Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-04-26
A STRANGE STORY.
Tale Of the GuilIotine- How n Dead Man
TaIkcd-wbst lie Said.

Tnle of the GuilIotine- How n Dead Man
TaIkcd-wbst lie Said.
From Figaro. Paris. January 10. 1881
While travelling in Europe last spring
] spent a few weeks in Paris, and one
night accepted an invitation to take din
ner at the house of a physician, who, al
though an American, has made that city
his home, and has acquired Continental
reputation. When say that he is a
Baltimorean, and that he spent several
years in the service of foreign potentate
now in exile and disgrace, from whom
he received the title which he bears, my
readers can form shrewd guess as to
his identity. The company | was asked
to meet was very distinguished one.
There was a United States senator from
New York State, member of the
French Senate, who held an important
position at the court Of Napoleon H.,
but had now thrown in his fortunes
with the Republic celebrated English
novelist, famous comedian from Thea
tire Franchise, two of the most distin-
guished Of the Forty lmmortals, and
member of the Academy Of Sciences,
whose works on psychology are known
all over Europe. 1t will thus be seen
how pleasant the gathering must have
been, and how, under the genial in
nucnce Of our hosts choice Burgundy,
the conversation spread over a wide
field in literature, art, and science.
Naturally, it drifted into abstruse
psychological subjects, and the fact that
several Of the guests were materialists
did not prevent the starting Of dis
cussion on the forms of mind and mat
ter, and the possibility Of a sentent
condition even after the principle of life
has left the body.
Instances were cited as having been
recorded by witnesses in which, after
serpents and cells had been cut into
small portions and the vital parts SEEM
iDgly destroyed, the various portions
seemed still to be endowed with life and
vitality; and a case was mentioned. |
well-known in medical Jurisprudence, |
IN which man, an inordinate gambler.
who was about TO he beheaded for /
heinous crime, begged as a last request |
TO be allowed to play a game of piquet
with one Of the soldiers who was guard
ing him. The officer in command hu-
mored him, and the game began. Both
were expert players, but just AZ the
doomed man was about to lay down
card which would have settled the con-
test, the officer made sign to the exc
cutioner. That functionary lifted his
sword, and with one stroke severed
the wrctch'S head from his body, and
as the CHASTITY object fell to the ground
the lips were seen to move, and from
them were heard to come, in clear, dis
tinct tones the words. - have won
the game"
Up until this time the member of the
Academy of Sciences, whom / will call
Monsieur ", had been an attentive
listener, but he now interposed and
said 4: " Gentlemen, can tell you some
thing even more wonderful than this.
and something which, on account of the
source from which the story came to
me. incredible as it may appear to you,
cannot but believe. My grandfather
Was physician in this city during the
terrible scenes Of the revolution of 1889.
He was an ardent student and a sue
,essful experimentalist. One of his
most intimate friends was young Eng
iShman, who was also studying medi-
line. They had tastes in common, and
we're almost inseparable. Imbued with
ideas, this young man
Gould not see in the revolution that men
we're fighting to overthrow tyranny,
md after the manner Of his country
men, he openly and boldly denounced
hem. Reports Of his utterances were
'arried to the Committee of Safety.
lie was arrested and taken before the
dreaded Robespierre and sentenced to
he guillotiAe. On the night before the
execution my grandfather, who had
considerable political influence, was
,ranted permission TO visit him in his
ell in the prison Of La Concierge. The
was a long one. The young
We will call him--was
rave and nonchalant, and, after long
metaphysical argument, my grandfather
aid to him: i have long wanted to
rove if consciousness and the ability to
ct remain any time after death. Let
ne make this proposition. ! will be
resent and near You at your execution
o-morrow my profession and my re-
alton to the Committee of Safety give
pc unusual privileges. The moment
our head falls into the basket l will
If II up, and II you know me and still
ave the power Of action, you willclose !