IN THE STOCKS.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XL, Issue 9087, 20 May 1891, Page 4

IN THE STOCKS.

• Pot yourself in his place," is the rule, if a man would like, to know how his tired neighbour feels. like many another good rule, however, it is not to be teo rigorously insisted upon. There are some .forms of suffering; ' concerning which' 'even the most sympathetic man may be willing to-form his opinion by observation and reasoning rather than by t experience. • . Lord ■ Gamden, 1 Lord Chief Justice of England, was walking with his host, Lord Dacre, an absent-minded man. #■ ' . • ■ ' ' J As'they were passing the parish stocks, Lord Camdensaid: "I wonder whether a man in the sfock* suffers physical pain ? , I'm inclined to think that, , apart from the sense of shame, he suffers nothing, unless the boys pelt him-with brickbats." ' "Settle the donbt by -putting your, feet into theholes," said Lord Dacre^. ! '" "I will !" exclaimed'Camden,' "and he sat down and put his feet into the holes. " Now .Dacre," said.- he, "fasten the bolts arid leave me for ten minutes." v <, _- s ;,Lord Dacre did so, but quickly forgot his distinguished-* guest, who sat awaiting his return with his feet fifteen inches -higher than his seat, and encircled by ' Hard wood. Acute' "pains sjipt along the confined limbs ; his feet ached,";, and cramps ;Jeized the muscles of the thighs. Faintne'ss, 1 'giddiness and thirst increased his discomfort. ' I ___A-peasant passing by was implored-by the prisoner to liberate him, and'answered with a sneer of derision. A clergyman on being told by the prisoner that, he was Lord Camden, exclaimed : " Ah,! mad with liquoij. 'Tis droll, though, he should imagine hin> self a chief justice," and hVpassed on. ! For ten hours the poor .judge sat in the I stocks. When at last he was taken out and I carried to his host's house, his miserable plight had settled in his mind that the punishment cf the stocks is attended by great physical suffering. A year or two after Lord Camden presided at a trial in which aworkman brought an action against a magistrate, who had wrongfully placed him in the stocks. The counsel for the magistrate attempted to laugh the case 1 out of court, and made merry at the workman's statement t!fa;L he had suffered intense pain during his confinement. " Brother, were you ever in the "stocks ?". whispered Lord Camden, leaning forward.' • ." Never, my. lord," answered the astonished lawyer. '• ' "Well, I have. been; and let me assure you that:the agony is awful."