Morning journal and courier., 1886-12-08
sF Barbarotfs Puntshments

this day in the East are also most peculiar, and to European minds vindictive in the ex- treme. The bastiDado is often carried so far as to cause death. The sticks used in Tur- key usually heavy slaves, in other coun- tries thin rattan canes ending in a fine taper ing point. From the fact that the lower classes in the East go about everywhere bare footed their feet become, as 1t were, case hardened. As many as two thousand sticks have been broken the feet of crimi- nal, and that would mean upward of six thousand blows Imprisonment is reserved for burglars and maiming is carried out or dinarily only professional thieves The method of infiicting this punishment is gen. erally by cutting off the joint of finger for the first offense and hand for the second Sometimes man will be famed by taking away part of the main tendon of the leg. Binding is scarcely ever resorted to, but oc- casionally the ears are cut off, the criminal in this, as in other cases, being taken through large crowd of gazers in the bazaar to the place of execution. The punishment of death is inflicted in most cases by simply cutting the throat of the prisoner much in in the way that butcher slaughters sheep
 In England there have been several very curious methods of punishment. Quarter ing and maiming the body was common in the earlier days of British history. The pill lory was also used for the exposure and ridi- cule of offenders At times too ''the cell of little easel was occupied by some offender. This cell was constructed on the principle that no comfort should be given to the per son imprisoned: there was neither sufficient room for standing, lying nor even sitting comfortably.
 But of alf the kinds of penish4nent that of boiling to death was surely the most vim dictive and atrocious. It was made a capi- tai punishment by England by statute 22. Henry VIII, 1531. One Ruse, cook in the | of f. tha Rishn of med some soup which caused the death of several persons, and 1t was to guard against such heinous actions that the punishment en- acted. The death penalty was not long in force, being repealed during the next reign by Edward VI
 Burning was the usual punishment meted out to those changing their doctrinal faith This method dates back to tue first dawnings of English civilization, for our druidical an- cestors used to sacrifice to their gods by burning all the condemned criminals.
 Beheading with the ax, maiden or guillo- tine long held sway in Great Britain; indeed, up to the ear 1747, when Lord Loyat was the last to suffer this kind of death. This method was afterward followed by the more humane plan of strangling, which, however, like the former kinds, was done openly. All are aware that secrecy is now the great thing aimed at in such kinds of punishment, a re- suit, or more particularly change, brought about by the advancing march of modern civilization
 Witchcraft was very common four or five years ago in Great Britain. Any person taken and accused of having occult dealings with ''the realm of spirits" was punished by drowning which by the way is said to be the pleasantest death imaginable.
 The French had also some curious punish ments Prisoners were chained galleys which they were forced to row day and night Hardly any cessation of toll was al S&ol,o ho1l ont O n. ply to escape the drivers lash. To enume- rate all the methods is not our intention; suffice that we should mention the strangcst of them all-viv., wearing the iron mask for life. Into this mask the persons head was placed once and for all; nothing was seen of his features save his eyes and mouth; death alone relieved the languishing victim.
 Enc Vanity of Man.
 New York Letter to the San Francisco Argonaut.l
 There is certainly some reason for the belief that men are more vain than women in regard to personal appearance. Who has not noticed the shy glanees which men will cast at mirrors when they are unob- serveda I was travelling to New York a few nights since from Philadelphia, when my attention was attracted by large, fab by and ponderous man who occupied a chair immediately in front of me. The drawing-room cars furnished with big winnows, which act as mirrors at night when it is dark and the car is lighted with in The gentleman in question was about forty years old, and I candidly think he was the plainest man I ever saw in my life. Before the train started he wheeled his chair around facing the window and fell to gazing at his reflection in the glass l He continued it with ever-incress1ng ad- miration until we arrived in New York. As first he did it in ratber shamefaced way, but the fascination became so strong after half an hour that he threw modesty to the winds and fell to admiring himself in the most open and enthusiastic manner He opened his travelling bag, took out a standing collar of prodigious size and put it on, after removing an old-fashioned col lar The effect of this seemed to please him immensely, and he sat smirking at his reflection with unmistakable complacency. Then he too4 off his hat and pushed his hair back from his forehead, wrinkling his eyebrows after the style of the tragic muse and holding his chin high up in the air.
 This suddenly suggested possibilities to him and he arose in furry and retired to the dressing-room at the end of the car. Pres ently he returned with hls hair parted in
 the middle and banged in the most bean tiful and youthful ttyle. By this time the whole car was interested in him, and curl
 ously enough nobody smiled.