>Mark,
>
>>>Now when it comes to railroads the French were unique. Before laying one tie or rail or spike the French first planned their railroad in every detail. Paris was used as the “Hub” and all tracks had to run from north, south, east or west through Paris. Paris was like the hub of a wheel if you will. Many people did not understand how Nazi Germany was able to get to Paris so fast when it attacked. The Germans loaded tanks and men on French trains from eastern France and made straight for Paris.
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>>Minimal resistance didn't hurt either. < bg >
>
>Funny how they gripe about our capital punishment and they developed the guillotine. <g>



Doug;

While studying French history our teacher (who was in love with all things French) stated, “The French Revolution was bloodless” and went from there. He stated how the French citizens stormed the Bastille to obtain arms for the revolution. “The French soldiers put down their weapons rather then fire upon their own people”!, he stated with great feeling! This occurred on July 14, 1789 and is like July 4th in the United States.

“Mr. Whiteley, you have your hand raised. Do you have a question”? “No Mr. Hunter, I would like to add what occurred next to the French soldiers who lowered their arms. Their heads were cut off and placed upon pikes (long spears) and the good citizens of France danced in the streets displaying the heads on the 14 foot poles”!

Look up Robes Pierre – he tried over 10,000 people whose heads he had cut off. Research how he died.

As for the guillotine, that wonderful French invention to separate a head from a body, it fell out of use. It seems that a few years ago French scientists were concerned about the possibility that a severed head might “feel pain”. Electrodes were placed upon the head of a victim and it was determined that pain was felt by the brain for about 4 ½ minutes after decapitation. The guillotine thus fell out of use. :)

Have you ever read any of Mark Twain’s writings about the French? His book “Letters to the Earth” comes to mind. There is a great description of his viewpoints on this subject.

Tom