The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-03-14
TANNERY FOR
HUMAN SKINS,

Although there Is certain amount OF
truth IN the statement that human ma
ture is the Same ip all ages and tim world
over periods OF national frenzy furnish
not few exceptions. where whole
peoples. during times of tremendous cx-
element. proceed TO deeds entirely in-
human, says the Boston Herald.
No national event within historical
times SO frlghtfully overturned the ordl-
nary standards of humanity as the
French revolution. -
The whole infamous story OF how the
French people lost for a time their hu-
man hearts has not yet been written, but
some old records have just been pub
lished in France concerning the establish
ment in 1898. of a prosperous tannery for
human hides, designed to utilize TO some
extent the booies OF the thousands Of men
and women executed during the reign
OF terror;
II is known that at certain sitting of
Jacobins in Paris. during the lurid days
OF the revolution. an excited 'sans Gu
lottes" proposed 10 the assembly that.
in order to make aristocrats useful after
death, even though in life they had beon
only vermin and pests among the people.
the bodies of persons who had been gull
lotined should be delivered by the execu-
toner TO a board OF examiners, and such
as were found to be sound and whole
some salted down for the markets.
80 far as is known this srewsomc pro-
1eot was never carried into effect. forsu-
nately for the honor OF the race. But the
proposal throws ray OF light upon the
temper OF the time, and suggests the
depths TO which France. Tor a time. had
fallen.
AN ECONOMICAL PLAN.
With such ideas as this one springing
up among the Republicans, no one can
wonder at the economical plan being car
ried into effect or tanning the skins of
the victims OF gnillotine
Wholesale executions IN La Vendee and
elsewhere, as well as I'm Paris had accus-
toned the public TO think OF a dead hui
man body with sas little sympathy or
emotion as OF the carcass of an animal,
and II was then that the national thrift,
through the experiments of certain
resourceful citizen of Meudon. one Pella-
prat. found way OF utilizing three
thousands of headless bodies without
resorting TO The cannibalism suggested I'm
the National Assembly.
The incontestable facts are TO be
found in an official rapport de la com
mission des moyens extraordInaire pour
la defense du pays" I'm EngiiSf. report
of the commission on extraordinary
means OF defending the country. This re-
port was published Aug. Il, 1885,
in view of general European hostility
this interesting document considers va
rious manufactures which might be
stimulated within the borders of France,
so as 10 render the nation moro inde-
pendent OF the outside. world and Incl
dentally describes a new method OF tam
ming hides which completed the process
In a few days instead OF the many
months formerly required in the work.
Then, as an illustration Of up-to-date
tanning and the efficacy of modern meth
ods, the report mentions the fact that at
Meudon the human skin was successfully
tanned in large quantities, and came
forth In the form OF such excellent leath-
er that nothing further could be desired
in the way OF proof
MADE INTO BREEcHEs.
After naming some men OF celebrity
who wore breeches made from leather
selected from the choicest human skins
In the Mendon output, the report pro-
THE skin supplied by man is OF a con-
sistency and degree OF goodness superior
10 that OF the chamoiss The leather made
from the skin OF feminine subjects Is
more supple but less solid than the cuu-
Gle OF the sterner sex, owing to the SUI
perior softness OF its tissue
IL is gratifying to learn from the pen
OF these expert officials, who seem TO
have conscientiously examined the lugil-
brious merchandise in question, that our
skins are OF finer texture than those or
beasts. 1t IL another illustration OF
mans position of eminence at the top OF
the scale OF creation.
Other records of the story year of 1893
in France relate how the Republican
general, Beyser, who commanded the
troops al Nantes during the siege OF that
town by the Royalsts, was accustomed
20 appear daily wearing pair of breech-
es which he boasted were made OF leath-
er tanned from the skins OF aristocrats
slain In La vendee by his own avenging
army.