The enterprise-recorder., October 22, 1908, Image 2

About The enterprise-recorder. (Madison, Fla.) 1908-1933

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Electrocution
Only Humane filling
ffrWV- Erain Specialist
R. SPITZKA, the eminent brain specialist, read before tho
T oDPtilnir sasslnn nf thn American Philosophical Society, at
ID
Philadelphia, last week a paper which was virtually an out-and-out
declaration for electrocution us the only bumano
a UI4U vUL UWIU lAtlUU UI I'U'UIWt.UHuu -
method of Inflicting death, and he urted its adoptiou In all
7 States and countries. His paper, from which toe brief ex-
stracls presented
Z.Z results of thirty-one
the Slug Sing, Auburn. raiihctiiu: a, and Trenton prisons,
the method being employed in New Voii;, .New Jersey, Ohio, Massachusetts
and Virginia.
The history of electrocution covers a period of only twenty years. It wp.i
first Introduced In .New York In 1ns. In Its operation, the electric current
Is turned on and reduced ami Incn a-ed alvrnately. From seven to ten am
jn'rrs pass through a tody. The t.ni" conxtnud in snapping is about forty
five seconds, and In sixty to seventy seconds the violin: is shocked to death.
Consciousness is blotud out Instantly. In only two cases of those I hr.vo
observed was there respiratory effort after tl.e current was turned on.
A post mortem examination of the body reveal. niucii interesting phe
nomena. There Is a rising of the temperature, in one case as high as 1 - ' a
degrees F. The lungs are devoid of blood ami wvigh six or seven ounces av
oirdupois. The blood seems to l.e under a f heinb al chcr.-e and is of a dark
brownish hue, almost black, and it rarely coaguia'es. On the nervous cells
there is no apparent effect, although there Is a molecular change.
I have witnessed a number of hanplnps at Moyamensing Prison, find
would recommend a reading of Oscar Wilde's poem "Ballad of Reading Jail,"
to Illustrate the unpleasantness of the dancing feet in t lie air.
The preparations In bantting are about as quick as in electrocution, but
the heart beats for some time after the drop, usually thirteen minutes. And
there is a spasmodic movement of the body after the (shock of the drop, due
to a partly conscious effort to stop the choking, lasting for about one and
half minutes.
In only one care was there no movement of the body after the drop, and
that was a Chinaman, who. It is believed, died of apoplexy. Of five bodlca
hkh I examined at the Jefferson Hospital, la every case death was due to
strangulation.
It
5
The Meaning of a Smile f
? ?
S$i.v By Winifred Elack. wvvQQ
N old man died In Michigan the other day and left $:j,000 to
a young woman who was no kin to hlni.
In tho nlil man's will h snbl- "I leave this mor.CV to thU
I woman for the sake of
I last '"ontnii of my dear
V h I she was not ready to
Twenty-five thousand dollars for a smile.
Well, It was cheap at the price.
It was a smile that came from the heart. If It hadn't
been It would never have made the Impression that It did.
A smirk Is not a smile, neither is a grin. You can smirk with malice
nd you can grin when you feel like slamming the door, but you can't smile
to save your life, unless there is kindliness and love In your heart.
The young woman whe took her youth and her vitality and her cheerful
smile, and gave It to a sick old woman, did it because she was good and she
couldn't help smiling.
I am glad she is going to get that money.
It Isn't what we do that counts so nuicli, after all; It's what we are.
I've been given a present with such a mean spirit showing in the eyes of
the giver that I felt like throwing the ?ift into the fire.
And I have been refttsi ci a favor by some one w ho looked at me with
bo much kindness that my heart was liht in spite of the refusal.
Hypocrisy doesn't pay It jvver deceives any one long.
I never know a man who lived for hims'lf alone who could deceive peo
ple Into liking him for longer than six months.
I never knew a woman who was at heart mean and envious who could
make even a little child like her when she smiled.
Beware of the man who's smile Is a mere twist of the mouth. ' '
Ivook out for the woman who looks as If she had been eating something
our when Ehe ti les to smile. ---i '
Give me the woman who smiles because' she can't help it and the man
who laughs and doesn't know it.
They're the sort of people to live with.
Tho. Criticism
Ey Ellen
WAS once asked, "Are
I answered then, and I answer now, that legitimate adverse
criticism has always been of use to me, if only because it
"gave me to think" luiiously. Seldom does the Outsider,
however talented as a writer and observer, recognize the
actor's art, and ofien we ate told that we are acting best
when we are showing the works most plainly, and denied
any special virtue when we are concealing our method.
Professional criticism Is helpful chiefly because it Induces
I
I
one to criticize one's self. "Did I giv; that Impression to any one? Then
there must have been something wrong somewhere." The "something" is
often a perfectly different blemish from that to which the critic drew atten
tion. Unprofessional criticism Is often more helrful still, but alas! one's
friends r.re to one's faults more than a little blind and to one's virtues very
kind. It Is through letters from people quite unknown to me that I have
sometimes learned valuable lessons. During the run of "Romeo and Juliet"
tome one wrote and told mo that r. the dialogue at the bull could be taken In
a lighter and quicker way, It would better express the manner of a girl of
Juliet's age. The same unknown critic pointed out that I was too slow and
studied In the balcony scene. She I think It was a woman was perfectly
right. McClure's Magazine.
The Canny 8cot.
"I hear yer frleu' Tamson's married
tgaln."
"Aye, so he is. He's been a dear
frlen' to mo. He's cost me three
weddln' presents an' twa wreaths."
London TitElts.
The prejudice against ho;pitals Is
disappearing among the Parisians. At
present about one-half of the cases of
j Uncus ere treated la them, whereas
ten years ago the pioportion was only
oco-quu. tcr.
the
fci-low were taUeii. was based upou uiu
eU ctrocutlons . which lie witnessed In
her bl ight smile. She comforted the
wife's life, and I never saw her when
smile."
7
WlUCJ
That Henx
Terry.
you affected by adverse criticism?"
Speaking of Ills.
Peopde aggravate their illnesses by
talking about them; certainly they
Influence other folks' by dwelling on
their own, and we all know that we
can talk ourselves, and other people
can talk us, Into headaches, nervous
attacks and fits depression.
And Cuitom Dies Hard.
Sin I tiippose you will commit sul
chip if I refuse you?
Hf A!i that has been mv enstomt
The Sketch.
A MODEST
Whrn cratr Kits half fhow,
'Count ir c nie rulny days, to grow
Kn fuzBi'8 ciet-n ulucK del row.
"1" atnt uili while d.-n to try to hoe
Ii.il wool," planuitlon clean.
Pe lien' wav Is df way dat cheap,
Kn I kin take a two-Inch wi-ei.
liunnln' at i'lnt two Inchon deep,
tn kill out CJIniial Cinin.
Tis: gln,ti lrh a flow n dnt
N I'll hoi' mv upright Maine plum flat,
Kn whar ilat crass m K h a mat
1'ou couldn't tll wh ir u hoi" Lei-n at,
I'll wiop dat cotton rouml'
As neat and cool wld frish Mack dirt
An a man's toiv tits his shirt,
Kn rru'lar not rttfhi here a spurt
Kn liyundcr grassy gruun'.
John
1 Mow Hilda Got a School. J
;
4 By Lelia Munsell.
Well, Hilda, do you waut to try
again ;"
Mr. Kenyon had hung up his over
coat and cap and was standing v.ith
his back to the fire, which Hiida had
quickened when the heard Uim coin
ing. Slu knew lie would be chilled,
lor it was u cold February night.
"JohnstMi told me that thc.e would
be a change for the spring term down
here In Haz.i Row," he went on. "The
board is going to meet next Monday,
he eald. So If you want to try again
we'd better get In your application
within a day or two.'
Mrs. Kenyon heard her husband's
question, and came In from the kit
chen to hear what further he might
have to say, while the two younger
children dropped their play to listen.
They were all Interested In Hildas
attempt to get a school.
"You could board al home if you go'.
I that,' said Mis. Kenyon. "Its cn.y
two miles."
I Mr. Kenyon laughed. "Better catch
your hare before you cook it. Per
haps Hilda docsnt want even to ty
again.'
Tapa," cried Hilda, indignantly,
"you know I want to try again! But
now listen, you and mama both. And
please don't think 1 don't appreciate
what you have done to help nie; but
I want in cn all alone this time. If
I am ever going to make a teacher, I
must learn to depend upon myself. I
can't always have you to do things for
me. And besides, i don't blame a
school board for not hiring a teacher
; who hasn't grit enough to apply alone.
Y'ou know I can't say anything for my
self when you are along, papa. I can
talk before a stranger lots better than
I can before you."
"I don't see why you should feel
that way,' Interposed Mrs. Kenyon.
"You surely are not afraid of your
father."
"I'm not afraid of him in one sense.
I but in another sense I mil. I can't
I talk to the directors ceiore him as I
could if I were alone. I let papa ap
ply for me last fall, una I let him go
along twice this spring, and 1 haven t
a school yet."
j Mrs. Kenyon starteu to speak, but
; her husband shook his head at her. "I
gures we'll have to let you have your
way this time,' he said. "Weil ste if
.yon succeed ar.y better than I dl J."
Hilda gave Uim a grateful look,
f ' "But how are you going?' he asked.
"Couldn't I walk? It isn't far."
"No, indeed. Johnston, cf course,
' Is less than two miles away, but Mr.
Andrews liveo four or five miles north-
east, and Smith is as far in the other
i direction. You'll have twelve or four
teen miles to travel by the time you
' pot tiorl- hnmn Thpre is tnn lnurh
snow 'or ou 10 walk anywn'. even
.11 it wasn l too tar. Ana i can i trust
you to drive the team alone as cold as
It is."
"I can ride old Selim. He's safe
enough."
"Yes, he's safe enough. But you will
find it pretty cold, riding so far on
horseback."
I "Y'ou'd better let your father take
' you in the buggy," said Mrs. Kenyon
I "Ynn'll Yvtit tn iteath nn Rpllni "
"Now, mama, pluase!' begged Hil
da, and her mother said no more.
Hilda had many ambitions, but the
nearest and most absorbing one was
to get a school. Beyond that lay a
college course, and beyond that she
hardly dared to think of all the good
things the future might hold for her
and here If ouly she might go to col
lege. But she knew that the money
for a college course must come from
her own efforts.
She had been a very proud girl
when her first certificate came. It was
only for a year, of course. According
to the laws of tne state, one must have
taught three months to receive a certificate-
(or a longer time than that.
But her grades were high enough to
entitle her to a second class.
The county superintendent had en
closed a kind little note with the cer
tificate, and had spoken personally to
her father, commending her work very
highly. Hilda felt that she bad a
right to be proud.
But the certificate In Itself was not
worth much. Its chief value lay in the
fact that It eqtitled her to teach it
she could get a school! She dreamed
of It by night and talked of it by
clay.
Her father's anuounc nieut that
PLOUGHMAN.
Karmcm In got a h'ap to l,-,rn . .. na-r.
'Ko' dry gW wut comln t" u .
It. 'mid w hum ho. -I an e" '
riniiKh-hnn'a wut ain't wori.i
ly'd nil git mm la u"-" .. ...i.i
Iis country d br.it! do s:
l.'r cottonsoed and cotton t-.ti'-- , o;1i09
sji.lto el- eprlng- drouth en noaui fc-
on dls side tr de sea.
Kn dl nln't whonnln' up mysef.
Do crnhKiima nntcnly hoi' lis ''I ' , dvf;
When I comes 'lolix; ca so dat ml'!', r
It knows dcr ain't nolo" KWinc -
Win n I hoops up my n.ulo.
I F-iyn ills Jls beca e It's ' , .
1 l.imlcr thouuht you'd 1 ik to know- .
Do,, t think I tryln' to line e"
1 ain't no slch a lool.
Charles McNeill, In Charlotte observer.
there was a vacancy so mar home
raited her hopes again. If she eon'.d
get the place she could save all her
salary, lor the rchoolhouse was so
mar that the could hoard at home as
her u.o'her had sa'd. Iie must get
It, that was ail. And she felt that she
tints t c.o alone. Mr. Ke:iyon made no
objection this time, and .Mrs. Kenyun
.onscnted on the io;i.'.i:io:i that Hilda
would allow herself to he well bundled
tit) lor the long, cold tide.
Hilda readily coiisemed to this, but
f!ie almost rued her larjraln in the
morning when her n, other insisted on
putting a large coat oi her own o'.er
Hilda's and In tying a scarf over the
waim hood, and when the girl had
climbed cn the horse she had wrap
ped a warm shawl a tout her.
"Hew In the world am I to get on
r.tid off again with all this stuff,
mama?" she asked. "1 feel as wrap
pal up as a mummy. I know I'll
ftithten all the horses i meet."
It was well, perhaps, that she could
no: fee herself, tor she certainly cut
rather a ridiculous f.ture. Added to all
the rest, she was riding her father's
saddle. The right stirrup had been
tin own over, mid In this her foot rest
ed, while the left stirrup dangled be
low. She had never ticen fortunate
enough to possess a side saddle, and
had often ridjen in tills way about
I lie farm. But she cottkl not help feel
ing a little sensitive about her ap
pearance on this occasion, which
meant so much to her, and she wished
her mother would not he so fussy.
As the drew near Mr. Johnston's
house, she considered.
It would take her some time to dis
entangle herself from her many wrap
pings, and to any one watching from
the house she would present rather
a ridiculous appearance In her neces
sarily clumsy efforts to dismount. So
she halted old Selim some distance
from the front gate, and here, hidden
by the tiers, she divested herself of
her extra rarnicnts.
Her heart was pounding away vig
orously as she knocked and inquired
If .Mr. Johnston was in. She had
known him ever since she could re
member, but he seemed suddenly to
have become almcst a stranger. Out
wardly, however, it was a very dig
nified young lady who presented her
case before him.
I; seemed to her that ha looked at
her for fully five minutes without
speaking. "So you want to teach?"
lie asked at last. "Pretty young,
aren't you? How old ate you? Seven
teen?' "Yes, sir," answered Hilda. "I sup
pose that isn't very old. but I have a
good certificate, and I am pretty sure
that I can teach a good school. At
least, I'd try my be.-t If you would
give me a chance."
"That's what they all say,' remark
ed Mr. Johnston.
"I know. But that is all I can say
till somebody gives nie a chance to
show what I can do.
"You have had no expsrlence, of
com se."
"No. But If I am ever to make a
teacher. 1 11 have to teach my firs',
school sometime and Eomewhere."
"I guess that's so. Got some pretty
good grades here.' He had been ex
amining the certificate she had hand
ed him.
"Yes, sir,' answered Hilda, modest
ly. Again he was silent. Then ht handed
her back her certificate. "Well, I'll
tell you, Hilda. So far as I am' con
cerned, I am willing to give you a
chance. I've know you ever since you
were a baby, and I know you are a
wide awake, energetic little girl. But
I'm only oue of three, and I am afraid
you won't stand the best of chances
with the other two. You don't know
chance. I've known you ever since you
I thought not. Andrews wants the
place for a cousin of hlB, and Smith
will think you are too young. But go
and see both of them. Don't tell them
what I've said. Simply say that you
spoke to nie about it. Smith Is presi
dent of the board."
Hilda thanked him and went her
way, mmh encouraged in spite of what
he had said about her possible recep
tion by the other two members.
She experienced some difficulty in
mounting and dismounting each time
encumbered as she was, but that did'
not trouble her much now, although
;he was careful at lotn places to stoy
far enough 'away from the house, u
she had' done at Mr. Johnston's, to en.
able her to accomplish this feat with,
out being seen." And she was truly
thankful that no one asked her how
she came. She much preferred that
the men whose Interest sho was try.
ing to enlist should not see her perch
ed up on old Selim, "like a big round
bump on a log," as ner father had
expressed It.
Fortunately, she found both Mr. An
drews and Mr. Smith at home, but she
did not receive the encouragement
from them that she had done front
Mr. Johnstot) Indeed, Mr. Andrews '
told her that the school was as good,
ns engaged, and that It Was useless for
her to see Mr. Smith. Hilda, reniem
beting what Mr. Johnston had tad.
her about the cousiB, made no reply,
but resolved to call upon Mr. Smith.'
Mr. Smith listened to her courteous
ly and quietly. "Pretty, young, aren't
you?" lie asked.
Hilda laughed. "I expected you to
say that. But it isn't always age and
experience that make success. I have
always wanted to teach, and I've al
ways thought I could teach and I be
lieve I can, If I am young."
"I don't know but that's the right
way to talk. We've got to believe la
ourselves before we ever amount to
much. How much would you want a
month?"
She was not prepared for this ques
tion. In her heart she knew that sho
would take the school at whatever
they might offer. But she retlectej
that it would not be policy to say so,
to she answered:
"Whatever you have been paying
for your spring term."
"Well, we'll talk over your applica
tion Monday. If we want you, we will
let you know. Y'ou needu't come to
see us about It again."
Hilda was obliged to be content with
this. Sho thanked hlni, and then, be
hind the grove where she had tied her
horse, she jundled herself up for the
ride home, where nn 'eager audience
listened to her story while she thawed
out her fingrs :J toes.
The next s'.x uays seemed intermin
ably lo::; to her, but Monday came at
last. All day she ll-tened expectantly
for a step on the front porch, but no
one enrae that day or the next. Wed
nesday morning she was helping her
father about the barn, when she heard
some one behind her, and turned to
lace Mr. Johnston.
"Hello!" he cried. "So you conclud
ed to try farming it you couldn't get
a school?"
Hilda smiled In reply. She could
not trust herself to speak. So she had
failed again.
Mr. Johnston chatted with her fath
er for a time, while she went bravely
on with her work. It would never
do to let him know how disappointed
she was.
"Well, Hilda," he said, finally, "I'll
cxp?ct you to do nie credit this
spring."
Hilda looked up, turprlsed.
"We concluded we would try you,"
he continued. "Andrews stuck out for
his cousin, but Smith went with me.
Smith was quite taken with you. An
drews 'coiisin had lot hlni attend to
her application, and hau never con.e
to see one of us about It. Smith didn't
like that 'way of doing thing.?, and I
confess I don't, myself. You'll get
thirty-five dollars for three months. If
that Is satisfactory, l guess we might
as well go to the house and sign the
contract now."
Hilda felt that she was treading on
air as she followed him to the house,
and when she saw her name signed to
the little slip of paper, the contract
between herself and District No. 33.
she secretly pinched nerself to see it
she were awake. She wanted to shout
but of course that would not do. But
the moment Mr. Johnston was gone
she seized her mother about the waist
and whirled her round the room.
"Just think, mania! Just think!"
she cried. "I've actually got a school.
Oue hundred and five dollars, and no
board to pay. Maybe, now, I won t
have to .wait any longer to go to col
lege than I had expected to do In the
first place. And, mama." she drew her
mother close and whispered in her ear,
"when I get to be a proiessor In some
big university you won t have to work
any more, and I can give you the
things that I've wanted and wanted so
long to give you." Youth's Compan
ion. A Curious Hotel.
There is a large hotel in Colorado
which has a notable feature of inter
est In the fact that a trout stream runs
right through Its dining room A
guest Is allowed to take rod and lino
and angle for the fish, which when
caught are cooked and served to him
at the next meal, and It is quite a reg
ular custom for a guest to catch trout
for his own breakfast. Needless to
say, the stream Is kept well stocked
with fish, and is a great attraction to
the guests. London Onlooker.
Cleveland's July 4 Ordinance.
The City of Cleveland, Ohio, 21 to 7,
passed an ordinance decreeing that
henceforth there shall be no private
celebration of the Fourth of July by
the use ot firearms or fireworks. The
ordinance was the result of the deaths
of ten persons lu this year's Independ
ence Day observance.
I