The sun., 1891-06-22
THE TORTURE SHOW.
A Uni4ue Collection which New York
ShouId Secure.

| A UniAue Collection which New Tor,
should Secure.
LONDON. June 12-why does the American
Constitution forbid cruel and unusual punish
mentsa ssntimentality and Mugwumps Will
say, For tho sake OF the criminalP' Men o
sense and Democrats know that 1t is for the
sake Of the community.
THIS clause In the great charter OF American
liberty docs not fall under tho head OF wha
Rufus Choate used TO stiematize as glitter
ing esneraiitiea" It is o practical tidewater
mark In the progress OF humanity. 1t Is
better guarantee Of Christian civilization this
an Established Church.
Any American who goes abroad this year. and
who needs to learn the Significance and the
value Of this clause will do we'll to visit ie-
markable historical collection now to be seen
In the German exhibition at London. This
collection is an object lesson. once seen never
to be forgotten. In the vital difference between
the medieval European notion that the in
dividual was the thing and ssrf of the state,
and the modefn American notion that the State
exists for the service Of the individuals who
constitute it.
This collection was made BY a Franoonian
nobleman. who had II set up in the town hall OF
Nuremberg. He spent years In making It.
The central jewel. the Kohinoor OF the colleo-
tion. is one Of the most awful craven images Il
ever entered into the heart Of men to conceive
This is the world-infamous Eiserne Junotra,.
tho Iron Maiden" OF Nuremberg. This mon
strous invention was an improvement In fer
ocity upon the brazen bull into which the sn-
Client tyrant after heating 1t red-hot, was wont
to thrust his naked victims. Many Americans
have seen the Iron Maiden; all Americans
ought to SOC her. The sight is an excellent
tonic for young Yankees OF both sexes suffer-
ing from "over-culture" and seduced into q
nt OF moonlit medinvalism by the picturesque
and romantic attractions OF such quaint old
towns OF art and song" as tho city OF Hans
Sachs and Albert Dnrer. For tho Iron Maiden
was no ingenious toy devised to amuse the
Idle and irighten the thouRhtless into good
behavior. Clasped in her sitting embrace.
pierced In all parts OF the human body net alb
solutely vital by the sharpened spikes set into
the steel valves which had closed upon him.
living man. many q wretch yielded up tho
ghost In torments not to be conceived OF ade-
auately save by the Imagination OF an Edgar
Poe. And this not by the edict OF despot
mad with unbridled power. but in the normal
course OF justice. as justice was understood
and administered during the " GOOD old times"
All about the Iron Maiden, as she stood
and stared with her horrible metallic face
upon the gaping sightseers. were ranged in the
old German town hall hundreds Of instru-
ments Of Justice" less elaborately f1endish
perhaps. but not less revolving in their cruel
intent: Thumb-screws. racks, heavy iron
wedges. which. being struck with an iron
hammer and thus being driven In between the
barred Lex OF prisoner and solid iron boot
securely fastened upon 1t. crushed the living
limb by slow degrees; boots OF hollow
copper into which. after they were put upon
tho prisoners leg. boiling water was slowly
poured by methodlcal attendant: grotesque
masks Of steel or brass. representing hideous
and ridiculous monsters. which were clapped
over the heads OF men and Of women and then
made fast about their neoks with screws and
inventions such as these to the
number OF 500 or 600. picked up by tho inde-
fatigable old Baron in out.of- the-way towns
and hamlets or IN famous cities Of his native
land. made up the Torture Chamber" OF
BY the side Of these the heads
mans swords and axes, many of them show
Ing the stains OF use. and the battle clubs
seemed devices OF mercy.
When the last male heir OF the old collector
came to die few years ago 1t was found that
this Rruesome but wholesome collection had
been only lent by its founder long ago not
ziven to tho city. Negotiations were begun on
behalf OF the city to buy 1t. but while tho
Worther burghers were hiRgling over the price
70 be paid. well-known young Enelishmsu.
'he premier earl OF England and tho head OF
one OF the most famous families Of Britain.
to pass through Nuremberg saw the
and promptly Offering the sum asked
~ the representatives OF the original collec-
or. secured and bore 1t all away to London.
There It has lain for two or three years. Now
t seems he has been led to allow It to be shown
ls part OF the exhibition gotten up with tho
consent OF the Kaiser to show England what
Germany can produce and has produced.
Ought such collection to be loft beyond the
Ought 1t not to be secured. II possi-
lie. by some enlightened and liberal American
md perm anently established in New York that |
may help to teach us, and our children. and |
'ur children's children deeper sense than we |
III OF us have. perhaps. Of the priceless bless |
ng which our fathers won for US when they |
hook Off the swaddling clothes OF feudalism |
nd ordained in this New World q new order OF |
a w and NJ lifao