New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-01-20
use of teachers each chapter being provided with
series Of questions which cleverly suggest others


series Of questions which cleverly suggest others
SUICIDE Studies it's Philosophy, Causes ana Pre- re
yention. by JAMES O,DBA, NJ, a. nniii 0'' Pf'
322. NewYork: G P. Putnam's Sons ,
In this monograph Or. 0'Dea does not follow inc
rioidlv scientific method Of modern investigators,
and by statistics and diagrams attempt to demon
strate the relations. real and tanciiu when SUI
slSt between the tendency TO suicide ana every Il"
uence exterior and personal, which Affects OF may
affect the mind body of the individual. lie .e@'S
voluninously il is true of the causes of suicide
grouping them in two great classes-eN'erhai VI
social. and personal hut he treats them IN way
which may he termed historical From W'ue
range Of reading he gives the opinions when haN'
preyailed in regard tn self-deStructon under va
riops religion. beliefs ethical systems and codes
of law in different ages and among different races
Illustrative examples and opinions are grouped WIN
considerable literary skin and some apttude LOT
philosophical generalization so That a GhaS'iy SUI
irct is invested with "A degree of interest lho
third and al part of the treatise. or what clergy
men would style the improvement" OF the DIS
course is devoted TO the prevention OF
suicider-whch is really tie only JUSTIFY
ing reason for the existence OF sucH pooA'
Tberrophvlactic measures discussed are few IN num-
Der and not striking or novel in quality. BE VIZ
tuous" is the sum total of the religions and moral
teachings on the subject. and preserve good
health" is the equally comprehensive advice from
medical standpoint. while nothing new is added f.
what is generally known in regard to the preven-
tiou Of suicide by law. Two Suggestions are worth
quoting and this is the first " 1t would have benc-
fetal effect If coroncrs juricS, when they have sum
Gent evidence to show the sanity of the suicide al
the time of his DEATH would incorporate IN their
vcfdirts n clause denunciatorv of scli-murder as
crime dsgraCeful in itself and nuio 70 society,"
This is in the line o. the teachings which have heeh
reiterated in the columns OF THE IEIDUNE. II sui
eide was spoken of as crime-a cowardy CRIME
not only against society, Int against the near
friends and relatives Of the criminal who are made
TO bear a needless burden of sorrow and odium and
loss and If il Were spoken of crime not only III
coroncrs' verdicts, but everywhere and ALWAYS, 1t
Nould 10 a certain extent be made odious and per
sons would shrink from the disgrace Of having com
rnittcd the felony In the prevailing tenderness and
sympathy expressed for the dead a premium IS put
upon sclf-nurdel, and silly S0ulNmay be sedured INTO
committing the crime in tie hope of being oIoHted
a> heroes or mourucd over rs martyrs. The final
paragraph of the book contains the second SucgeS-
ton and il Is one that should be hceted by friends
of the victims of melancholy: every threat 10
commit suicide uttered especially 10y those who are
depressed worried. Ont VI health, shon'd be se-
ously regarded and deemed quite sufficient ground
than ordinary care ana NlElliIce III LIl'l
regard OF the part OF relatives aud friends"
From several striking examples quoted bv DR..
ODea. and from what ordinary oDscryati II teaches,
one cannot but be impressed by the fact that certain
mental constitutions are nocuated with the desire
for selfdcsructior simply by hearing the subject IN
some form discussed Is il not possible that hooks
of this sort may help 10 disseminate the germs OF
the disease which they aim to eradicate'
~
MnISIoNI 4 Universal survey. BY WHLlNNF. BAN
nRInGr svo. rp. $50 Boston D. Lothop 4 co.
ROUND THE WORLD LETTERS. BY Lucy s. |
B,NGEIuGE. svo PIP 81. Boston: D. L'ihop & co. |
MI RainbridGe'- book has no attraction for the |
general reader. Those, however who are inter |
estcd in the development and the morale of foreign
missions will find il it divers details which may |
please and instruct them. he author made his |
two years tour with special reference to missions,
and gives exhaustive descriptions of his cXamlna- |
ton of the work of cvanGclizat0n at home and /
abroad He has considered his subject in every posi-
bic light political aud social well as religious and
writes as far as may be without UNCONVENTIONAL |
spnt. There are many trrsome iuelevancics in |
the hook and great deal OF unnecessary sermon |
ling: and the style i, commonplace. The facts, |
however. which Mr.. Bainhridre presents, gathered |
as they are from personal observation, will prob
ably prove valuable to clergymen and others who |
desire to urge the claims Of missions.
1t is pity that they who 90 down to the sea in |
ships and d1sport themselves in tours about the |
world should not realize that the conn
tries they visit are longer unknown |
lands, and that their everyday adventures have no
interest for those outside their circle of per
,onal friends Mrs. Bainhridge writes with ease
and with occasional vivacitv, and her letters gave.
no doubt much enter amment 70 the readers of the |
provincial newspaper in which they first appeared. |
Nothing it must be said. justified their presentation
in book form to the consideration of bu5y world.