New-York tribune., 1841-11-02
From the Ne. Monthly for Oct.
THE SUICIDES URIAL.
OF AN ACTUAL OCCURRENCE
Paris, June -, l34l.


o. friend III Casie-StTcet 81. - hOGeh
in the invitation | had received, nothing to that et
fec; had been in,inatcd, 1t wa,, believe, the m
ter,on OF our host. and the majority OF his gu-sts
10 bid farewell 10 The 3D. and welcome to the Nv
Year. in this festive manner. For myself had
other intentions and wnen prevailed upon 10 al
tend the party, did not fail to Inform NY friend
that circumstances which it needless then to
particularize rendered it desirable should with
draw some time at lcas, before midnight. Ny rca-
sons for tbs apparent sin-ularity (as learn them
from NV diary) were "a follows Firstly, wished
10 hail the birth of the Young lear in the silence
and privacy Of my chamber; and lss'ly, dld sot
care - infringe upon long-eS'ablished habit 7
ngh,-rending; the more | had that day pur
chased al Il hook-'ae curious oil folio copy OF
The Anatomie of Mclarcholy-lill then known
TO me only by report, and which | was therefore
impatently burning to ENJOY
Ten minutes TO twelve, exc aimed !. as. adj
ius,ing my cloak for departure | looked a; the dia
in the hall let walk ever 50 ias', shall
scarcely be home IN time
Liule did | then think that ere | should arrive
there, hours would have passed, and should have
taken part in a fnournful procession in honor Of the
dead
As entered upon the dark street and the door,
closing behind me, cut of stream of light 40 bril-
liant as TO nearly rival that OF day-thc contrast
his enioyHlent and the deep gloom Of netgre at this
season did not fail to to strike ne.
Truly. it was cold and dismal night. The
snew which had fallen three days before, still lay
unthawed IN tue weli-ngh deserted streets, and on
the house-tops whence the bosterous wind (Which
by it. loud chanting seemed to rejoice over the un-
versal desoation) hurled it fercey down in chill
ing and unwecone showers, upon the beated pas
sengcr The dense black clouds hung heavily upon
the city, and were impenetrable to vision a. the
roof of Tararus. Hence the darkness had been
intense, but for the dingy oll-lamps which. flicker
ing family at long distances, shed from their smoky
globes doubtful gil uimer on the snow beneath,
barely sufficient TO indicate the path
Noting these nconvcnences, but Gas | was
warmly clad) silently despising them. | hurried
homewards. Already had passed the old cathe-
dIal, and Just about TO quit the precincts ol It's
close when the clock commenced striking twelve.
The hour for frigh,Gul spec,rcs made
started not from any supcrstitous fear, but from
surprise-ten, eleoen, TWELVE. The strokes
burst so loudly and heavily uron my eur. thar, for
the Instant | wa. betrayed from the consciousness
of my actual posjti,n, and it seemed as though
Time himself lowering aloft, had proclaimed
through brazen throat the iircvocable dismissal oi
the departed year.
stopped involantarily and, as If TO my
self of the futility of that impression looked back
wards at the magnificent pile whence the sounds
had issued but 50 thick was the darkness that
notwithstanding the snow which fringed its battle
ments and moudings | was scarcely able to define
its masses against the sky.
Upon the nerves OF fer doth the knelI OF the de-
funcl year fall lightly and comfortably; upon the
hearts OF many it smtes hercey, with voice louder
and more awful than tn, voice of thunder. The
"A 81, Il et bnt fr.
and brief chain, whcace we hang suspended over
the snt of Eternity will obtrude itself receive 1t
II how we may That incorruptblc part which IN
forms and animatcs this earthly heaven, and which
the perpetual assaults of domineerng or rSbellious
passions can never WHOLLY vanQuish will seize with
avidity a moment thus marked with more than
dlnarv distinction, assert It's heavenly prerosa-
live and vndicatc its claim 10 attention. ltiS then
the chequercd vista OF the past appears in the NEST
painful or pleasing colors; 1t Is then vain Specula
lions as 10 what may vet await in the dark womb
of iuturi,y induged in it is then resolutions Of
amendments are made that may thereby quiet
the complaiunss of the StH SmaH r0ice within.
But confess such reflections these did not
long occupy me on that night. My mind uncon-
sciously reverted to the splendid scene had 80
lately left. The pointed jest. the quick rePartee
the delicate and neaty-turned compliment, with
the gracious smile OF the approving ilir were once
more recalled through Imagination.
The distance | had to traverse more than
half accomplished when. from n narrow lane which
entered the street was then in at right angles
(tamous for being the bir,h-p place OF Nell Gw!nur.
the hSmane and renowned mistress OF the Second
Charles,) a long procession OF men and women
slowly and silently advanced In ironta huge Ian
teru containing three candles was carried n
pole, and many OF both sexes preSes, bore similar
convenierceS OF the usual size b. the aid ottheir
light and that eli the lamps, | was lust enabled to
discern in the centre OF the crowd above the heads
of the bearers. ,he dark outlines OF a cotiin Upon
gainins the middle OF the broad street it halted a.
il to form alreSh and the men lowered their burden
to the ground.
stood pe;rifcd with astonishment. funeral
n, the dead of night its soemsitie, performed bv
large and apparently indi>crminaie concoursc OF;
people, not arrayed in the outward sarA< OF mour;i-
Ing. bu, in their ordinary habiliments. staggered
me- could not comprehend it. shosily pro
ccssion on the gloomy shores Of Stymph4us or
Phrge,hon. could scarcely have more appalled, me-.
To bc thu, returning from brilliant party, one al
which the cleeaacc>. and not ii few OF the b-an-
d,shnlen,> o- IFS prevailed with thoughts dwelling
only on the fair aud lovely in this world. and l.
stumble unexpectedly cnn corpse. the sind reader
wlli admit was reason >unccnl 10 give me pause
Il was iadeeG enc Of those stern. startling rcal!-
ties OF living experience which. IN moments Of HI
lariIy, come unbidden. /, Is true, but which, IN
consideration Of the beneficial effects ,sey are cal
culated to produce, the good viii never disregard
ar esteem uuwclcomc.
DESTROYS OF learning whose funeral i: was. and
why it took place at this unreasonable h ur. |
male way through the crowd till came to the
body Some sight INJURY had bcfalleu the old
parish bier whereon it rested. which man was
repairing, and by the igh; held for that purpose,