Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1895-12-02
TIE GUILLOTINE.

1
has the name of it's inventor, DR.. Gull
lotlne, writes Paris correspondent.
The bloody revolution in France was
not only the mother of liberty for the
french people, but it produced also
perfection in making death more rap
i'd, and, consequently more agreeable
If death can be agreeable.
If the President of the French re-
| public refused to exercise executive
clemency, the prisoner confined in
the prison of the condemned, which
was situated up to a short time ago
on the Place de la Roquette, must die
within few days.
The most important person at the
death ceremony besides the criminal
is the executioner, Mr.. Deibler, nick
named "Monsieur de Paris" This
nickname is not applied exclusively
to the present executioner, but has
been used in connection with every
occupant Of this responsible but never
| coveted position.
When NJ. Deibler is notified Of the
| date of execution he appears on the
Place de la Roquette with his assist
| ants and the we'll known wagon con-
tanning the implements Of death.
The instrument of death has not
| been changed since the time Of the
| immortal Dr. Guillotine. I have com
pared the old engravings of the gull
| lotine used in the execution Of unfor
tunate Louis XVI. and lovely Marie
Antoinette with the instrument of to-
day, and but slight difference is per-
ceptible.
When the first rays of the morning
| sun shine out of the east on the day Of
execution, infantrymen line the av-
enue that runs between the "depo6
des condamnes' and the "depot des
| detenus," the prison of those who
have been tried and condemned and
those still waiting trial. One hears
the heavy tramp of cavalry horses
and a troop OF the mounted "Gardes
Republicaines' ride by. One detach
ment is stationed at the debouches of
the place, the others are drawn up in
two lines opposite the guillotine, rails
ed on four stones placed crosswise.
It is a gloomy sight. The dawn
breaks gray and cold; the gas man
turns out the last lamp; sparrows
twitter on the trees aud hop about the
instrument of execution. The crow
| of a rooster is answered by all his fell
| lows Of the neighborhood. A carriage
drives rapidly up to the gateway, and
| the Judge in his robes of state, de-
scends. The simplicity Of the instru-
ment forms striking contrast to the
brilliant uniforms OF the cavalry and
the blue and silver uniforms worn by
the officials in charge. A hush falls
upon all present
Then Monsieur de Paris" dressed
in suit of black, with the inevitable
tall silk hat comes out of the prison
to test the guillotine. Satisfied that
it will work we'll, he returns. Present
ly the gateway opens again, and the
procession of death is seen. The in
fantry present arms, the cavalry draw
their sabers, and all hats are raised.
The prisoner wears shirt with the
collar cut off, his hair is close cropped
his arms are bound behind his back
and his feet are tied so that he can
only shamble along. A priest walk
ing by his side, holds crucifix before
him. The guillotine is reached in a
few seconds. The prisoner, after an
embrace from the priest, is seized by
M. Deibler and his two aids, thrown
against the 'sbascule'' (see saw,
which swings into place; the ''lunette"
falls and stretches the neck; the exc
cutioner touches spring, down comes
the weighted knife and the head
falls into the basket. A stream of
blood shoots fro m the trunk, which is
quickly placed in a box. Then the
basket and box are put in a wagon
and the last victim Of Guillotine's in
vention is carried off to cemetery.
When you look at this dreadful
spectacle the seconds seem hours be-
tween the moments that that the pri
soner appears and that when the con-
blood congeals when I think OF the
sight. One scene does for lifetime.
Exchange.
Old People.
Old people who require medicine to regu-