The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1897-09-29

ened their courage with wine, and then
drank the fatal potion.
When Alexander had besieged a city
In India, the people determined to de-
stroy themselves and their city, which
they did with fire. When the Spanish
city of Astapa was about to be taken
by the Romans, the inhabitants gath
cred their riches and furniture in pub
lie place and put upon the heap all the
women and children, piled around 1t
combustible materials, and left fifty or
their young men to carry out their
plans; the rest Of the men issued out OF
the city and fought until they were
slain. The young men massacred every
soul in the city, then set fire to the pile
and lastly threw themselves upon IT,
When King Philip attacked Abydos'
the people determined to Kill them
selves, after having burned their treas
ures; but for want Of time they were
not able to collect their goods and car
ry out their design. Philip seized their
treasures and withdrew his soldiers
granting them three days in which TO
kill themselves. At the end or those
days not one was left alive.
Plutarch's list in this kind is long, but
we have space but for few instances.
In the time of the Roman civil war
Cato the younger had been engaged IN
defending Utica. AT the battle Oh
Thapsus the senatorial forces were
routed, and the citizens of the place de-
sired to come to terms with the con-
queror Cato, however, was well aware
of the cruelty practiced during these
wars upon captives, and he knew also
that Caesar, though in mild MOOD,
would not have power to prevent THESE
cruelties He would not trust sur
render, but kept the gates shut until he
was able to send away his followers py
sea. He himself dined with his friends,
discoursing upon high themes, after ms
usual manner. About midnight ne
called his freedman, Butas, and sent
him to the port to see If all his friends
had sailed. Word was soon brousht
that all had gone except Crassus, VINO
was Just ready to depart. He again
sent Butas to see if any of them shouid
happen to return for. anything they
wanted, and meanwhile he fell into a
, little slumber. When Butas reported
that all was quiet in the haven cato lay
down as If he would sleep and babe MIN
; shut the door as he went out. AS soon
as Butas was gone Cato took his SWORD
and stabbed himself.
Shortly after the Roman Emperor
Ohio had secured power at Rome WORD
came that the army in Germany mad
J declared for Vitellius. Ohio prepared
: to fight to maintain himself, and the
campaign opened favorahly TO him
His enemies tried to bring on decisive
! battle, while his own officers desired
him to avoid collision at that time
Ohio decided to advance his army
: while he remained behind on the south
: ern bank of the Pc. His advance forces
met the Vitellian troops near Cremona'
where a battle took place in which the
, forces of Ohio were defeated On the
l next day the victors were welcomed by
2 the vanquished into their camp as
r friends. Although Ohio still had under
l his command formidable force, ne
I considered that the verdict of the bat
! tie must be accepted. He made digni-
! fed speech of farewell to those around
t him. and then lay down to sleep for
: several hours Early in the morning ne
2 killed himself with a sword, held up
/. right under him with, both his hands,
: and died with no more than single
groan. When Cleomenes, King OF
I Sparta, the third of his name, had lost
e battle, Therycion advised him to Kill
4 himself to escape the ignominious
e death or infamous life that his con-
! queror might impose. But he replied
e "That Is remedy that can never DC
: wanting, but which a man Is never te
: make use of while there is an inch Of
: hope within him; that it was sometimes
e consistency and valor to live; that M
d would that even his death should be Of
t use to his country, and would make o.
: 1t an act of honor and virtue. Havlns
e lost his throne, he took refuge In Egypt
{ and was kindly received by the Ptole
: my then on the throne of that country
a but his successor imprisoned MIN
t Having escaped, he led an instruction
n against this king, which failed. Find
t ing themselves in this strait, Cleomene:
! babe his friends all die bravely, as be
n came his followers and their own pas
g actions Each of them readily and res
J, olutely fell upon his own sword excep
Q Panteus, a very handsome man ana tn'
|. kings dearest friend. The king pad
$ him, when he had seen him and the res
s fallen, die by their example. Panteu
I walked over them as they lay, ant
l. pricked every one with his dagger to tf!
. | whether any was alive. WHcH ~
pricked Cleomenes in the ankle and say
l. him turn upon his back. he kissed him
?, sat down by him, and when he wa
n quite dead covered up the body, AM
i then killed himself over 1t.
n Such are some of the instances in an
: Client history in which the remarkabl
: phenomenon of suicides in battle ha
l. appeared. Among the signs of progress
.e in civilized nations no one Is more sig
r. nificant than this--that suicide on tn
& battlefield is unknown where the armie
Is of civilized nations confront each Other
e, In our civil war or in the Franco-Ger
1t man war; the prisoners knew well tina
n no tortures awaited them.--St. Loui
n Globe-Democrat.
m EIGHT-HOUR DAY IN ENGLAND
IF The labor departments report o
II wages and hour Of labor in 1896, give
ID some interesting statistics of the eigh
Of hour day There is nothing very start
ling to report for the year under re
n view, though it is satisfactory to fin
" that some 1900 people secured the short
A. err day and there was was no apprt
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