One hundred years ago
THERE can be little doubt that the increasing consciousness which accom- panies civilisation increases greatly the tendency to suicide. A sort of epidemic of the crime is raging here, the immedi- ate causes usually being fear of poverty, jealousy, or what is called in the news- paper reports, "love," — that is, a fever- ish selfishness generated by desire. The regular course, in fact, now is, if a man cannot win the girl he wants, to shoot her, and then shoot himself. The law seems to have no effect whatever, and juries begin to shrink from affixing even the stigma of insanity to the act. They return as a verdict, in the clearest cases, "Found drowned." In Austria also, sup- posed to be one of the happiest coun- tries in the world, and certainly inhabited by a cheerful people, the number of suicides is extraordinary. It has increased for three years, and in 1892 rose to 1,005, — that is to say, a whole regiment of men and women put themselves to death rather than bear trouble any longer. The world is gaining in some moral qualities, but the capacity of endurance is dwindling, and that is no light loss to be reckoned on the per contra side. The Spectator 31 March 1894
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