Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1899-08-25
To Suicides
Commencing.

The advertisement in the newspaper
ran as follows: Suicides commencing
These should write for appointment
TO Rex Blake. 72 Uppingdon Gardens.
South Kensington.
Herbert Streuth. artist. received an
appointment for Q 80 on Wednesday
afternoon. He called at the South Ken
sington address and was shown into n
solidly furnished library, where n podgy
little old gentleman with white hair
shook him warmly by the hand and
babe him to be seated.
~ am very pleased to see you. Mr.
Streuth. and | trust that | may be OF
some service to you-in fact. that we
may be Of service to each other. But |
must begin by asking yOu q plain ques-
tion. which you will answer tr%uthfully
and in II word Is your intended sui
eide connected in any way with severe
poverty or overwhelming financial
lossesf'
"No." said Streuth. ~ am consider
ed. | believe. to be fairly well OFF.
Delighted to hear it,. said Mr.
Blake. rubbing his chubby hands to-
gether. ''now we will proceed. | tell
ron frankly that with me this thing is
a business and nothing but a business
II you decide that | can serve you !
shall expect n moderate fee Now. what
are the principal objections to suicidef'
1.-THE law does not permit it. said
Streuth
Precisely. but In the case of the
successful suicide the law Is not asked.
1t says that Jon may not take your life
away, but if you do it cannot compel
You to take 1t back again or punish you
in any way. We can leave the law out.
''Thore is also the religious objec-
tion, " said Streuth.
"AIany very religious people. replied
Mr. Blake. ''have not found 1t cogent
Take the case. by no means an uncom-
mon enc. where the death of one man
may be an inestimable benefit to many
TO when he Is really sincerely attached.
Is an act of self sacrifice to be regarded
as a crimei No; 1t seems to me that
each suicide must be judged on its own
merits. taking into consideration the
motives and beliefs Of the person suicid-
ing. Any other o%pinionss"
al know none" Streuth answered.
''In fact. have not been thinking
much about 1t l want to get cut Of
things. / don't ask myself il there are
any objections or not don't care II
there are any objections.
lyon surprise me" said Mr.. Blake
"'You are an artist, and yet it has mo-
occurred to you that the name CT thu
suicide Is of essential importance. Thu
throat cutting is very dirty, and tn
same objection applies to the use o
firearms. Have a little foresight Imag
inc what you look like afterward. an'
the state of the bedclothes, and all tn,
rest of IL
81 was intending. said Streuth, st,
drown myself
"a have here. said Mr.. Blake. -
little work on forensic medicine. Their
are some interesting chapters ON tn
signs by which you can tell the length
of time the body has been in the water
Did you even hear of adipoceref Their
Is an elegant little description Of II Il
this passage Just read 1t.
Streuth took it and read a few lines
81 can't stand this, he said; sit is to
nauseous.
81 thought You would SEQ il in tina
light" Mr. Blake replied. "Peopl
mostly DO when l put 1t to them. 70
really can't tell what a rivers going
do to you. II may give you back a
once. or it may keep you for a BIZ
Even II IL gives yCn back at once 20
don't look pretty Here's a description
Of the face Of a man taken out Of th
Thames on
You needn't go on with that
have given up the idea Of drownin
myself There Is still poison. A littl
prussic acid and the bother is all over
Excellent. said Mr.. Blake "If 20
know the right dose. you die almo'
Immediately. But you've got an awfI
moment II you don't know the rigf
dose. you have a very bad time 70
will be found with your hands violeDtl
c~linched. your eyes glistening and you
pupils dilated. and you will shrek jul
before your death Unpleasant. ism
itf"
"Well." said streuth. there Al
other p~oisons-"
IAN are open to objections ChlorI
may kill you comfortably or make 20
sick Other anRsthetics may lead