The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1889-01-30
"Whenever it will please you to do


dictated the way with an almost affec-
tomato wave of the hand. The young
mans first impulse was to obey; but at
the second step he changed his mlnd'
and said, timidly:
81 should first like to know no"
much-in short, the terms.
"The price, SIR" replied from the
end of the room the voice of Mr.. Rich
ard Utterex himself, who had just come
in, "yarics with the class of accom-
mediation desired, and guests pay only
on leaving the house"
The young stranger seeming still I'M
decided, his conductor gently placed
his hand upon his arm and invited him
to follow Giving up all thought OF
resistance he obeyed, and began his
tour of Euthanasia Villa.
In the large vestibulo OF spacious
staircase the visitor was shown, with
reverential bow, which he inVolun-
tarily initiated, a large statue OF the
great Schopenhauer the patron OF the
! institution. Then they proceeded up
stairs.
A door opened; it was the chamber
called The Pistol Shot. Like all the
other rooms in the house, this was
light and elegantly furnished in mod
ern style AS in all the others, too, its
principal ornament was handsome
coffin in carved ebony; the cover was
placed crosswise on the box, as though
awaiting its occupant, There were
several divans and reclining-chalrs
about the room; the bed was in rose
wood.
every thing is conducted here with
the most perfect discretion" said the
guide; "a system of electrical currents,
moved by the report, divides in two
lengthwise, whatever piece OF furnl-
ture the guest has chosen to commit
suicide on; q long basket receives the
body before it has had time to stain
the furniture or the floor with single
SPOT. Kindly observe that the walls
are upholstered with a thickness OF
four mattresses, so that it is lmpossl-
bic for any one on the other side OF the
partition to hear the faintest sound
however powerful the firearm used,
, even though it were a small krupp
. cannon, such as you see there IN the
corner. Guests have all the time they
wish; we never hurry them. Each
al will !
dainty furnished with the most melan-
choly works. Schopenhauer has been
translated for us into all the languages
: of the old and new worlds. Those ten
$ shelves are full of novels that end bad
". Upon the eleventh. preachers OF
e various religions sound the praises OF
o death. Some serious philosophers ano
4 a few poets, Lucretius and Leopard
Y occupy the twelfth shelf. As for the
8 convenienccs of life (before departing)
q they leave nothing to be desired. A
O telephone in each chamber communi
l. Gates with the Office. Orders for meals
W or whatever else is wanted are eXecut
IS ed with the utmost promptuess b.
faceless automatons; we keep q whol
a company of them here. This dellcat
, attention on Mr.. UttereX's part is gen
to orally very highly appreciated. TO
70 people who are so disguised with LII
ID that they are ready to commit suicld
wish to see the human face no more
III Finally, will you kindly examine tn
racks?-there you will find either ter
" rible, elegant, Or brutal Instruments
te sudden death. "
l. The visitor took down a pistol n
cd examined it.
st One by one the stranger saw all tn
Mt philanthropic IDEAS imagined by MI
ic Richard Utterex In the Asphyxi
i, Chamber, after having explained tn
I'd perfect Instructions that prevent a.
IN from entering when once the door
I'd closed, the clerk proposed to the VIZ
n. itor brief experience, so that b
1u might Judge for himself of its etficienc.
This Offer which is rarely accepted
10 was declined, us charcoal and laugh
ne ing-gas have but little attraction as
ae last resort Tuberoses tempt NOR
most of the suicide neophytes bein
, afflicted with sentimentalism. Lare
40 masses of fresh flowers were ever,
- where about the chamber, harmonizin
cd with the designs of the carpet and tt
m. hangings.
inf "If YOU would like a special essen(
10 YOU can have it, for we cultivate a
rs kinds of plants in the large conserv
a tory adjoining the hotel.
he No; it is very complete as it is. ;"
err And the inspection was resumed.
nd The stranger stopped with some C
Is riosity on the third floor, at landil
no where there were three doors, each o.
Or. bearing sign: For Science"
o. The guide pretended to pass by,
nv the same time watching the astonish
W. young man out of the corner OF his ey
tn "Well?" queried the stranger.
,s. "Those rooms are occupied, and tn
,e! are often taken, l must say, to t
credit OF humanity"
en- How so? What takes place within
ost Mr.. Utterex here offers an oppc
es! tunity of rendering by ones death
ms GREAT service to human kind. Here
to the Experimental Chamber magnal
". nous individuals, who care nothl
at about their lives, experiment on ST