New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-04-28
SUICLDE IN ETENING DRESS.

What is the matter with 1880? What IS
there in the weather, the prices of wheat or
stocks. or the perverSencss of fate, to account
for the exceptional disgust with life that seems
TO be manifcSting itself on all sides The num-
her of suicides is unprecedented. Moro than
700 have been counted up in the newspapers
for the United States since January l. If there
should be no dminution in this rate, tho total
for the wear would be not less than 1000, and
would pr. baby approach > 800. The recorded
total last year was under 300. Tins hgnre
is n startling increase on those Of a few years
ago. only part of which. probably = due to the
moro careful collection e statistics and the
growth Of population. The number tor 1853
thus far is considerably largcr than II was Tor
the whole year 1881. Another noticoahic feat
urc has been the excellent social standing ot
4 l1rgc proportion Of recent suicides. This IL
true Of the suicides not only in New-lork but
thrcuehcut the country. They have included
capitalistS and clcrgymen, poStma>i"rS ana
Mavors, n round dozen Of merchants in good
standing one railroad president, bankers Office
holders, etc
One innovation, which was made in Chicago,
and has lust been initiated in New ork. de-
serves real commentator. This is that OF com
hitting suicide in evening dress. II "a man VIII
kill himself. there is no reason why he sh0uld
not take such precautions aS he can t. make
himself presentable after death, and to lessen
the shock and annoyance Of the event to those
upon whom he set>hly throws the burden IF
his dead body. It is said that Button used 7"
write il evening dress to give character + ms
styc. Why should not the suicide use the SAM
cXpedicnt TO give dignity 70 his exit from HE
There is room in fact, for great Improvement
in all the methods now commonly adopted.
Mos, of them are vulgar, to say nothing oi
their being brntally selfish. 1t is very shabby
trjck to hang yourself behind door in friend ;
house. or blow ont your brains over his carpet.
Men 90 To- hotels and commit suicide. appar-
ontlv undcr tho impression that the triililG fee
paid for a nights lodging entities them to con
vert one OF the landlords rooms into a haunted
chamber, to ruin furniture and to oyerwheln
the house with the horror, confusion and scan
DIAL Of the discovery and inquest.
The measures employed show an equal dis
regard Of the feelings Of others Death is
terrible to look at. even when every art has
been called 70 aid in lis toilet. but death
represented by mangled body in disord@Ied
ciuthinc. is a spectacle So dreadful that the in
tending suicide who still retains sufficient con
mol Of himself to direct bis actions at all. might
we'll 1--WE some thought to the feelings # ihose
who mus, care for the she'll which he casts of.
The Door lunatic who has been driven mad
Ly grief. care or misfortune, puts bullet into
his head or leaps into the river with the only
thought that he must end his misery r. best
ne can. But not all suicides are Of this deS-
perate class. There are many VINO take their
lives simply because they are tired of them, or
see that they have utterly wasted them, and
80 give a final heroic expression TO their dis
puSt Men Of this class, to whom self destruc-
ZION is not the result Of the agony OF insanity,
Int Of deliberate choice, could do much 10 IN
culcote more refinement in suicide They could
throw the weight Of their example on the side
If the qIicter and more elegant expedcntS. in
stead Of those which are rough and repulSiye.
They could alSo--if they must commit suicide
surround the act with some external suggestions
Of propriety and dignity. To assume evening
dress would imply selfrespect and certain
consideration for the senIbilltie, OF others as
we'll The young man in Western city who
determined 10 end his days because he had not
the means for life Of pleasure and cared for
no other set good example AZ to the way he
carried out a weak and wicked purpose, when
he arrayed himself carefully in evening dress
and took gentle poison. The poor young fool
in this city who followed the precedent. simply
because he could not live like lord On a
modest clerks salary, began we'll, even to
putting a rose in his buttonhole, but wh1' he