HEMLOCKS 125 



and how our well-known tree came by the same name 

 I have been unable to ascertain. The second syllable 

 " lock " signifies plant, as it does in the case of 

 Charlock, Garlic, etc., but that leaves unexplained 

 the " Hem " ; which fact seems to indicate that a 

 stitch has been dropped somewhere in the inter- 

 weaving of the tree's history. 



We will ask pardon for a little digression upon the 

 Hemlock plant, a subject apart in all but name from 

 our main theme, the Hemlock tree. Of whatever 

 ingredients the poisonous cup at Athens was com- 

 posed, it seemed at times to somewhat lack the 

 quality of either potency or the blessings of quantity. 



It appears that in carrying out these sentences, 

 conceived in a laudable spirit of Euthanasian finality, 

 one little ungenerous flaw — a, flaw which always 

 seemed strongly to impress even the most unpromising 

 student of scholastic days — had crept into their 

 system. 



In a characteristic spirit of economy on the part 

 of the democratic Government of the day, the money 

 paid over for the dose was calculated upon with such 

 an exact degree of nicety that at times, and unless 

 everything went well, it barely sufficed to carry out 

 the amiable intentions of the promoters and executors 

 of the scheme. 



Socrates, whose mission it was to lecture — great 

 Socrates, who adored speaking at all times, and who 

 not only adored speaking, but adorned those to whom 

 he spoke with a cloak of infinite wisdom, was enjoined 

 —even if imperatively, let us hope at least in tones of 

 politeness — by the performing clown of the gruesome 

 scene, at the neurotic moment of his last drink upon 

 earth, to keep silence and hold his tongue, and for 

 no other substantial reason than that it might retard 

 the action of the draught, and thereby involve the 

 executioner in an uncalled-for expenditure in the 



