Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1899-05-16
To Suicides
Commencing.

~x~~~~~~~~~~
The advertisement in the newspaper
ran as follows: Suicides commencing
These should write for appointment
to Rex Blake. ~ Uppingdon Gardens.
South Kensington.
Herbert Streuth. artist, received an
appointment for $50 on Wednesday
afternoon. He called at the South Ken
sington address and was shown into
solidly furnished library, where a podgy
little old gentleman with white hair
shook him warmly 10y the hand and
babe him to be seated.
II am very pleased to see you. Mr..
Streu,b. and trust that ! may be OF
some service 20 you-in fact. that We
NAV be of service 10 each other. But
must begin by asking you a plsin ques-
tion. which yOu will answer rnthfully
and in one word Is your intended sui
eide connected in any way with severe
poverty or overwhelming financial
lossesr
mo. said Streuth. IL am consider
ed, believe. to be fairly well of. "
.Delighted TO hear il" said Mr..
Blake. rubbing his chubby hands to-
gether. ..now we will proceed. tell
You frankly tha, with me this thing is
a business and nothing but business
II YOU decide that can serve you ]
shall expect moderate fee. Now. what
are the principal objections 10 sricidef'
THE law does not permit 1t. i" said
Streuth
Precisely, but in the case OF the
successful suicide the law IL not asked.
Ii says that you may not take Your life
away. but if you do ii cannot compel
You to take it back again or punish you
in any way. We can leave the law ont.
There is also the religious objec-
ton, said Streuth.
MANY very religious people, replied
Mr.. Blake. ..have not found il cogent.
Take the case. by no means an uncom-
mon one. where the death of one man
may be m inestimable benefit TO many
10 wbcm he is really sincerely attached.
l. an act Of self sacrifice TO be regarded
as crimey No; il seems TO me that
each suiade must be- judged on its own
merits. taking into consideration the
motives and beliefs Of the person suicid-
ing. Any other opinions
~ know none. Streuth answered.
"In fact. have not been thinking
much about it. want 10 get cut OF
things don ( ask myself II there are
any objections or not. den care II
there are any objections.
"You surprise me. " said Mr. Blake.
lyon are an artist. and yet il has not
occurred TO you that the manner Ct 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. lmag-
inc what you look like afterward, and
the state of the bedclothes. and all the
rest Of il. :"
81 was intending. said Streuth. Ito
drown myself.
81 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 adipocerer There
| is an elegant little description OF 1t in
this passage. Just read 1t.
Streuth took il and read u few lines
81 can't stand this. he said; ''it is too
| pauseous.
II thought you would see II in that
light" Mr.. Blake replied. People
mostly do when put it to them. You
really can't tell what rivers going to
| 10 to You. II may give you back at
.,nce, or it may keep you for a bit.
Even il Ii gives You back at once you
don't look pretty. Here's description
| of the face of man taken out OF the
Thames on
"You needn't go on with that. !
have given up the idea OF drowning
myself. There is still poison. A little
prussic acid and the bother is all over.
Excellent. said Mr.. Blake. If you
know the right dose. you die almost
Immediately. But you've got an awful
moment. II you don't know the right
dose you have a very bad time. You
will be found with your hands violently
clinched, your eyes glistening and your
pupils dilated. and you will shrek just
tefore your death. Unpleasant. isn't
til"
"weil," said Streuth. there are
other poisons.
IAN are open to objections. Choral
may kill yOu comfortably or make you
sick. Other anasthetics may lead to
Iyour being discovered while in state
Of Inconsistencies. but not dead. and
the treatment they give you then Is not
pretty. Many quick poisons are pain
ful. very painful. and in any case You
leave your body about after. So untidy
such a want Of neatnessl Every sui
eide Is anxious to wipe himself right
out. to get away from public attention.
II he leaves that body about after, peo-
pie sit on il and say that he was tm-
porariIy insane. and one Of the jury 10
rude to the coroner. and the coroner Is
severe to one Of the jury, and the whole
thing gets into the papers and the fam
lily Is dissraced. and everybody feels
that the death was gYoesly inartistic. +"
Il II don't know" said Streuth, III
you imagine that by telling me these
things you can deter me from the end
which have In view. II 90, pray do
not waste your time and mine any fur
ther. =
~ had no such idea." said Mr..
Blaks. "All ] wish TO do b TO give you
j | chance Of committing suicide In the
best possible way. No pain, no scandal.
! - untidy body lying aboat sftsrward