The Mellette County pioneer. [volume] (Wood, Mellette County, S.D.) 19??-1971, 1912-10-18

tations OF the peculiar and almost In.
explicable suicide mania that is now
sweeping the whole OF the country,
selling upon young and old. rich and
poor, lowly and high.b born. In ST. Pc.
tersburg alone there is an average OF
Is suicides a day. Moscow records
about the same number, and the 9TH
er big Russian cities are not far be-
hind. Efforts have been made In
vain TO check the tendency. Anti.sui.
eide societies by the dozen have
made their appearance. but despite
the constant efforts OF such organi.
nations as the League OF Life and
the Anti.Suicide League. the daily rec
ord OF suicides increases alarmingly.
So serious has the situation become In
this city that the Prefecture OF Police
has offered II reward OF $3.50 for ey-
cry rescue and many OF the unem.
pioyed assemble every day on the
banks Of the Neya and the canals on
the lookout for attempted suicides.
One watcher placed three rescues to
MS tItuIi III de many udNS.
Because OF the pledge OF secrecy
which binds the members OF the Sui
eide Club details OF It's organization
are difficult TO get. Who founded IL?
Who il the president? Some declare
Il IL one OF the grand dukes. though
the younger generation OF imperial
cousins show too mech good sense
and too much zest for life TO play
such a role. and the older ones are
far too dignihed. Others declare
that the famous Russian novelist.
Artzy basChen, is the founder aud
president and the instigator OF the
more original suicides. He has writ
ten many books which condemn life
az something like q sin. and extol self
destruction AS a heroic action. He has
been fined by the tribunals for writ.
,ng books OF pernicious influence. and
he openly advocates many kinds OF
vice. which he makes as attractive AS
possible. His great talent makes his
books all the more dangerous. Never
theless. there is no sure proof mat he
has any direct Influence on suicides.
or has ever helped the club TO gather
IN i,s harvest OF victims. And though
n is now AN established institution
its origin and members list Is AS deep
q mystery rs possible.
This mysterious club holds It's meet
Inys AZ the homes of the
MANY fashionable people belong 10 IL,
and women with a family OF growing
children. elderly men with the $
mart OF their lives behind them
yo,pp women with y good chance OF
bapplnoss gather round the table
where the fatal lots arc drawn. Que
card il prepared for each meeting,
,rhe member who draws II must XIII
h,mself within a week, the club de-
o,a,,, M 10 the method, II the mem
Ia, canpot think Of a suitable way
x.n,bers must court death out OF
,,sre curiosity, or as q means or snow
ting some novel way OF leaving the
wo,,s Common poisons are taDooed
DrownIux in admitted only when wine
90 n,r,umed water is used n the
s,rroundings are exceptionally besu'
tin,l or luxurious. The simple empty
Co. a, a revolver into ones body Is
GO, GOOD enough. Shooting must De
.sr,,,tic.~ or left severely alone,
Thsss suicides lake place with a lot
Of pomp. In the case OF the young
baroness Zakomelska a supper ~ss
s,y.n to the Petersburg members. 81
~. and a huge tub was filled with
.hsmnasne, and the lady drowned
Sn..a,, In Il. after all present had