SCHOOLBOY SUICIDES.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1451, 28 May 1912, Page 5

SCHOOLBOY SUICIDES.

AN EPIDEMIC IN RUSSIA. By Teleerapa—Press As£ocia.tiqn--CopyriEht. Si. Petersburg, May 26. Suicides by schoolboys are occurring daily in various districts. Two lads, nettled by a disagreement with their teacher, at Poltava, threw themselves under an express train. "THE FRIENDS OF DEATH." ST. PETERSBURG SUICIDE CLUB. Strange stories of suicide epidemics come from dime to time from Russia. A recent contributor to a St. Petersburg journal, tho "Vechernaya Vreuiyn," described one of the meetings of the "Friends of Death," a suicide league which is said to have a large membership in St. Petersburg. The meeting was held in a house in tho heart of the city. It began early in the. evening, in order not to excite the attention of the police, and for the samo cause the members I arrived singly, and many went in by the' I back entrance. The attendance included men and women, young and old. Several of the men wern in uniform.

The largo meeting-room was thickly carpeted, and heavy curtains masked the windows. Over the door was the inscriptiion: "All liopo abandon yo who outer here." On the door itself two crossed scythes wore shown on a flaming red background. Portraits of Schopenhauer, Herrmann, and other apostles of pessimism were hung on the walls. There was also a. largo picture portraying the legendary dispute between life and death. A few candles gave tho only light l>y which tho proceedings were conducted. Tho provident and other conimitteemon sat at a long table covered with black cloth, on which was the urn in which the suicidal lots sire cast. Three dull knocks from a hammer enveloped in black cloth intimated that (ho meeting was opened. The president began by expressing sympathy with a member of the league ia lady) who had recently attempted suicide, but as yet without a fatal result. Ho added his fervent hope that sho would meet tho death sho desired. By way of endorsing Ms words all those present roso in silence.

Another member said that hapnily the wound received by the lady was dangerous, and there was no hopo of her recovery. Tho greater part of the subsequent discussion turned on the epilation of devising original methods of suicide. It transpired that iiino of the members on whom the lot had fullnn had previously sworn not to take their lives in commonplace conditions. Various suggestions were made Tho one most favourably received was that a considerable portion of the members should commit suicide on masse, it being calculated that the sensation thereby produced would attract any number of recruits to tne league. It was proposed that a dinner should be arranged at one of the fashionable restaurant?, and that the diners should swnllow ornnide of potassium out of champagne glasses. Their funerals would be organised with great pomp in order to affect impressionablo people. The evening closed with the playing of ii funeral inarch and a rcqur'em composed bv o member of the league who lately took his life.