Semi-weekly herald., 1909-03-11
RELICS OF DARK DAYS
IN SCOTCH MUSEUM
CBy William f. Curtis, Correspondent
of the Chicago Record Herald

/
| EDINBuRGH.-The University o.
Edinburgh was founded by boy ol
liking James VI of Scotland, who
as you know, was afterward James /
OF England. and the long missing
link that united England and Scotland
Into a single nation. II was about
the best thing he ever did and his
reign was one OF the longest on rec
ord. IL began when he was an infant,
Jan. 30, 1867, and ended with his death
In 1925. at the age of 50 years.
In 1881, when he was IA years old,
he took the government into his own
hands. and the earl of Morton. who
had been a very cruel and dic'atorial
regent. was publicly executed by "tbe
maiden," simple sort of guilloiine
which he had invented TO cut other
peoples heads off, without ever imag
ining that 1t would sometime be used
to cut of his own. The original is in
the museum that occupies part OF
the National Portrait gallery frame.
work OF wood overhanding block
on which the head that needed umpu.
tation was laid, and then heavy steel
blade, about sixteen inches long and
eight inches wide was dropped about
Ave feet from the top through grooves
TO the proper place. The knife was
heavily weighted and fell like a pile
driver so that the operation need not
be repeated
II is a simple looking affair and
rather rudely made. but for hundred
years or more II did a great deal of
business. The man who has charge
OF the museum will give you list of
those eminent citizens whose heads
We're cut off by 1t. including two OF
the Dukes of Argyle. father and son,
in 1861 and 1885. and the Regent Nor.
ton, whom | have already mentioned,
In 1881. The last time this amiable
instrument was used was in 17l0.
Then 1t was placed on the retired list
and has been only an object OF curl.
osity since.
The guillotine. like that OF Paris,
was located In one of the most promi.
nent parts of the city. between the
Cathedral of st. Giles and the old Par.
lament house on High street, the prin-
cipal thoroughfare In olden times,
which was constantly thronged with
lords and ladies', soldiers and states
men. clergymen and adventures. A
tall cross stands there now, where
royal ediots were proclaimed and proc.
lamaiions from the king and nfterward
to the public.
Resides the maiden" is another
even more Interesting object, particu.
larly TO boys-the actual sea chest of
Alexander Selkirk. the hero of Robin.
son Crusoe, which was put ashore
with him on the island of Juan Fer.
nnndez. when he was marooned there
by the captain OF the barque "Cinq
Ports" and contained his seamans
outfit IL was brought away on the
ship tbat rescued him. and, when he
fathers home where 1t remained
among his descendants until It was
transferred to the museum. II Is n
heavy. uDgalnly wooden chest, entirely
empty. and the name ALEX Selkirk"
is painted on one end. | am told that
Daniel Defoe never saw this chest or,
II he did, he neglected to give II an
advertisement in his fascinating book
He read an account of Selkirks ad.
ventures In Scottish newspaper and
became so interested that he got into
correspondence with him and after
ward met him In London, where, In
three or four intervals at coffee
house, he obtained material for the
story that has been read by more boys
and with greater interest than any
that was ever written outside OF the
Bible.
Near Selkirk's chest is the stool
OF repentance" upon which offenders
who were not bad enough to bc sent
to jail or put In the stocks and were
sorry for their sins were sentenced to
sit all day or for part OF day In
sackclotb and ashes in public place
while their neighbors jeered at them
It is Il broad-bottomed stool about four
feet high. SO that everybody who was
going along could have a good look
at the occupant.
In this little corner are several other
instruments OF torture that were ac-
tually used here In Edinburgh, and II.
lustrate the progress of civilization.
The "branks" Is an arrangement In
tended for sevcring the muscles and
tendons. which II often did. The
'thunmbikins" was an arrangement TO
crush the thumbs. and It's last victim
was Principal Carstairs of the univer-
aity, who afterward recovered Il and
kept 1t as souvenir Several other
pretty things like that we're adopted
by Christian people for centuries here
In this city to persuade human beings
to change their opinions ON theological
and other subjects. or to disclose SO
crets which they were supposed to be