The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-12-07

has often served after that for duels. and behind he protecting walls inclos- ing the schloss duelists fought with pis- tols or swords safe from interruption. The superstition of the neighbors Is still such that no one dares to wander too close to the schloss at nighttime, so that those contemplating suicide are safe from in- trusion.
 Periodical Epidemics ot Suicide.
 derer.
 A few days ago the correspondent Of a Paris journal was wandering leisurely along the banks of the little lake near the schloss when he saw hair floating upon the surface. Entering rowboat near by he made closer inspection and discovered the body of beautiful young girl standing upright in the water and having evidently walked out until the wa ters closed over her head. She was fash ionably dressed, but with no papers to show her identity. Several days later the remains were identified at the morgue by the parents, who said that she had suf- fered disappointment in love.
 Last Thursday a young couple were discovered lying dead in each others arms in Grunewald. Letters discovered showed that they had premeditated this end together because the parents Of the young man would not consent to their marriage. The average young German Is loyal to his parents and their command is often his law. Such a family tragedy occurred not long ago in Moabit, where the parents were strongly religious, and had. placed great hopes upon their son. who was to study for the ministry. h. stead the young "candidat theolog" de- termined to assume another profession, and one day introduced his sweetheart as his intended wife. There was scene, and next morning the remains of the young man were taken from Schlachten sea, near this city. When his fiancee was queried as to the motive of the young mans death she laughed and said
 He was young fool. He bought me clothes and jewels and we had pleasant time. But he had such stupid parents. I'm sorry he did it.
 Popular indignation Is now and then aroused to a high pitch by the remark able number of such tragedies, and min isterial synods adopt resolutions clamor- ing for restrictive laws. For in Berlin the pious and religious element has been pushed back by the modern skeptical philosophies taught the young and by the socialistic doctrine with which Berlin is permeated.
 Wages Too Small for Marriage. One other prime cause of suicide is the excessively small wages paid to young men who have devoted many years to studying their professions. With such an income they are unable to enjoy the com forts of welded life. Among these there are government and city employees, who may work diligently until they are 40 and 45 years old before the grade to which they are promoted by the civil service rules affords them a sufficient in- come to become married Consequently the "verhaltniss" system has become a recognized institution, sanctioned by GUS tom and not followed with penalties.
 The recent mortuary statistics of the city of Berlin reveal as usual a large number of student suicides. Here it is that one encounters one of the gravest ills of modern Germany. Imagine a young man of high strung nature study ing from his 18th to his 3Oth year and passing through all the successive grades, the primary school, the gymnasium, the preparatory university, the Royal Uni versity. and then filing his papers with the officials appointed to test his quail fications before the title of doctor of medicine, of law, or of philosophy. etc. Is bestowed. and then being rejected be- cause of the exceedingly severe require ments. Fully half their lives have been devoted to study without obtaining a penny of income and spending their youth in study, while the proportion of suc- cessful candidates is small as compared with those who are rejected and must try over again or seek some other occu- patton. Some are unable to endure the disgrace of a failure at examination and commit suicide.
 The average young German is a serious minded young philosopher who has not much use for mysticism and religion of the orthodox kind. There is perhaps no other nation in which the young. unmar- ried maidens are so prone to be swayed by sentiment as in Germany. All this is prolific soil for the gloomy modern philos- ophies.