The south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1879-1883, 1882-05-27
Literature Of Suicide.

English-written compendium OF progress
OF the investigation as TO suicide has ap-
peared. Meantime, Q large mass Of re-
cent data has been accumulated by
European observers. These have been
ably exhibited by DR.. Morsell in re-
cent volume Of statistical but very sug-
gestive character. DR.. 0'Dea, in work
somewhat more historic and philosophic,
has contributed much general informa-
ton from early as well as recent sources.
The two taken together furnish very |
complete material for an outline view Of
what Is known on this sombre and some- 2
what interesting subject. It is to be re-
GREETED that American statistics are still
meagre; the census Of 1880 will perhaps
| give important additions,
The chief ethical philosophers Of Asia
have somewhat permitted suicide, as
witness the suttee Of Hindoo widows and
the hari kari Of disgraced Japanese Off
cials. Such beliefs as pantieism, fatal !
ity, and transmigrstion we're not adapted
to suppress it. Early pagan Systems
allowedi it.; cynics, stories, and epicuri-
ans, travelling by different roads Of
reasoning, reached the same result and
mot only did eminent teachers Of Grecian
and Roman philosophy avow that the
hopelessly unhappy might rightly seek
relief in death, but several Of these acted
upon the tenet. In strong contrast was
the belief Of the ancient Jews; they ac-
cepted the command, "Thou shalt not
kill," as comprehending self-killing.
The influence OF the New Testament Is
to the same effect. II warnings are few
and slight, this is because there was no
need in Judea to forbid voluntary death;
it was not prevalent. In instances, the
readiness of martyrs to meet death rather
than be false to their faith somewhat re-
sembles seeking it, but, in truth, the
early Christians adhered to the Jewish
and apostolic balief-that suicide was o
sin. 30 taught Mohammed and the
Koran. Throughout the middle ages
the authority Of the Roman Church on
one side and the restlessness Of philo-
! sophie skepticism ON the other intro
, duced exceptions, and suggested or
! doubted whether from certain emergen-
cies one might not seek escape through
, the grave. But at the present day,
. wherever the light Of Christian ciyiliEa-
ton prevails, teachers and laws are
agreed that suicide is sin against God
and crime against the State; the argu-
! ments by which in darkened times or
a lands 1t has been defended or excused are
q / disregarded as chimerns, and the only
a questions are What are the facts d
a suicidei What are its causes? How
a may il be prevented? 4a1
! Modern researches, without denying
q that in the individual case suicide is ar
s act Of free will, yet teach that the will il
!. under influence Of causes which can b
4 traced, and that the general course O
q the evil can be delineated and even pre-
!. dicted as governed by tolerably uniform
II laws, There is no better illustration 0
Il the comprehensiveness and ingenuity Q
3 modern research in physico- mental prob
% lems than the acute manner in which tn
"A statistics Of self.murder are now rnal
h shaled TO develop the law governing II
a. ebb and how. Time Of life Is shown !
"a have definite connection with the evil
n suicides are infrequent in youth an
he again in old age; but the period frol
mt the thirty fifth to the fifty-ftth year
of fruitful Of them. Men are much mon
at prone TO suicide than are women. Y,
.te in prison life the young commit it often,
il than their elderS and female convicts
ed greater number than males. Comparisc
nd between deaths among the single Al
ed those among the married chow that ma
ia. riage and parentage are preventive
Of Any one would guess that insanity ten,
en to suicide few would realize witho
ed reading the proofs given that spirit
%. mere morbid imitation may lead to
Ter thus it has sometimes ragged as an eI
nq demic. Progress in education al
in spread Of literature have seemed to !
by crease it, probably because they he
tch been injudiciously so managed as
re. heighten desires more than 10 inspi
ere contentment Who would have thoue
pts Of tracing connection between suici
led and the spread Of periodical literature
ere advance Of railway development; but
ars Europe the evil seems TO have flourish
ich under these improvements, There, al
was intensity Of religious teaching and q
Hes viction has, perhaps, had an unhap
!. is effect, and the Protestant countries
eby said 10 show this more than Cathol
we. monasteries and converts in partjcu
was being rarely invaded. Yet, causes
ing crime and degradation among the mas
ter. drunkenness is . conspicuous ons)
lem crease suicide, and so do "hard time
4 q Domestic trouble and disappointment
iyed love Especially among the young)
,sti- prolific causes, and so are business q
;ook ieties, these chiefly among older I