The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1889-01-30
EUTHANASIA VILLA.
The Luxurious Retreat PROVIDED
for Intended Suicides.

Upon one of the principal squares
of the city stood the great phllan-
thropic establishment founded by Mr..
Richard Utterex. Its majestic front
was no less than two hundred feet
long; there were six rows OF balcony
windows, and over the principal en-
trance sign in gilt letters announced
that this splendid building was "Eu-
thanasia Villa"
1t was to this institution that those
who were disguised with existence
came to seek euthanasiai OF course 1t
was intended exclusively for the dis
eusted ones with dollars, for those who
were not blessed with this worlds
goods could carry out their sinister de-
signs without the assistance offered to
the guests of Euthanasia Villa. But Tor
the unhappy possessors OF millions
Mr.. Richard Utterex was really a bene-
factor.
Each day at least three disheartened
mortals came and knocked at his door;
this is only fgurative way OF speak
ing. for the door remained continually
open. This is how tho business was
conducted:
One day young map entered the
office. Two clerks at once arose TO
meet him. The stranger advanced
three steps. Naturally he was very
pale and lettering. An easy chair was
pushed toward him; he dropped into
it, and caressed, from time to time, the
small carved death's-heads that orna-
mented the end of the arms. lie threw
q glance around the office, which was
hung in black cloth.
The clerks made the young man q
low bow in an automatic fashion; then
without giving him time to reply tt
their polite salutation or to explain The
object of his visit, one of them asked
him, in an obsequiOus voice:
"What manner OF death have yot
chosen?"
Prepared as he must have been fol-
some such question, the desperate
Young man could not repress an lnvol
untary shudder. The clerks appeared
to be much surprised, and as the CUES
did not become calm at once, they wen
ND to him with the same automatic
step, and, without saying word
looked at him. This proceeding hat
the desired effect. The young maj
felt that he was in well-conductet
establishment, and this treasured him
One of the clerks said: "Do yo'
wish to see the prospectus!'
81 beg your pardon" said the youns
man, but he quickly continued: eth
prospectus? Oh, yes, certainly, tn
prospectus?"
Then. with the discreet manner oil
waiter in a fashionable restaurant wit
seeks TO learn the guests preference
Pomard or Sauterne-the clerk handle
the Young man a richly-bound album
wherein were described the ditferen
modes of death furnished by the house
The enumeration of these yariou
methods plunged the reader into
shuddering establishment. At first h
ran over them with his finger rathe
than with his eye, stopping here an
there, amused by the marginal 1llu:
trations; then he began again. readln
seriously this time, without, however
coming to decision. Certainly hang
ing had its charms, but what poetr
there was about asphyXia with flow
ers The soul departs with the breat
of the tuberose! And the poisons
rooms Nos. to 10-a vast choice
And the Indian curare-the prick of
pin in the heel or elsewhere, and the
Nirvana But here are the lo'
diseases! All, the lost diseases
To contract by artificial NEAR
leprosy or the black death, to offer
the practitioners of the present da,
whom the disappearance of these "a
fectious" renders inconsolable, the o
casion of studying them from tt
life" to carry away in diving the co
ISOLATION that you leave in your remain
whole field of delicate experience
That is, without doubt, incomparab
more noble than death by laughte
the simple idea of which gives you
nausea, and dishonors the ingenio
enumeration of Mr.. Richard uttere
But there are il-natured persons WI
would be offended at this prospet
however glorious it may be, OF havi1
these written on their bodies; tn
prefer sort of aristoeracy of silenC
What could be better than the lanci1
of veins in warm bath?
Have you made your choiceP'
simulated the clerk in low voice, wit
out changing his attitude,
"But there is such a variety"
piled the desperate young man.
The clerk accepted the complimt
with a polite smile.
You must yourself admit, CT
tinued the stranger, that hesitate
is excusable under the circumstance
Perhaps it would be well to Vi
the establishments"
,,1'hot will emit ma ayactly "