The sun., 1908-01-26
MANY SUICIDES IN ITALY.
AL Glasses Of the Population Involved
Trivial Causes the aule.

-TrtNiAk Causes tne huIe.
ROME, Jan. I4-Suicide in Italy has be-
come almost epidemic, and IL 10 resorted "a
a. the easiest remedy for all the troubles
OF life. IL may safely be said that about
fifteen out Of every thousand deaths are
due to this cause.
In past years when suicides could not be
buried in consecrated ground. and when
those persons who attempted 70 take their
lives and recovered were punished with a
fine and imprisonment, suicide was regarded
a. a disgrace. But at present the deaths
of suicides receive the publicity Of an ordi-
nary occurrence Of life and the phrase
has taken away his Me- 10 substituted for
the word died in the customary obituary
notices.
A curious feature characterizes the ma
jority OF suicides committed in Italy. They
are hardly ever the outcome Of serious
difficulties such as financial ruin. loss OF
health, &C. but are very often the result
Of unhappy love affairs and an attack Of
melancholia.
Nor are they limited to the lower classes.
There is q case Of q Cabinet Minister who
committed suicide because he vas tired OF
life, there are several cases OF army and
navy officers who have blown their brains
out because they we're overlooked in pro-
motion. Of students who failed in their
sTaniinations Of women who had domestic
troubles, OF girls forsaken by or Jealous
Of their lovers. A prevalent cause OF sun
eide among young girls is pAternal reproof
because Of neglected household duties or
the refusal OF some trivial pleasure, a., for
instance, that Of going out after dark.
The means used 10 commit suicide differ.
Poison Of a violent quality, generally Oor-
rosive slbhmate, Is perhaps the mOet COM
mon. The Tiber and the high wall back
Of the Pincian Hill both have many VIC
Tins. The following are some typical
suicide cases:
A young girl OF the middle classes wish
ing 20 marry a young laborer obtained
her parents consent and her idyl appeared
to be going on smoothly. Then an old
uncle, who by the way Was deaf mute,
paid a visit to her house and objected 70
the match.
Being unable TO do this verbally and
probably being OF a nervous temperament
he expressed his disapprovai by wildly
waving his arms and comforting his features
To such an extent that the young girl grew
hysterical. and without waiting for further
developments she went to her bedroom
and took poison. Within a few hours she
was dead The meddlesome old man. CON
science stricken at the outcome OF his OPP
position. afterward explained that his only
objection to the young man was dlle to the
fact that ne had red hair, which made him
excessively nervous.
A Roman shoemaker. industrious and
successful in his work who owned a small
shop where he employed two apprentices
and did a brisk trade. fell in love with
young servant girl who often brought shoes
to be cObbled at his shop. Aftsr a year of
courtship he decided 10 marry her One
morning shortly before the wedding the
shop was closed and the shoemaker dis
The police. having forced the door. found
the man hanging from the tranEom with
a bullet hole in his temple. A note written
in pencil was found pinned to his coat, and
in Il he explained that as he feared n ven
delta on the part of some Of his enemies
who might kin his future wife. he realized
that the best and only solution to the difii-
Guilty was to kill himself
A bricklayer OF 20 finding II hard to get
work on account OF his age went home
one evening and turning to his wife he said:
-We'll meet in the next world and so saw
ing he jumped out Of the window.
A. family composed Of ave persons,
father mother, two sons and a daughter
committed suicide almost simultaneously
some time ago. The father left a letter
saying he was tired 81 supporting an un-
grateful family. This grieVed the others 60
much that they decided 70 follow his ex-
ample.
explained IN various ways. The anti
clericals ascribe ii TO courage. as they say
nobody except q person OF courage viii
take his own hfe. The clergy attribute IL
TO lack Of religion.
The opponents Of the Government affirm
that suicides are due TO the fact that there
10 no law IN Italy TO punish them. Travellers
who are in the habit OF writing books on
Italian customs after q residences Of coiiple
OF months cay suicides are the result Of the
excitable and passionate nature Of the
natives and they nningle sentiment and
poetry In deplorinR II.
No doubt all these explanations are more
or Iess correct, but the fact remains that
meanwhile suicides are daily increasing and
no remedy to stop the evil has been thought
OF or attempted.