be made available, in addition to the door | hibiting a rare instance of irresistible cufastenings. Though the proprietor of the riosity. The man had been guilty of an apartment had no doubt received an ample atrocious murder, either of a wife or some rent for the occupancy, yet he attempted, on near relative, and when his neck was placed the strength of a good offer, to introduce under the axe, he contrived to slew himself more tenants, palpably trying, by his own partly round to see its descent, and had a showing, to falsify the original contract; but part of his chin taken off in consequence. such attempts were without success. After several failures, through the bad faith and extortion of the different room-holders, who made little scruple of breaking through agreements and raising their price as fresh arrivals came, one of our party made a bargain, through the closed door, with an old gentleman and his young wife, Fanchon, to be received, at a Napoleon each, into their apartment as soon as they were dressed the whole of the money to be paid down at | once, upon the distinct understanding that no more persons were to be admitted. The old man was soon ready to give up the premises, but Madame, a demure-looking grisette, had no notion of appearing in deshabille before so many strangers, and kept us waiting some time, notwithstanding the interior murmurs of "Allons, Fanchon, dépêche toi," and the "Now, old girl-hurry with the room-never mind your stays," of some of the expectants outside.

About two hours before daylight a body of mounted municipal guards arrived, and formed round the scaffold. The object of this appeared to be to hide the proceedings as much as possible from those on foot, who could only hope for a very imperfect view between the bodies and the bear skins of these troops. Soon after the municipal guard the infantry of the line began to arrive, and were formed in a circle four deep outside the municipals, and nearly as far back as the houses of the Place. A considerable crowd had also collected, though extremely orderly and good-humored; in fact, to see the general hilarity, and listen to the bursts of loud laughter, it would seem to be regarded in the light of a fête. There was certainly no appearance of sympathy with the criminals. Finding the municipals so materially interfered with the show, the people soon began to occupy the trees and lamp-posts, the adjacent walls, and the roofs of the neighboring houses; while the infantry, having piled arms, waltzed and danced to keep themselves warm.

We found the situation well adapted for our purpose, though only one window look ed into the square, the two others were easily made to command a view of the Soon after daylight the hammering ceasscaffold, which was nearly in a line with ed, and the preparations appeared to be that side of the house. Fanchon had also completed; and shortly afterwards strong with much propriety made the bed, set the bodies of cavalry began to take up their furniture to rights, raked up the ashes of the positions in all the streets leading into the wood-fire, and put on another block or two; Place. The first care of the officer comand the fact of meeting with an open fire-manding these was to clear the square place instead of the eternal stove, made us entirely of all the people who had collected feel at home at once. The Wolverhampton in rear of the infantry, and to drive them man declared that it was dangerous to out along the adjacent streets; an order was British lungs to be out in these raw morn- also given to dislodge the people out of the ings in a foreign country without something trees, and from the walls and lamp-posts, warm to qualify the air; so a bottle of and this caused much grumbling and swearbrandy was sent for to the neighboring café, ing of all concerned. Some merriment, and our hostess had busied herself in pro- however, was excited by the discovery of ducing hot water and tumblers, as if, through some women in the trees, and their descent, the frequenters of executions, she had arriv- superintended by the dragoons below, gave ed at considerable knowledge of the national occasion for the exercise of much not over tastes. Our ancient host, being accommo- decent wit amongst the troopers. It struck dated with a cigar, narrated the particulars me that in their manner of dealing with the of the many beheadings which had fallen crowd there was much unnecessary harshunder his observation since his occupancy of ness on the part of the troops, an irritability the house. One may be mentioned as ex- and fretfulness often exhibited by persons VOL. II.-3

doubtful of their own authority, and very unlike the calm, good-humored superiority with which our own men are wont to handle the masses.

Presently came two general officers with their staff, and each followed by a mounted "jockei," lads dressed as English grooms, of whom one, as well by his fair complexion and honest round face, the whiteness of his tops and leathers, and the general superiority of his turn-out, as by his firm and easy seat on horseback, was evidently a native of our own country.

of his gun-barrels, He was plainly dressed, and appeared like a workman of the better class; his age about thirty-five. Morey was a man advanced in life, perhaps seventy; his bald head was partly covered with a black cap revealing the white hairs behind, and at the sides; he was a corpulent large figure, dressed completely in black, with a mild intelligent face, and altogether a very gentlemanly air and manner. Pepin was a small, thin-faced, insignificant man.

Pepin was chosen first for execution. Having been deprived of his coat and neckAbout an hour after sunrise three ca- handkerchief, and the collar of his shirt leches came rapidly down the road, passing turned down, he was led by the executioner our windows, each carriage containing three up the steps of the platform. He ascended persons, the condemned, and two police with an air of considerable bravado, shook officers. The troops opened out, and the himself, and looked round with much confimen were landed at the foot of the plat-dence, and spoke some words which we form. It may be well to describe the could not catch, and which the executioner general appearance of the scaffold.

appeared disposed to cut short. Having advanced with his breast against the truck, to which his body was rapidly strapped, he was then tilted down, truck and all, upon his face; and the truck moving upon small wheels or castors in grooves upon the chest, he was moved rapidly forwards, till his neck came directly under the chopper, when the rope being unhooked from the button, the axe fell with a loud and awful "chop!" the head rolling down upon the bare platform. After the separation of the head, the body moved with much convulsive energy, and had it not been made fast to what I have called the truck, and that also connect

On a platform about twelve feet square, and seven feet above the ground, are erected the two upright posts, between which is suspended the axe. They somewhat resemble a narrow gallows, scarcely more than a foot between the posts. The axe, which is not unlike a hay-knife, though much heavier and broader, is drawn up to the top of the posts, between which it runs in grooves, and is held suspended by a loop in the halyards, passed over a button at the bottom. The edge of the axe, as it hangs suspended, is not horizontal, or at a right angle with the post, but diagonal, giving the instrument a fearful power, in conjunctioned with its weight and long fall, of shearing through a resisting substance of many times more opposing force than a human neck. On the centre of the platform stands a frame, or large box, much resembling a soldier's arm-chest, about six feet long by two and a half wide, and probably as much high. One end of this abuts upon the upright posts, at the other end is a small frame like a truck connected about its centre with the chest by hinges, and with a strap and buckle, to make it fast to the man's body.

The prisoners having dismounted, were placed in a line on the ground facing the guillotine, their arms pinioned. They were very different in appearance. Fieschi had a most sinister and ferocious expression of face, rendered more so by the scars, scarcely healed apparently, inflicted by the bursting

with the raised platform, would probably have rolled down on the lower stage. The executioner then held up the head to view for a moment, and I suspect, from some laughter among the troops, made a facetious remark. The lid of a large basket alongside the chest was then raised, and the body rolled into it.

Morey was the next victim. He ascended the steps feebly, and requiring much assistance; he was also supported during the process of strapping him. His bald head and venerable appearance made a favorable impression upon the spectators, and elicited the only expressions of sympathy observable throughout the executions.

Fieschi came last, and was the most unnerved of the three. He appeared throughout in a fainting condition, and hung his head in a pitiable state of prostration. Very

little consideration was shown him, or rather | start from a house where all the party he was pushed and thrust about in a way assemble, the gentlemen driving themselves, which was indecent, if not disgusting, what- and each family taking some provisions with ever might have been his crimes. Some lit them. After about an hour and three-quartle difficulty occurred in placing his head ters' drive the whole caravan arrives at the conveniently under the axe, from a recoiling house of a starosto (president) of the workmotion of the prisoner. He was certainly people employed by the foreign commercial the least brave of the three. The execu- houses in Russia. The starosto is usually a tioner having rolled his body into the larger wealthy man, and mostly looked up to by basket with the others, took up that contain his neighbors, as he has by some most exing the three heads, which having emptied traordinary means acquired some few townupon the bodies, he gave the bottom of the ish manners, which suit his country appearbasket a jocular tap, which, being accom- ance as much as glazed boots, and a polka panied with a lifting of his foot behind, and tie would suit the true English country probably some funny and seasonable obser- farmer. vation, created a good deal of merriment amongst the spectators.

After their having warmed themselves before a good hot Russian stove, the party begin operations by getting the sledges ready, and ascending the ice-hills. The hills are made of a wooden scaffold, covered with huge bits of ice, all of an equal size, placed side by side so as to fit closely together. By being constantly watered they gradually become one solid mass as smooth as a mirror. The hill, which usually is of a considerable height, and rather sloping, ends in a long narrow plain of ice called the run, which is just broad enough for three narrow sledges to pass each other, and long enough to carry you to the foot of a second hill.

The guillotine is apparently the most merciful, but certainly the most terrible to witness, of any form of execution in civilized Europe. The fatal chop, the raw neck, the spouting blood, are very shocking to the feelings, and demoralizing; as such exhibitions cannot fail to generate a spirit of ferocity and a love of bloodshed amongst those who witness them. It was not uncommon at this period in Paris to execute sheep and calves with the guillotine; and fathers of families would pay a small sum to obtain such a gratifying show for their children. In such a taste may we not trace the old leaven of the first Revolution, and the germ of future ones! The fate of poor Dr. Guillotin was a sin-are low, and so constructed that they can gular one. He lived to see the machine which he had invented, from feelings of pure philanthropy, made the instrument of the most horrible butcheries, the aptness of the invention notoriously increasing the number of the victims who fell by it; and he died in extreme old age, with the bitter reflection that his name would be handed down to posterity, in connection with the most detestable ferocities which have ever stained the annals of mankind.

The sledges are usually of iron, long and narrow, and covered by cushions, often embroidered by the fair hand of a lady. They

hold one or two persons as the case may be. Both the run and the hill are bordered by fir-trees on each side, and on such evening parties are illuminated with Chinese lamps placed between the branches of the trees. Fancy yourself on the top of the hill looking down this illuminated avenue of firs, which is reflected in the mirror of the ice, as if determining to outshine the lights on the clear sky, and the gay laughing crowds moving up and down the hills, and you have before you the finest and most perfect picture of sorrowless enjoyment as a striking contrast to the lifeless nature surrounding it. The briskness of the movement, and the many accidents happening to the clumsy members of the party, keep up the excitement, whilst the contest of young men to obtain this or the other lady for their parthill party. ner on their down hill journey, (not in life,) An army of about ten or fifteen sledges, never allows the conversation or the laugh

From "Bentley's Miscellany."

AN ICE-HILL PARTY IN RUSSIA. THE reader, I hope, will have no objection to quit his comfortable fireside, put on his furs and accompany me to a sledge, or ice

I remember once | perchance she is so much engaged in conversation with their more fortunate rival that she cannot even give them a grateful smile for their trouble. Now the ladies adjourn, and the field of action is left to the gentlemen. All restraint seems to have gone. The clatter of knives, the jingling of glasses, the hubbub of voices, all this makes such a chaos of strange and myste

effect. At last a cry of order is heard from the top of the table. One of the directors of the party, after having requested the audience to fill their glasses, in flowery language proposes the health of the ladies, which of course, is drunk with tremendous applause, manifested by acts such as beating with the handles of knives and forks on the tables, and clapping hands.

to flag for one moment. getting into what school-boys would call an awful scrape with one of the ice-hill heroes. We both started together from the second hill on a race, and I, having a faster sledge, overtook him by the length of my conveyance, and arrived at the top of the hill before him. Seeing that the belle of the evening was disengaged, I approached her with all the formality with which the newly admit-rious noises, that it has quite a deafening ted youth requests the queen of a ball-room for the pleasure and honor to dance a polka with her, and asked her to go down. Forgetting a previous appointment with my former antagonist, she accepted my offer, and the latter just arrived in time to see us start from the hill. In his rage he determined to do me some mischief by upsetting my sledge, as soon as he had an opportunity of doing so without any damage to another party. He soon had an occasion, but fortunately I had a sledge with a lady before me; passing me he hit me, and I hitting against the sledge before me without being able to avoid it, at the same time getting hold of his legs upset all three. Luckily no injury was done, as the whole lot were upset into the snow, to the great enjoyment of all spectators.

After several other toasts the party adun-journ to join the ladies. Merry-making now begins, and an hour or so is passed in social games, such as hunting the slipper, crossquestions, crooked answers, and others. At last, the parties wrap themselves up again in their furs, and prepare to go home. On their homeward tour one of the finest phenomena in nature may perchance appear to them. A streak of light suddenly appearing on the horizon shoots like lightning up to the sky. One moment longer, and the whole sky is covered by such streaks, all of different colors amalgamating together, and constantly changing and lighting up the objects as bright as daylight. This is the Aurora Borealis, one of the numerous spectacles of nature which the common people regard with astonishment; whilst the cultivated mind, finding a sermon on the glory of our Maker in every object he meets on his journey through life, looks at it with admiration and reverence.

Gradually the time to retire approaches. The lamps begin to go out, and the hills, divested of their beauty, appear like the ruins of a magnificent city of olden times. Here and there you see a single lamp peeping out from the branches of the trees, wistfully looking round in search of its brothers, as if it wanted to assure itself of the absence of any other enlightening object.

"NEVER COMES THE BEAUTIFUL AGAIN."

The party go in to refresh themselves with tea and other warm beverages. The gentlemen wait on the ladies, and a new contest begins, as each tries to surpass the other in politeness and quickness. If it is a supper, you see these youthful and useful members of society running about with plates of sandwiches, or steering along with a cup of bouillon in one and a glass of wine in the other hand through the intricate passages formed by the numberless tables occupied by members of the fair sex. And then having, after a great deal of danger, at last arrived at their destination they find the lady they wanted to serve already pro- Is the pledge which nature's tongue had spoken. vided with every necessary comfort; and

BY CALDER CAMPBELL.

On! the cruel words that have been spoken-
"Never comes the beautiful again!"
Credit not the saying: still unbroken

With an earnest eloquence to men.

Beauty ne'er departeth! Beauty dwelleth
Wherever loveful eyes look out for her-

Where the woods glisten and the wild deer

belleth,

most disproportionate dimensions and height. But the part which most attracts the beholder's attention, is that connected with an upright shaft, capable of making about three

Where mystic echo 'mid hill-grottoes dwelleth, Where rills rush through deep glens, her foot-fourths of a complete revolution, from the steps stir.

Where gem-like stars are sparkling in the heavens,
And fragrant flowers are springing from the
earth-

Where sunny morns are bright, and golden evens
Shed many-tinted clouds across the heavens,

Beauty, in changeful glory, wanders forth!

Where sea-waves, to the summer sunshine dancing,
Receive white-pinioned birds upon their breast-
Or where mad tempest, o'er the deep advancing,
Ushers fork'd lightning, that in rapid dancing
Curls, snake-like, o'er each tumbling billow's
crest;

Where genius looketh forth, with high endeavor,
From mental casements on the peopled world,
Beauty may aye be seen-" a joy for ever"-
To him who seeks her with a high endeavor,
Love's loyal banners in his hand unfurl'd.

Men may shut out the bright and glorious vision
By hateful arts and actions, and the sway
Of thoughts unnatural; but no hard decision
Of minds penurious robs us of the vision
Which beauty sheds across her lovers' way!

From the "Home Journal,"

THE STEAM PADDY.

In a deep cut on the track of the Northern Railroad there is a mighty arm at work, shovelling. From the magnitude of its proportions, the strength displayed in its operations, and the slow dignity of its motions, it reminds one of an elephant. It is designed to supply the place, or rather perform the work, of some mammoth Irishman with his shovel. It has, indeed, obtained for itself the euphonious sobriquet of "Steam Paddy," although its proper cognomen is Excavator. Steam is its motive power, and the machinery necessary to perform the various motions in the process of labor, is quite complicated. The engine and the principal portion of the machinery are contained in a small house, placed upon carwheels; and, when transportation is necessary, by a single touch of the engineer, the power is directed to the propelling of these wheels, when it at once becomes a formidable locomotive. From the roof of this "house" ascends the chimney, or smoker, of

top of which proceeds a horizontal arm or
crane, whence chains and levers go to the
'scraper." The motions and results of this
part of the machinery are analogous to those
of a huge arm and hand, grasping an in-
mense scoop-the whole wielded by a giant
of colossal strength. One scoop-full (or,
more agreeably to the nomenclature given
to the anatomy of this anomalous animal,
one scraper-full) suffices to fill a car, and
two cars are sufficient for a horse-load upon
a railroad track. But, to carry out our com-
parison to the human arm. The scoop is
drawn back by the flexion of the elbow, and
is placed at the bottom of the bank. The
extensor muscles of this powerful limb now
commence their action, and push it forward
and upward, scraping and gathering, in its
progress, sufficient dirt to fill it; then it is
slowly carried round, describing a consider-
able arc of a circle, till it is placed directly
over a car stationed to receive its contents.
This motion may represent that of the
shoulder-joint. Instead now of rotating the
hand and fore-arm upon the arm, and invert-
ing the scoop, in order to "dump" the load
into the car, there is a contrivance for
The bottom of
simplifying its movements.
this scraper is a trap-door, which now very
instinctively flies open, and out drops an
avalanche of dirt, and the arm slowly wheels
around for another dishful. The prominent
edge of the scraper is armed with teeth,
which may make our analogy a little more
complete, by allowing them to represent
fingers and nails-to scratch with.

But as the philosophers contend that there is no motion without mind, so in all this complication of movements there must be a mind to direct and guide as well as propel. This apparatus has its sensorium commune, and the human hand and arm are no less obedient to the mandates of the will, than is this combination of wood and iron, chains and cylinders, to the will and direction of a very greasy, smutty man, standing upon a semi-circular platform about the upright shaft above described. Here, he touches first one spring, or (recollecting our analogy) one nerve, with one hand, next another with