Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1899-06-01

THE advertisement in the newspaper
ran as follows: Suicides Com
mencing.-These should write for ap-
pointment to Mr.. Rex Blake, ~, Up
pingdon Gardens, South Kensington."
Herbert Streuth, artist. received an
appointment for $3.50 on Wednesday
afternoon. He called at the South Ken
sington address, and was shown into
solidly furnished library, where .
podgy little old gentleman with white
hair shook him warmly by the hand and
babe him to be seated.
81 am very pleased to see you, Mr..
Streuth, and I trust that l may be of
some service to you, in fact, that we
may be of service to each other. But
1 must begin by asking you a plain
question, which You will answer truth
fully and in one word. Is your intended
suicide connected in any way with Sc
we're poverty or overwhelming financial
losses?"
NO" said Streuth; ~ am considered,
believe, to be fairly we'll off"
Delighted to hear it, said Mr.. Blake,
rubbing his chubby hands together.
"Now we will proceed. 1 tell you frank
" that with me this thing is bust
ness, and nothing but business. If
you decide that can serve you, shall
expect a moderate fee. Now, what are
The principal objections to suicideT
THE law does not permit It," said
Streuth.
Precisely, but In the case of the sue
cessful suicide the law is not asked. 1t
says that you 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"
There is also the religious objec-
tion," said Streuth.
MANY very religious people" replied
Mr.. Blake, "have not found it cogent.
Take the case, by no means an uncom-
mon one, where the death of one man
NAV be an inestimable benefit to many
to whom he is really sincerely attached.
Is an act of self-sacrifce to be regard
ed as crime? No; 1t seems to me that
each suicide must be judged on its own
merits, taking into consideration tho
motives and beliefs of the person sui
Gliding. Any other objections?"
II know of none" Streuth answeredi
''in fact, have not been thinking much
about it. l want to get out OF things.
| don't ask myself If there are any OBJ
iections or not. don't care II there are
any objections"
you surprise me-" said Mr.. BlakeI
you are an artist, and yet 1t has not
occurred to you that the manner OF the
suicide is of essential importance. The
throat-cutting is very dirty, and the
same objection applies to the use OF
firearms. Have little foresight. I'm
agine what you look like afterwards,
and the state of the bedclothes, and all
the rest of it"
81 was intending" said Streuth, ito
drown myself"
~ have here" said Mr.. Blake, "a little
work on forensic medicine. There are
some interesting chapters on the signs
by which you can tell the length OF
time the body has been in the water.
Did you ever hear of adipocere? There
is an elegant little description OF 1t IN
this passage. Just read it."
Streuth took it and read a few lines.
az can't stand this" he said. ut Is too
nauseous."
81 thought you would see it in that
light" Mr.. Blake replied; people most
ly do when put it to them. You real
~ can't tell what rivers going to do
10 you. 1t may give you back at once,
or it may keep you for bit Even
if it gives you back at once you don't
look pretty. Here is description OF
the face of man taken out Of the
Thames on"
"You needn't go on with that, Ihave
given up the idea of drowning myself