In Paris at the end of April, the spring weather was lovely, but a somewhat strange news item began appearing in some newspapers.
An American dentist named Alfred Southwick had arrived in Paris.
He wasn't there for academic exchange, but to present a "humanitarian device" he invented—primarily intended for the efficient execution of stray dogs.
Dr. Southwick chose to hold a public demonstration in front of Parisian municipal health officials and a few reporters.
The location was an open area near the outskirts of the city.
Many idle Parisians had seen the announcement in Le Petit Parisien and Le Petit Journal and flocked to watch.
Thus, on the day of the demonstration, the site was crowded with municipal officials, reporters, and, most numerous of all, curious citizens.
In the center of the open ground, a rudimentary wooden frame was set up, resembling a miniature version of some torture device.
Next to it sat a humming generator, its thick cables connected to metal plates on the wooden frame.
Alfred Southwick was a middle-aged man with a full beard, carrying the distinctive confidence of an American.
He directed his assistant to drag a shivering stray dog from a cage and secure it to the wooden frame, ensuring the metal plates made full contact with the dog's body.
Dr. Alfred Southwick spoke loudly:
"Gentlemen! The stray animal problem in Paris is becoming increasingly serious, but traditional methods of killing are both inefficient and bloody. My 'Dog Must Die' utilizes the great power of modern science—electricity! It can end their lives in an instant, without suffering; this is progress in civilization!"
He waved his hand, and the assistant threw the switch.
A more intense "whirrr" sound filled the air, accompanied by crackling arcs of electricity.
The dog on the frame suddenly stiffened and convulsed violently, then abruptly went limp in one moment, ceasing all movement.
A faint smell of scorching hung in the air.
The entire process took no more than 20 seconds.
A low gasp rose from the crowd; some turned away, showing aversion, while others seemed quite interested, discussing it with relish.
The municipal officials whispered among themselves, seemingly satisfied with the device's "efficiency."
Dr. Southwick was quite pleased.
He switched off the generator, picked up the dead dog, and walked up to the officials, reporters, and citizens, showing it off proudly.
"See how fast! Almost no struggle or pain! This can definitely be implemented widely! Not just to solve your city's stray dog problem! It could even be used in slaughterhouses..."
The onlookers nodded in agreement.
Stray cats and dogs in Paris had indeed become overwhelmingly numerous, and traditional slaughter methods were too slow and frequently drew protest.
At this point, a reporter from Le Matin pushed forward and asked:
"Dr. Southwick, you claim this process is 'humane' and 'painless.' What is your basis for this? Furthermore, if this intensity of current were used on a larger animal, or even... a human, what would happen?"
Perhaps giddy from the success of the demonstration, Dr. Southwick blurted out without thinking:
"Basis? The result is the best basis! It died so quickly, doesn't that prove the point? As for using it on humans..."
He paused, even flashing an excited smile, gesturing with his hands:
"Theoretically, of course! One only needs to scale up the device—a sufficiently sturdy chair, a more powerful generator, with electrodes fixed to the head and legs... I believe it could similarly become a very efficient and humane method of execution! Much more civilized than hanging or beheading! This will be the future of justice!"
His words seemed to cast a spell on the crowd.
People who had been discussing the stray dog problem instantly fell silent, all eyes fixed on the articulate American dentist.
A citizen muttered:
"Execution... used on people?"
Fear appeared on his face.
Another spectator's voice trembled:
"Good heavens, he's experimenting on dogs, but ultimately wants to use it on humans?"
The reporters immediately swarmed him, pressing for more details about the "electric chair" concept.
Electricity, it turned out, was not just an angel bringing light, but also a grim reaper capable of instantly taking life!
...
Both Le Petit Parisien and Le Matin devoted substantial space to reporting this demonstration the next day.
However, the focus of the reports completely shifted away from the stray dog issue, centering instead on Dr. Southwick's appalling statements about "electrocution."
The Dark Side of Electricity! American Dentist Claims He Can Invent an "Electric Chair" to Execute Humans!
Light and Death, the Dual Faces of Current!
The reports detailed the demonstration and quoted extensively from Southwick's ideas about the "electric chair," dripping with sensationalism.
They even brought in electrical experts to educate the Parisian public about electricity.
The reaction of the Parisian public was intense!
For a long time, in the minds of ordinary citizens, "electricity" was mostly associated with light, with the dazzling effects soon to appear at the Comédie-Française.
"Electricity" represented progress, safety, and modern civilization.
However, Southwick's demonstration and remarks showcased the destructive power of electricity.
In cafés, people began to discuss the dangers of electricity with concern.
"Did you see the report? That American said electricity can kill people!"
"That's terrifying! I thought electric lights were much safer than gas lamps just yesterday..."
"The paper said the current in the light bulb isn't enough to kill someone!"
"What if the wiring in the theater has a leak... Heavens, just thinking about it makes my whole body tingle!"
"Hey, you're right about that point; they say the reaction after being electrocuted is a 'tingling sensation' throughout the body!"
"That's still better than gas lamps; gas leaks cause fires every year."
"Did you forget the fire at the Nice theater? Good heavens, over 60 people died, and those are just the ones with bodies..."
...
In the study of the apartment at 117 Boulevard Saint-Germain, Lionel spread out several newspapers featuring Southwick's story on his desk and burst out laughing.
He never expected this American to conduct a large-scale public education session on "electricity" for him.
After the Nice theater fire, electric lights had been molded into a symbol of safety, forcing him to painstakingly rewrite the ending of Thunderstorm.
He had changed the deaths of "Antoine" and "Fanny" from accidentally touching a faulty wire (as in the original novel) to being crushed by a collapsing manor column on a stormy night—a demise more common in the news reports of the era.
While this revision avoided the jarring sensation of "people being electrocuted" against the backdrop of "safe electric lights," it felt too abrupt.
The sense of tragic impermanence that came from being electrocuted—a more symbolic death in the original work—was significantly weakened.
Lionel had already planned to revise the ending back to death by electrocution once electricity became more widespread.
Now, the situation was different.
Southwick's demonstration and comments had forcibly provided the Parisian public with an education on "electricity being lethal."
Despite the uncomfortable nature of the demonstration, one objective result was that the public now understood and believed that "electricity" was capable of killing.
The reason for his previous script revision no longer existed.
Not only that, Lionel keenly realized that "Antoine" and "Fanny" being electrocuted would inevitably reignite controversy, essentially riding on the wave of current events.
He had to revise the script again, changing the ending back! The premiere on May 5th was destined not to be peaceful...
(End of Chapter)