The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-08-20
LATEST NEWS FROM EUROPE.
PREVALENCE OF THE
SUICIDE MANIA IN GREAT BRITAIN

tho Daily Newspapers, ofthe Question, "Is
Life Worth Living t"-wiliian, Archer's
Suggestion OF . Comfortable Place for
Saicides to Accomplish Their Purpose
Tho Victoria aud Her Crew q Sacri-
Zee 10 AdmIrni Trson Intolerance OF
Suggestion brave Mutiny OF the Ed
sar's saiiors-saved I1J Lives by It
Gladstone Must Have an Autumn Session
a Peculiar Case of Kidnapping by u
Child. wtfo-Big Strike OF Coal Miners.
LONDON Aug. 1a-A strange mania for SELF
destruction Is Selling many victims almost
daily both in London and In Paris. Every
issue OF the newspapers contains columns
about this sudden epidemic. The Daily Chron-
icie has become the forum for a grewsome dis
cusson under the caption. Tired OF Life"
The question asked By scores OF writer's is. ~ Is
suicide wronGy" A peculiar feature OF the
craze is that most OF the victims are
men and women under thirty. who end their
lives without any discoverable cause OF the
ordinary sort Several boys from fifteen to
eighteen. happily situated in their own fami-
lies. and without signs of dependency. de-
stroyed them elves this week.
One case OF suicide which has caused most
fierce and morbid discussion is that OF Ernest
Clark. who shot himself In the head on Mon
day after writing q remarkable letter to
demonstrate that lifo Is not worth living
He was % years old OF high intellectual
powers surrounded by elements OF hap
plness. with no grievance or disappoint-
ment except life as whole. His letter
brought to the newspapers great mass OF
comment from all classes. 1t is significant
that large proportion has been an endorse
ment OF his views: and arguments in favor OF
tho moral right and sometimes tho duty Of
selt-destruction have been plentiful in the
Chronicle That newspaper makes most
prominent letter from William Archer. who.
after asserting that nowhere in the Bible Is
suicide condemned, says: What We want
what our grandsonS or great-grandsons will
probably have. is II com odious and scientific
lethal chamber which shall reduce to a mini
MIN physical terrors and Inconvenience OF
suicide. both for tho patient and for his fam
lily and friends In a rational state Of civiza-
ton self placement should cost us no more
physical screwing UP OF courage than visit
to the hurber's. and much less than visit to
the dea,sts. Mental effort will always be
severe enough to keep people from wantonly
and in mere caprice putting an end to them
selves"
The morbid discussion attracts greater at
tention daily. and it is quite evident that 1t will
eclipse in public interest last winters great
topic. lis Christianity Played Out?" The
unusually hot summer may have had some
thing to do with the spread OF the mania
Such hot. Try weather AS has been expert
enced during the last ten days Is almost I'M
known in England. On the Continent the heat
IL even worse Americans in Paris say tho
weather has been worse than the hottest spells
at home. Although the days have ranged in
temperature from o5' to 1902. the nights have
been aim ost as bad.
Tho survivors Of the Victoria arrived in
IOndon this weak They hrinr m
facts about tho disaster. not disclosed ut tho
court martial. They make it clear that 400
lives aud a ship were sacrificed simply to the
well-known British traits OF arrogance and
intolerance. Adl.lirai Tryon was in sound
mental condition at the time OF the disaster. I'M
less great anger is u form OF insanity. No man
was ever more intolerant OF suggestion than
Admiral Tryon. The fact was brought to his
attention more times than was disclosed at
the court martial. that the man9uvre WAS
dangerous with only six cables between the
columns. The last time the suggestion was
made the Admiral flew into a passion. which
Is described as volcanic. A slight illness had
made him unusually irritable Admiral Mark
ham aud the other officers on the Camper
down realized the fatal nature OF the order.
Their implied protest brought singing re-
Spouse from the flagship Admiral Markham
turned to the Captain OF his ship and said:
shps will To rammed." Ho added grimly:
And III take damn ed good care it isn't mine"
A9a!iru! Markham is deeply incensed at the
Implied censurs in the verdict OF the court
martial. He said alter the trial. that he had
been treated more as prisoner than a wit
ness. and mad been fouted for doing his duty.
One OF tho most striking Incidents ofthe ter
riDle day occurred on the war ship Edgar
Everybody saw that the Victoria was doomed.
n than lia,,, no,
on the davi,s. and then came the order not to
send boats The officer in charge was In
structed 10 hoist the boats on board The men
openly mutnied and declared that they didn't
care Tor the Admiral: they were going to aave
rhelr mates. The boatswain explained the sit
uatlon to the Lieutenant. who repeated tho or
der. The men replied by lowering the boats
with rush and by pulling off at top speed to
the doomed ship. They rescued ITS men.
Scores would have been drowned hut for this
disobedienco. Therefore the offenders were
not disciplined.
The disaster had a serious effect upon tho
ordinary seamen. marines. and stokers In the
1eet. All regard the ships as death traps. and
declare for the old wooden ships as much
safer. 1t will be long time before the con-
adence OF the rank and Ale Of the navy will be-
restored.
Mr.. Gladstone has again been compelled to
Apply tho buS 10 tue ouStfuctlOnistS of home
rule. The Tories and Liberal Uni nists are
again sending up apocryphal cries Of martyr
DOM MIR. Chamberlain plainly invited this
coup. He made it plain that he and his Tory
allies will keep the flood o! endless talk
upon the Unionist amendments going until
Christmas II not prevented by the interysn-
ton OF the gag. The Government has had
only one course open, Tit is not to be buled
into an attitude Of impotency.
The rea! bone Of contention between the Cow
eminent and the Opposition Is the subject OF
an autumn session. This proposal is intensely
unpopular with the Tories both for personal
and party reasons 1t will deprive tho sport
Ing and aristocratic members OF the Opposi-
ton OF their holidays after six months OF OK.
acting Parliamentary !abors. and 1t will enable
the Liberals to pass certain measures OF re-
form which Will much strengthen the position
OF the Ministry in the British constituencies
Gladstone Is driven by irresistible forces to an
autumn session. The lighting elements in
his party radical and labor members demand
It. and compliance is absolutely essential to
tho existence Of the Government