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Taine, Hippolyte, 1828-1893

"The French Revolution - Volume 3"

, was put to death on the public square of the commune of
Auch by the executioner of criminal sentences, without any judgment
having been rendered against the said Long." - In many places an
execution becomes a spectacle for the Jacobins of the town and a party
of pleasure. For instance, at Arras, on the square devoted to
executions, a gallery was erected for spectators with a room for the
sale of refreshments, and, during the execution of M. de Montgon, the
"?a ira" is played on the bass drum. (Paris, II., 158, and I., 159.)
A certain facetious representative has rehearsals of the performance
in his own house. "Lejeune, to feed his bloodthirsty imagination, had
a small guillotine put up, on which he cut off the heads of all the
poultry consumed at his table. . . . Often, in the middle of the
repast, he had it brought in and set to work for the amusement of his
guests." (Moniteur, XXIV., 607, session of June I, 1795, letter from
the district of Besan?on, and with the letter, the confirmatory
document.) "This guillotine, says the reporter, is deposited with the
Committee of Legislation."

CHAPTER III. THE RULERS. (continued).
I. The Central Government Administration.


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