Word: headsman
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...Nanking last week, the progressive Nationalist Government passed a decree forbidding decapitation as a method of punishment. The abolishment of decapitation, however, does not even remotely imply the abolishment of capital punishment in China. It is merely the long, bright, classic sword of the headsman that has been abolished-an antiquated relic deemed unworthy of modern, mechanistic Nationalist China. A Chinese execution is always something of a local holiday. The victim is allowed to drink his fill of rice wine until blissfully intoxicated. At the execution grounds, he kneels down, head thrust forward. Under the old regime...
...Henry VIII. Finally, few would have been so hardy as to gaze upon the strong, burly figure of Secretary of State for India the Earl of Birkenhead and then remark that if he would only carry an ax instead of a Malacca cane he would make a capital headsman...
...King Henry VIII who strolled about, ready to buss shy maids, was, of course, Chancellor Churchill. The scowling headsman, shouldering a "bloody" ax was the Earl of Birkenhead. Of the two simpering "little boys" in Eton jackets, turned down collars, pink bow ties and white socks, one was Prince George, 24, the other Edward of Wales...
...Women. It is not often that this department grows actively angry and recommends sudden death. Men and Women is so bad that the Famous Players headsman ought to decapitate someone. It is the ancient tale of the honest bank cashier, temptation, stolen bonds...
...headsman has fallen...