lived in ignor-
ance of the joys one feels in the con-
seriousness of being good. unless / had
undertaken the job which procures me
the novelty of being strangled to NOR
row. Oh, my friends, would that you
were all in the ranks of the just like
your humble servant. 1t is pleasant
and profitable thing, guess, to be
awakened to the truth, to read pious
tracts, and eat spring chickens and can
vas-back ducksl Personally, | can af-
firm that forgive all who have had part
in my murder. | haven't an ounce of
luminosity in my composition against
any of you. If / were let go free to-
morrow | would not hurt hair of the
head of an unborn babe. No, indeed,
I would notl But tomorrow | shall
be at home, and my business prospects
will be brighter than those o. any citi-
zen in these states. Yes, tomorrow |
will be walking arm in arm with the
prophets-to-morrow l would not ex-
change my log cabin in Zion for the
white house at Washington. From
the golden side of the clouds | shall
cast an eye of pity on you, poor sinners,
down here below, in the depths of this
vale of tears. 1t is not for you to at
tain to the glory shall have reached,
for you have done nothing TO entitle
you to the recompense. Nevertheless.
/ pardon you all, pardon the judge, |
pardon the jury, pardon the witness
es, who, by their dispositions, have
BEEN the cause of my premature disso-
luton. even pardon the contempt.
BILE old rooster, George Brown himself.
There isn't an atom of resentment in.
my SOUL"
Everybody was melted to tears.
Here is saint" said the popular
preacher.
AS for the Judge, his emotion was SO
great that he had to hide it IN nap
kin behind a barricade of four empty
bottles of California wine.
AS left the room after this valedic-
tory banquet could hear the clergy
man recommending those who had OBJ
tanned reserved seats for the execution
to come early, and not to fail to bring
their children with them, as the sight
was sure to be edifying.