ses of perjury, and for this crime a man was put in
the pillory in 1830. The pillory, in the year 1837, was abolished by Act
of Parliament.

At the present time in China, the Cang, or Cangue is employed for
punishing petty offenders. From a picture we give from an original
sketch recently made, it will be seen that it consists of a large wooden
collar fitting close round the neck. The size and weight of the board
varies, but it is not to be removed until the completion of the
sentence, which may vary in length from a couple of weeks to three
months. The name of the prisoner and the nature of his crime are written
on the cang in large letters. He is left to public charity for support,
and frequently suffers from the pangs of hunger.

[Illustration: THE CANG, CHINA.]

FOOTNOTES:

[34] Chambers's "Book of Days."

Punishing Authors and Burning Books.

Literary annals contain many records of the punishments of authors. The
Greeks and Romans frequently brought writers into contempt by publicly
burning their books. In England, in years agone, it was a common
practice to place in the pillory authors who presumed to write against
the reigning monarch, or on political and religious subjects which were
not in accord with the opinions of those in power. The public hangman
was often directed to make bonfires of the works of offending authors.
At Athens, the common crier was instructed to burn all the prohibited
works of Pythagoras which could be found. It is well known that Numa
Pompilius did much to build up the glory of Rome. It was he who gave to
his countrymen the ceremonial laws of religion, and it was under his
rule that they enjoyed the blessings of peace. His death was keenly felt
by a grateful people, and he was honoured with a grand and costly
funeral. In his grave were found some of his writings, which were
contrary to his religious teaching; and the fact being made known to
the Senate, an order was made directing the manuscripts to be consumed
by fire. In the days of Augustus, no fewer than twenty thousand volumes
were consigned on one occasion to the flames. The works of Labienus were
amongst those which were burnt. It was a terrible blow to the author and
some of his friends. Cassius Severus, when he heard the sentence
pronounced, exclaimed in a loud voice that they must burn him also, for
he had learnt all the books by heart. It was the death-blow to Labienus;
he repaired to the tomb of his forefather