de up
his mind to the impending catastrophe, or he finds sustaining
consolation in the hope of a reprieve. At all events, his reflections
must have, in my opinion, a more justified character than those of the
wretch, who, before another sunset, with a firm eye and unsparing hand,
with as little remorse as the butcher who kills a lamb, will shed the
blood of a fellow-creature--of one who never injured him in deed or
thought--who will kneel to him with folded hands, and humbly stretch his
neck to the fatal blow. Verily, I think that I would rather thus suffer
death, than thus inflict it."

"Does not this view of the subject," remarked the third student,
"justify, in some measure, the so often ridiculed prejudice of the
uneducated multitude, who pronounce an executioner infamous, because
they cannot otherwise define the disgust which his appearance, even
across a street, invariably excites?[B] And may not this association of
ideas be grounded on a religious feeling? The Mosaic law provided a
sanctuary for the blood-guilty who had committed murder in sudden
wrath; and, except in cases of rare enormity, compassion for the
criminal must tend to increase the popular detestation of a man, who, in
consideration of a good salary, is ever ready to shed the blood of a
fellow-creature."

[Footnote B: Throughout Germany, public executioners are called
infamous, and are shut out of the pale of society. A similar feeling
prevailed in France before the Revolution.]

"For the honour of human nature," observed the Professor, "I will hope
that, could we read the hearts of many who fulfil this terrible duty to
society, we should behold, both before and during its exercise, strong
feelings of reluctance and compassion. I can conceive, too, that those
who have by long habit become callous to their vocation, are by no means
destitute of kindly feeling in matters unconnected with their calling;
but I do not comprehend how any man can voluntarily devote himself to an
office which excludes him for life from the sympathy and society of his
fellow-men; nor do I believe that this terrible vocation is ever
adopted, except by those who, through early training, or a long course
of crime, have blunted the best feelings of human nature."

Julius, who had hitherto been a silent but attentive listener, now
addressed the Professor with an animation which surprised all present.
"You must excuse me, Professor," said he, "if I dissent from your last
remar