The Bossier banner., 1883-01-25
Strange Suicides.

SulclQe mas always Oeen meCnOQ Oh
escaping the ills that feshis heir to, more
Or less favored by humanity. In the
purer days of Greece and Rome, self
murder was regarded as crime, and by
way of punishment the body was sub
iected to disgrace In Greece, for in
stance, the corpse was buried instead of
being burned In most of the countries
Of antiquity. however, suicide was con-
Sidered an act of courage, as disem-
boweling is even now in China, and in
some places was even a lawful act. In
the island of Coos the magistrates had
the power of determining whether q
person had sufficient reasons for killing
himself.
A poison was kept and given to the
applicant who made out his case before
the magistraey. The same custom pre-
vailed among the Massilians, the ancient
inhabitants of Marseilles.
One of the most singular features of
suicide is tkat it has been known to pre-
vail epidemieaily. Ifone person strikes
out some new method OF self-destruction,
others are sure to follow. Sir Charles
Bell relates a strange incident that oc-
CURED to the surgeon who was Bells
predecessor in the Middlesex, London,
Hospital. Tie surgeons went into a
barber7shop TO be shaved, and the con-
Versation turned upon man in the hos
pital who had vainly attempted to cut
his throat.
"He could easily have managed it,
said the surgeons J If he had been ac-
quainted with the situation of the carotid
artery. He did not cut in the right
places s@N.aass es E a,
The barber quietly inquired as to where
he ought to have cut The surgeon
thoughtlessly pointed out the exact po-
sition of the large vessels, and where
they aaala bs wodinded. a,a E8
After 4 little more conversation the
barber left the room, and not returning.
the surgeon went. to look for him. He
found hiin IN the yard with his head
nearly severed from his body.
This was case of what the doctors
call epideriieoriasfatige suicide. Some
years ago a man hung himself on the
threshold, of one of the doors of the Hotel
des Invahdes, Paris No suicide had
occurred for two wears before, but within
fourteen days no less than five inyalids
hung themselves on that same cross-bar.
Plutarch relates that the women of
MiletHa aseity of Iona, were seized with
an epidemic mania for suicide. They
were melancholy because of the absence
of their Husbands and lovers who were
away in battle. The women hanged
themselves IN such numbers that a law
was passed ''that the body of every
woman who hanged herself should be
dragged naked through the streets by the
same rope with which she committed the
deed. ''& This edict immediately put an
endsto the crime.
Suicide is more common among men
than Yonen Married women and
widows aresmore prone to self destruc-
ton shan the unmarried, while the re-
verse is the case with men, who, If
about to, marry or have the care OF
famiI iIYsHpon them. are not so apt to
commit suicide, while those untram-
meled with ties seem to care less for life.
Men commit suicide by the pistol and
by drowning, women by poison and vol
untarysf falIs--that is, in the great ma
jority of cases. sIsa
People in every grade Of life have re-
courseito suicide as ready escape from
trouble, but the causes which come high
estsin the list of reasons for self-destrac-
ton are insanity and chronic diseases
Among the young disappointment in
love is the e1predominating cause, and in
France, the land of suicide and romance.
an unfortunate couple usually resolve to
perish together. Some years ago a boat
man discovered in the Seine q mass
which the stream appeared to roll along
with ditfieulty. 1t proved to be two
bodies, that Of a young girl and young
officer. They had lashed their right feet
and right hands together. A letter writ
ten tnent declared that they died
toase heF tlat they might be eternally
unfKed. d.8sssssss s 80 si
singdlar suicide was that of a Young
Fr4hch lady OF rank who killed herself
Wit hsF own fowling because she
hadna chilslren to inherit her largs for9
tune. gaN
mere desire to be talked Of some
TIM leads people to take their own
lives @
s George III. was passing Green
PaEks Lonapn, a gentleman seeing the
roTA carriage approach, stuck paper.
addEesse to the King on the railing.
w the carriage was immediately on.
posite him She man discharged d pistol
ins0 his blseast aud fell dead. The suicide
w.l gentleinari who had held q Gov
ernaentm position but had been sus-
eHelfan who had been tilted in
forme his servant that he intended to
kill himselfsand requested him after his
death TO make a camille of his fat and
cary IL lighted to his fady-love. SO that
shelaightsee that as he had burned for
hethis lame was now real, for the can.
ID which she Teau the note he sent
was composed of his miserable BODY, He
committed suicide after writing the letter.
u the reign of terror Nine. lAuginpe.
sister. to Nine. de Canpan, expected
to die by The tyranny Of Robespierre.
She declared she would Kill herself rath-
er than be guiilotined. In vain Nine.
de Gampan urged her to wait the order
Of ARREST, telling her that something
might arise 10 prevent her fate, even at
The nlolnent OF the. greatest danger, but
the gasaras arrived as she was speaking.
and Mlnes AagineTan to the roof of the
house, threw herself off, and was taken