Custer County Republican. (Broken Bow, Neb.) 1882-1921, 1903-06-11

There are fashions in suicide as in
most other things. And people who
so desplse the world as to want to put
themselves out of it nevertheless un-
consciously pay 1t Difference by OBJ
serving the customary method of sui
eide. The thrall and habit of fashion
are so fixed upon us that they survive
even through the disdain that leads to
self-intlicted death Perhaps everybody
has observed that suicide Is more in
vogue I'm summer than in any other
season. The thought of being inferred
in cool. moist earth, when elsewhere
there Is no escape from the heat, is
not repugnant. Maybe this has some
what to do In creating the fashion. 1t
is just as true. though hardly so gem
orally observed, that fashions in sui
eide run along the lines of occupations
and professions. In this country 1t is
more common among farmers, but
abroad among soldiers. Next come sa-
loonkeepers and then physicians. Cler.
gymen and miners most rarely take
their lives. / would be difficult to
find any reason for these distinctions
but most fashions are without defina-
BILE reasons. The favorite time of day
for suicide Is between 6 In the morn
ing and noon. The favorite days of
the week are Tuesdays and Thurs
days. Saturday, for some unknown
reason, sees fewer suicides than any
other day. Theorists who are so quick
find reason for the commences of
suicide In summer might try to eX-
plain these other equally well-establlsh-
ed pecullarlties. If the effects of hot
weather cause more suicides In July
than in December. what causes more
on Tuesday than on Saturday, and
more before noon than after? Moral
lists are fond of accounting for sui
cides In general in reckless living and
carelessness as to vital obligations. But
suicides are most numerous In sober
! frugal Germany, where they reach the
great total OF 2i6 in every million. This
fact fails to fit the theory. More men
kill themselves than women by about
four to one. 1t Is said in Spain that
greatest; 30 women there kill them
selves to every 100 men. The neXt
largest proportion of women suicides
is here In the United States, where
the figures are 2S to 100, The wives
with children figure in the suicide rec
ord ut 40 in every million, while tn,
childless women suicides reach 1oS
Widowers with children suicide mt tn,
rate of 500 In a million, and wldower'
without children at that of 1,004 Ii
Europe hanging is the favorite methoC
Of suicide, and Mulhall's statistics
show that in Denmark 70 per cent TAX,
this means. But hanging is no longe
the fashion In the United States, ant
very likely the rope is preferred abroat
only In the absence of easier means
With us there is decided preference
for the revolver among men, as Their
Is for carbolic acid among women
Suicide by hanging has become com
paratlvely rare in this country, eXcep
In rural districts. The rate OF suici0
among students is high and steadil
growing higher. Not long ago, min
cases OF suicide were reported at
single English university within on
year. That suicide can occur eXceI
as the result of mental alteration ca
hardly be believed, but 1t is somewha
curious how the alterations run alon
established lines of custom that are ne
even recognized until statistics sho'
that they have existed. Psychicist
have n Job on their hands.