Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-02-20

any little details such as the prying Of
the police and all that sort of thing.
LAS a matter of fact. it is my opinion
that in the course of time copies Of the
blanks which the hotel would cause the
guests to make out on registering could
be promptly filed with the department OF
police. thus making it unnecessary TO
have any police funny business when the
events actually come off. Why not?
Folks who are bent upon suicide are
going to commit suicide in spite OF all
the police earth. and is there any
valid reason why, this being the case.
the police should not be put in posses
sion of all the facts they need to know
in advance of the event. instead of their
nosing around and getting hold of twist
ed facts after the affair has actually
occurred?
1T might be urged that the guests or
such hotel for suicides might show a
disposition to disobey the rules; the rule.
for example. requiring them TO adhere
to the dates selected by them in the
drawings for their quitting. Well this
could be obviated by requiring each
guest, upon registering, to file regular
bond. say in the sum Of 5000 or $1,000
or some amount worth while. guarantee
ing the house that he would stick by the
date indicated by the number he has
drawn and that he will religiously obey
all the rest of the rules of the establish
ment. Failure to comply with the rules
of the house in any respect would in
volve the forfeiture of the amount OF
the bond.
Each guest. of course. upon arriving
would be required to thoroughly satisfy
the management as to his financial re-
sponsibility. For this purpose guests
would have to give proper financial Gre
dentials and city references, city bank
ing references, of course. being given
the preference In the making of such
inquiries. For il must be understood
that such an establishment would not be
devised for the accommodation Of impe
cunious persons bent upon self-removal.
1t would be solely for the accommoda
ton of WORTHY. wellto-do persons who
Fave arrived at the conclusion that
circumstances over which they have no
control, or life-weariness, or what-not.
dictate that they shall pass on to their
great reward Not, understand that I
would be unfair enough to exclude poor
lishments OF this character. In the
course of time much less expensive in
situations, within the financial reach OF
all, could be opened up.
81 have outlined what / deem to be q
crying need If you don't think it is
crying need. ask any hotel man in this
town or any other big town. 1t is the
most natural thing in the world for hotel
men to take to heart the self-removing
occurrences that take place in their es-
adjustments. Why shouldn't they get
together and fan over this scheme o.
mine?"
AS I stated at the beginning. / couldn't
quite determine whether the hotel man
who said these things was in earnest or
merely funning, because, he has a counte-
nance as expressionless as that of an
Easter Island lava statue and should
have won all the money in the world.
long ere this. at the game OF poker. pos
sessing such countenance.
But there really isn't any likelihood Of
the Hotel de Quit being started over
here for some time to come. The tins
for such an innovation hasn't yet ar
rived. Even such benefcent outfits as
regularly organized suicide clubs are dis
countenanced by the New York police, so
that 1t must be taken that the hotel for
suicides still reposes in the realm of flu
turity. CLARENCE l.. CULLEN.