[PW] Stuffed Guy

[Hadden, Robert L ERDC-TEC-VA]

Dear John C. Saunders:
	I don't know about a dictator, but the 19th century philosopher,
Jeremy Bentham, was dissected after his death, and then his bones re-arranged
and dressed in his clothes, and placed on a chair in a University College of
London meeting room. See: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeremy_Bentham
	It says: "As requested in his will, his body was preserved and stored
in a wooden cabinet, termed his "Auto-icon". Originally kept by his disciple
Dr. Southwood Smith, it was acquired by University College London in 1850.
The Auto-Icon is kept on public display at the end of the South Cloisters in
the main building of the College. For the 100th and 150th anniversaries of
the college, the Auto-Icon was brought to the meeting of the College Council,
where he was listed as "present but not voting". Tradition holds that if the
council's vote on any motion is tied, the auto-icon always breaks the tie by
voting in favor of the motion."
	"The Auto-Icon has always had a wax head, as Bentham's head was badly
damaged in the preservation process. The real head was displayed in the same
case for many years, but became the target of repeated student pranks
including being stolen on more than one occasion. It is now locked away
securely."

Lee

R. Lee Hadden
Geospatial Information Library (GIL)
Topographic Engineering Center
ATTN: CEERD-TO-I (Hadden)
7701 Telegraph Road
Alexandria, VA 22315-3864
(703) 428-9206
Robert.L.Hadden at erdc.usace.army.mil

See some of my writings, both online and on paper, at my author page at:
http://www.librarything.com/author/haddenrobertlee

-----Original Message-----
Date: Fri, 21 Sep 2007 09:38:04 -0700
From: "John S" <johnandjanet at gmail.com>
Subject: [PW] ? Dictator Stuffed and seated in chair
To: Project-Wombat <List at project-wombat.org>
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	<6403a90b0709210938m7a2f4e4dg2463039e47c2eda9 at mail.gmail.com>
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Has anyone ever heard of a dictor who's wife, upon his death had him stuffed
and seated in a chair?

Thanks.

John C. Sanders
Yorktown Heights, N.Y.