Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1884-02-29
The Esfheiics OF Suicide.

Suicide has hardly reached, in any of
is forms, that degree of perfection which
would Justify its classification among
the fine arts. Until a comparatively
recent period, indeed, no attempt at
any establishment of the act has been
made by those persons who have chosen
TO expedite their departure, or their in
lividual star-routes, as one might say,
If there were not a painful uncertainty
that the road taken leads starward. All
that has been sought, apparently, has
been the most speedy way of what our
friend Joseph Cook so frequently alludes
10 rs going hence" The primary
object of suicides being, of course, to
20 and TO go quickly, 1t is but natural
that the first thought of the person
concerned should be of the surest and
most direct means of severing the
earthly bonds. Especially must this
be so in the State of New York, where
the unfortunate bungler who fails in
the attempt to kill himself is subject
to severe legal penalties.
In seeking the most expeditions
method it too often happens that little
Or no thought is given TO other consider
atoms almost equally important. The
candidate for self-destructiOn is apt to
select a mode of taking off which is
crude and entirely out of keeping with
the present advanced stage of culture
and civilization. He shoots himself
through the brain. regardless of the
effect upon his facial beauty; he cuts his
throat, without rejecting that it makes
him ahorrible object, or, dashing from
an upper window, he is crushed out of all
semblance TO humanity. This is all
wrong. Suicide is committed through
WEAKNESS of life, but it may be asserted
that, in nine cases out of ten, the per-
petrator has in mind some whom he
hopes will he grieved. or at least
shocked, by the deed. Not seldom it is
done with direct view of bringing re-
greet or remOrse To some individual,
usually n recreant lover or sweetheart.
To suppose that the person thus sought
to be moved would be less deeply af-
fected if the act were done decently and
with regard for the fitness of things is a
great mistake. The grief of the surviv-
ing friends of suicide is not often of
that overwhelming character which the
departed one has fatteringly anticipated.
Ii the act is done in such a way as TO lar
upon the refined sensibilities their sor-
row is not untinged with resentment
ANY twinges Of conscience which they
might otherwise offer are quoted by the
conclusion that the deceased was O
greater lunatic than they had ever
thought him, and that If he was capable
Of such atrocious conduct the kindest
treatment could not have ayailed to
save the fool from his folly. 1t occa-
sionally happens that a man removes
himself from life in a manaer which is
In harmony with the most artistic envi-
ronment. The lamentations made in
such cases are of nature to prove that
the friends. having less reason to
nurse their shattered aesthetic nerves,
have a keener realization of their loss
and more time TO devote to q considers
ton of the virtues of the one voluntarily
gone before 1t is women. however,
who most deeply offend in this matter.
There is no doubt that many q woman
who would ike to spite somebody by
drowning herself has been deferred by
the knowledge that she will be dragged
out, n moist. unpleasant body. Others
ysfrain from pistols and razors because