The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1893-12-30
Old Instruments of Torture.

There opened to the public last week, an
exceedingly interesting exhibition of genu-
inc instruments of torture used some few
centuries ago. before more humane meth
DDS superseded the rack and thumb screw
and other horrible implements with which
the church and crown were wont to argue
and demonstrate with Christians and enc
mics. The collection was taken from the
royal castle of Nuremberg and is loaned
for exhibition by the Earl of Shrewsbury
and Talbot. The collection is gruesome, but
fascinating, and it powerfully illustrates
the great progress which has been made in
humanity and justice. 1t is well worth
inspection
The most valuable instrument of torture
in the collection is the ''iron maiden 1t
is huge humane figure of wood, hollow.
1t opens with two doors The entire in
terror is fitted with sharp iron spikes, each
several inches long. When the condemned
person was placed inside and the doors
closed the victim was impaled on scores of
prougs. Two spikes entered his eyes and
others penetrated every part of the body.
1t is relic of the fifteenth century.
Resides this there are racks, wheels
which crushed every bone in the body,
pinchers for pulling out tongues, great
metal boots, into which Christian martyrs
were compelled to place their feet after the
boots had been filled with melted lead
executioners' swords, axes, masks, scourges,
faggellants, manacles, branding irons, iron
collars, with the inner bands lined with
spikes old blunderbnsses, iron mail gloves,
which were heated redhot before being worn;
iron spiders, with long, sharp claws, which
were used to rend the flesh stretching
gallows. execution chairs-in ALL more than
600 of the most cruel and Itarbarous in
struments ever invented for causing intense
agony.
There is also collection of several hum
dred old prints, showing the application of
the various tortares, famous executions,
massacres and butcheries in the time when
the implements were used.
Peter Cooper's Illustration of Usury.
New York Evening Post.
Mr.. Cooper was always careful and
prudent business men He was always
opposed to the methods of many merchants,
who launched out in extravagaut enter
prises on borrowed money, for which they
paid exorbitaut rates of interest. Once,
while talking about project with an ac-
qaintance, the latter said he would have to
borrow the money for six months, paying
interest at the rate ef three per cent
"Why do you borrow for to short time2'
Mr.. Cooper asked Because the brokers
will not negotiate bills for longer .Well,
if you wish, said Mr. Cooper, Il will
discount your note at that rate for three
years 'sAre you in earnest?' asked the
would-be borrower. Certainly ! am 1
will discount your note for $4,000 for
three years at that rate. VIII you do it,
aOf course | viii, said the merchant.
every well, said Mr.. Cooper, .just sign
the note fer $4,000, payable in three
years, and give me your check for $500,
and the transaction is complete But
where is the money for me?" asked the
astonished merchant. 'You don't get any
money, was the reply. aYour interest
36 months. at 3 per centum per month,
amounts to lOs per eentum, or slO,sOo;
therefore, your check for $500 just makes
US even. The force Of thisSsactical illus
tration of the folly Of paying such an ex-
orbitant price for the use Of money was
such that the merchant determined never
10 borrow it such ruinous rates. and he
frequently used to say that nothing could
have 80 fully convinced him as this rather
hulsarous proposal by Mr.. Conper