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 *terfere with the peace of the lord of the establishment. What does the despotic husband do in such a case? Does he go out and reason with the rowdies? Does he use gentle persuasion? Does he! He has by him a stout stick kept for the purpose, and he lays about him till order is restored.

The staff used by the king for this purpose was inlaid with ivory, but did not on that account give less pain.

Punishment of the Knout in Russia.

Olearius gives a description of the manner in which he saw the knout inflicted on eight men and one woman, only for selling brandy and tobacco without a licence. The executioner's man, after stripping them to the waist, tied their feet and took one at a time on his back. The executioner stood at three paces distance with a large pizzle, to the end of which were fastened three raw-hide thongs. Blood flowed at every blow.

After their backs were thus terribly mangled, they were whipped through the city of Petersburg for about a mile and a half, and then dismissed.