The Indianapolis sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1880-1904, 1885-02-26
A srRAN1sF STORY.
Tale CT the GutlIOtine-H Dead Nan
Galked-what He said.
Figaro. Paris.


While travelling IN Europe last spring
spent few weeks Ia Paris. and one nigh
accepted an invi alton TO take dinner at tn ?
house OF 3 physician, Tho, although q
American, has made that city his HON
and has acquired 8 Continental reputa
tioD. When / say that he is
Bsltimoresn, and that he spent sever
81 years in the service OF q foreign
potentate now 10 exile and disgrace, from
whom he received the title which be bears,
my readers can form a sbrewd guess 20 h;s
identity. The company ! was asked to meet
wss q very distinguished one. There vas
United States Senator from New YORK State,
a member Of the French Senate who held al
important position at the CO IT OF Napoleon
III, bat bad nov thrown N his fortunes
with the Republic; q celebrated Eaglish
novelist, lannon's comedian from the The
alter FFanoaiss and a member Of the Ac3d-
envy of Sciences whose works on
psy cholOgy are known al over Europe.
It will thus be seen how pleasant the gath
ering must have been, and how, under The
genial influence Of oar hosts ch Jiee Bar
eun6y, the conversation spread ever q wide
heid IN literature, srt and science. Natu-
rally ii Crlfted into Gbstruse psychological
subjects. anG the fact that several Of the
guests were matefislists did not prevent the
starting Of 3 discussion on the forms of
> mind aud matter, and the possibility Of a
=
Ct life hiss left the body
Instances Eere cited as having been re-
corded BY witnesses in which, after serpents
ard cells had been cut into small portions
and the vital paris seemingly destroyed, the
variOus portions seemed still 20 be endowed
him in his cell in the prison OF La Concierge.
The interview was q long one. The young
maD-'S. We will call him-was brave aud
Eonchalant, and after q long metaphysical
argument, my grandfather said to him: L
have long wanted to prove If unconscious
ness and the ability to act remain any time
after death. Let me make this proposition ::
| win be present and near you at your exc
cutiOn TO morrow, my profession and my re.
lRtiOn to the Committee Of Safety give me
unusual privileges. The moment your head
falls into the basket ] viii lift it up. and if
sou know me and still have the
power Of action you will close your left
eve three times The doomed man laugh
ingiy agreed, the COMPACT wes sealed,
and the two friends babe each other
an sffeotionats farewell. Morning dawued
on the prison, and IS each victims number
was read out he took his place IN the tum-
bril- and was carried to the scene Of his eX-
ecutiOn. The young Engiishman was there;
so was my grandfather Head after head
fell. Then came the turn of s. Re placed
his head beneath the knife which flashed
downward, and the head dropped into the
basket. My grandfather could hardly re-
press shudder. bat true 10 MS promise aud
bis thirst for knowledge, he picked it up and
held the face to him. A film seemed to be
gathering over his eyes, but suddenly the
lett eve closed, then opened. DID his senses
deceive him2 No 1t closed again. Once
more il opened; again il closed; il opened
again. The experiment was complete"