that awaited Pleasantville; he apostrophized the jail; this
simple structure of logs in the shadow of the primeval woods was
significant of their love of justice and order; it was a suitable
place for the detention of a citizen of a great republic; it was
no mediaeval dungeon, but a forest-embowered retreat where,
barring mosquitoes and malaria, the party under restraint would
be put to no needless hardship; he would have the occasional
companionship of the gentlemanly sheriff; his friends, with such
wise and proper restrictions as the law saw fit to impose, could
come and impart the news of the day to him through the chinks of
the logs.

"I understand you have dealt in a hasty fashion with one or two
horse-thieves," he continued. "Also with a gambler who was put
ashore here from a river packet and subsequently became involved
in a dispute with a late citizen of this place touching the
number of aces in a pack of cards. It is not for me to
criticize! What I may term the spontaneous love of justice is
the brightest heritage of a free people. It is this same
commendable ability to acquit ourselves of our obligations that
is making us the wonder of the world! But don't let us forget
the law--of which it is an axiom, that it is not the severity of
punishment, but the certainty of it, that holds the wrong-doer in
check! With this safe and commodious asylum the plow line can
remain the exclusive aid to agriculture. If a man murders, curb
your natural impulse! Give him a fair trial, with eminent
counsel!" The judge tried not to look self-conscious when he
said this. "If he is found guilty, I still say, don't lynch him!
Why? Because by your hasty act you deny the public the elevating
and improving spectacle of a legal execution!" When the applause