DOUBLE SUICIDE.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1332, 9 January 1912, Page 2

DOUBLE SUICIDE.

AN AMAZING LETTER. Paul Lafarfftie, ei-Deputy. for Lille, and one of. the best-known Socialists inIranco, along with his wife, a daughter "61 the celebrated writer, - Karl ■ Marx, found ;dea'd, at; their' residence! at ■ Draveil;, France,, on Sunday, November 20. He had fixed the term of his life lit seventy years; and had committed suicide when the time cume; his wife had apparently wished at the same time to accompany her husband to. his long rest. ■In this.she.was only .following the example of her brilliant sister, Eleanor Marx Avcling, who took pru'ssic acid to end a life which, as she said, "it was lio longer possible to endure." The following letter was left for a nephew by M. Lafargue:—"Sound in body and mind I kill myself before pitiless old age, which is taking from me' ono by one the pleasures and the joys of existence, and which is robbing me of my physical and ■ intellectual.. force, shall paralyse-.my energy, break my will, and make of me: a .burden .to myself and to. others, ■ .Some years ago I promised myself not to. pass my seventieth.year, . I have fixed this time of the year'for quitling life, and I have prepared tho mode of earn jug; out my resolution. . . ..I die with supreme joy to have the certitude ■that in the near future the caute to which I .have devoted'myself for 45 years shall triumph. ' Long live Communism! Long live International Socialism!"

A hypudemiic injection of a patent poison, had been the agent employed to cause death in both eases.

Paul Lafarguo had a stormy career. Born iu Santiago, Cuba, in' 1812, of •French parents, he was brought to Franco when nine years old. When studying medicine in Paris in 18G5 ho got into trouble by refusing to follow a.tricolour ting in a students' procession and by displaying a black "flag. Expelled from the university lie went to England and took his degree as a doctor of. medicine. In London lie made the acquaintance of-Karl Marx, who was .'founder of "The International," became a disciple .and married his youngest daughter 'Laura. Returning to' France, lie took sides with the Com'mune, and . escaped toy a rapid flight into Spain. He lived there a year, then returned to England and remained there until the amnesty was proclaimed in 1880.

Returning to France, ho started by pen and speech nn active C'ollcctivis't propaganda,' and for his extreme views wus tent for six months to prison. • The same campaign was.begiin after his'liberation, and for articles in which he violently attacked the French Government ho was condemned to a year's imprisonment. During this time, however, a sent in the Chamber of Deputies for Lille became vacant. He became a candidate, was elected in September, IS3I, and there was a stormy debate in (he Chambur as to whether his election was valid. In the end ho was allowed to take his 6eat. . '

In 1593 he ,was not re-elected. Since then lie has written largely (n Suialist subjects, with his wifo in some cases as his collnborntcur. • ■

Arcliibidd Clnimley had a cold, Ho hated ono to know it; But when a fellow's noso is red He cuunot help but show it. Archibald Chumley loved a girl, So buxom, fair, and comely, Rho gavo him Woods' Peppermint Cure, And now she's Mrs. Chumley.—Advt.

A conger of 311b. 13oz. caught by Mrs. Murmdn, was the largest fish taken at a recent sea-angling festival at Deal, I'inglaiul, and sho was awarded a special prize.

A boy named Marsli was fatally shot at ITailcyiniry College recently. The ovidenco at tho inquest showeil that several lads hnd been iirinc off a pistol in their toddi, and apparently it misfired. While tho boj-si were examining it the weapon went off and .11 bullet lodged in Marsh's brain, causing death. The jury returned a verdict of nccideiiijil death, and expressed sympathy with Uu! bereaved parents.

In opening a parish church bazaar at S|. AmioV-mi-thc-Soa. I.onl Derby declared Hint one of Ihe hardest thing's he had to do was to open bazaars, not because one went away with less money or bought n. lot of Iliiugs one did not require, but because, qiiq w.os asked' to speai,