Idaho news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1887-1891, 1890-03-08
THE HOUSE OF THE DEATH

Upon one OF the principal squares
of the city stood the great philan-
thropic establishment founded by
Mr.. Richard Utterex. It's majestic
front was no less than 200 feet long;
there were six rows of balcony win
dows, and over the principal entrance
a sign in gilt letters announced that
this splendid building was "Euthan-
asia Villa"
1t was to this institution that those
who were Disguised with existence
came to seek euthanasia; of course it
was intended exclusively for disgust
ed ones with dollars, for those who
were not blessed with this worlds
goods could carry out their sinister
designs without the assistance Of
fered to the guests of Euthanasia
Villa. But, for the unhappy posses.
sors OF millions, Mr.. Richard Utterex
was really benefactor.
Each day at least three dishearten-
ed mortals came and knocked at his
door; this is only figurative way
of speaking, for the door remained
continually open. This is how the
business was conducted:
One day young man entered the
Office. Two clerks at once arose to
meet him. The stranger advanced
three steps. Naturally he was very
pale and tottering. An easy chair
was pushed toward him; he dropped
into it, and caressed, from time to
time, the small carved deaths heads
that ornamented the end of the
arms. He threw glance around
the office, which was hung in black
cloth.
The clerks made the young man a
low bow in an automatic fashion;
then, without giving him time to re-
ply to 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 you
chosen?"
Prepared as he must have been for
some such question. the desperate
young man could not repress an in
voluntary shudder. The clerks APP
peared to be much surprised, and, as
the guest did not become calm at
once, they went up to him with the
same automatic step, and without
saying word, looked at him. This
proceeding had the desired effect.
The young man felt that lie was in
well-condueted establishment, and
this reassured him.
One of the clerks said: 'Do you
wish to see the prospectus"
Il beg your pardon" said the
young man, but he quickly CON
tinued: The prospectus? Oh, yes,
certainly, the prospectus.
Then, with the discreet manner of
waiter in a fashionable restaurant
who seeks to learn the guests pre-
terence-Pomard or Sauterne-the
clerk handed the young man richly
bound album, wherein were described
the different modes OF death furnish
ed by the house The enumeration
of these various methods plunged
the reader into a shuddering astonish-
ment. At first heran over them with
his finger rather than with his eve,
stopped here and there, amused by
the marginal illustrations; then he
began again, reading seriously this
time, without, however, coming to
decision. Certainly, hanging had it's
charms, but what poetry there was
about asphyxia with flowers! The
soul departs with the breath Of the
tuberose! And the poisoDs, rooms
Nos. 4 to 10-a vast choicew And the
Indian curare-the prick ofa pin in the
heel or elsewhere, and the Nirvana.
But here are the lost diseasesI All
the lost diseasesl To contract by
artificial means leprosy or the black
death, to offer to the practitioners of
the present day, whom the disappear
ance ofthese affections" renders in
consolable, the occasion of studying
them from the life," to carry
away in dying the consolation
that you leave in your re.
mains whole field OF delicate
experiences That is without doubt
incomparably more noble than deat.a |
by laughter, the simple idea ofwhich |
gives you a nauseau and dishonors
the ingenious enumeration Of Mr.. |
Richard Utterex. But there are III I
natured person who would be offend
ed Mt this prospect. however glorious
it may be, of having these written on
their bodies; they prefer a sort OF /
of silence. What could
be the lancing Of veins in a warm
bath? |