The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-08-16

I was a dark night IN autumn Aue
old banker paced his cabinet from
corner to corner. thinking OF the
evening party he had given just fifteen
years ago Many clever people were
gathered together that evening and vari :
Gus interesting subjects were discussed.
Among other things they spoke Of CAPT
tai punishment. The guests, most of
whom were Journalists. were against it,
In the opinion Of the majority, capital
punishment should have been replaced
by Imprisonment for life.
Il do not agree with you" said the
host. u think that capital punishment Is
more moral and humane than imprieon
ment for life. Capital punishment does
away with life instantaneously, while in
prisonment does the same thing slowly.
Which executioner is more humane? He
who kills in a few minutes. or he who
kills BY torturing for many years."
s'One is just as immoral as the other,
remarked one OF the guests. because
each has the same aim-to kill. gov
eminent is not God A government has
cannot give. II IL wished to-
Among the guests there was a young
jurist Of about twenty-five. When he
was asked 10 express his opinion, he
said:
Both capital punishment and impris-
onment for life are immoral. but IL I
had to choose from the two, would have
preferred the latter. 1t is better to live
somehow. than not to live at ali"
A heated discussion ensued. The
banker. so much younger al that time.
and so much more enthusiastic. suddenly
struck the table with his fists and cried.
addressing the young lawyer:
1T is not true! I wager you two mil
lion rubles that you would not be able
TO stay imprisoned in a cell even for FIVE
years"
IF you are in earnest" replied the
jurist. then I take UP your wager. I'll
stay there. not FIVE years, but fifteen
years"
Fifteen? All right. accepted cried
the banker. Gentlemen, l put up two
millions"
"An right You stake two millions and
] stake my ll5ertyl" said the jurist
And this Wild wager was closed, The
light-min6ed millionaire banker was de-
lighted by the wager. At the supper ia
bic he said to the lawyer. in a testing
tone:
Think II over, young man, before ii
IS too late. Two millions are but trihe
to me. while you are risking to lose three
or four years of the best part OF your
life l say three OF four years. because
] am sure that you couldn't stay there
any longer than that. And then, you
must not forget that voluntary imprisoD-
ment is worse than compulsory impris-
onment. The mere knowledge that you
have right TO leave the cell will infest
your life. am sorry for you."
And the banker paced UP and down the
cabinet. recalling all this, and asking
himself:
What is the use Of this wager? What
is the use OF the fact that the lawyer
has lost fifteen years Of his life. and
have 20 throw away two millions? Can
this prove 10 the world that capital pun
ishment Is worse or better than i'm
prisonment for life2 No. 1t cannot! II
s. nonsense. II is absurd. On my part 81
was the within Of a rich man-on the part
OF the jurist It was nothing else than
greediness."
Then he recalled all that happened af-
ter the evening described. II was de
cided that the lawyer should be i'm
prigoned IN one OF the wings OF the
bankers house, n the garden. II waa
agreed that for fifteen years he had nc
right 20 cross the threshold OF the wing
10 see anybody. 10 hear human voices
or 10 receive letters or newspapers. He
was permitted 70 have musical instru-
MEET. 70 read books. 20 write letters, ia
drink wine and smoke tobacco. He
could communicate with the world in nc
Other way than through a small win
dow which vas made especially for this.
Everything he needed-books, music
notes. wine, etc.-he could get by ask
ing for 1t in a note. and everything was