The Rod In And Out Of School.

given . The craze rapidly spread through the whole of Italy , and also found its way into other countries , notwithstanding the opposition of foreign governments . Rich and poor alike joined in this pious movement . The practice is graphically described by a writer of the time : — " Penance was performed twice a day : in the morning and evening they went abroad in pairssinging psalms amid the ringing of bellsand when they arrived at the

, , place of flagellation they stripped the upper part of their bodies , and put off their shoes . They then lay down in a large circle , in different positions , according to the nature of their crime , and were castigated by the master , some more and some less . They were then permitted to rise , upon which they scourged themselves , amid the singing of psalms and loud supplications . " This , doubtlesswould be considered a convenient way of escaping the

, consequence of a sinful course , and there are probably many to-day who would gladly endure a castigation , however severe , if it would rid them of the remorse which is eating away the springs of happiness here , and threatening them with a worse state of misery in that place

" Where peace and rest can never dwell , Hope never comes that comes to all , But torture without end still urges , And a fiery deluge fed with ever-burning Sulphur unconsumed . "

Amongst the Jesuits the rod has had a most potent influence , whilst in nunneries and monasteries the use of the instrument was of almost hourly occurrence , insomuch that the operator by practice became an adept , and flogging was reckoned amongst the arts . The birch and the whip through all ages have been considered most powerful aids to national and domestic government . The Romans were very partial to the use of the rod , and wielded it with unrelenting severit Ladies whipped their maids most unmercifull

y . y for trifling faults , and it was a common thing in the first class houses to keep a person for the purpose of administering chastisement on the other members of the establishment . The Saxons used the rod extensively . William of Malmesbury tells us that when King Ethelred was a child he once so irritated his mother that , not having a whip , she beat him with some candles , which were the first things that fell under her handsuntil he was almost insensible .

, On this account he dreaded candles during the rest of his life to such a degree that he would never suffer the light of them to be introduced in his presence . In Russia the knout has been used with a barbarity almost unparalleled . Ladies took an especial pleasure in flagellating their servants , and criminals were lashed to such a terrible degree that it was almost impossible for the culprit to live . An indiscreet word in relation to the Emperor or his minions

would be sure to bring about a flogging . Persons who were supposed to have offended in this way have been sent for to the public office , and on entering were seized , soundly thrashed , and told to be more cautious for the future . The " Englishwoman in Russia " mentions that a lady of the highest rank , having used a lady ' s privilege at a masked hall of chattering in the ear of the Emperorlet fall some rather indiscreet suggestion . Followed home ba

, y spy , she was summoned the next day to Count Orloffs office , where , upon entering , she was pointed to a chair and quietly interrogated . Presently she was gently let down to a lower chamber , where she was vigorously birched , just as if she had been a little child , by some unseen person . Some of the particulars of flogging in Russia are too revolting to be mentioned here .

In France the rod has been used only to a limited extent for the punishment of penal offences , but in domestic arrangements its influence has been paramount . Flagellation has had its day in most of the countries of Europe , and is still very largely practised .