The Feilding Star. Published Daily. SATURDAY, JAN. 20, 1894. SUICIDES.

Feilding Star, Volume XV, Issue 219, 20 January 1894, Page 2

The Feilding Star. Published Daily. SATURDAY, JAN. 20, 1894. SUICIDES.

The epidemic of suicide which has caused so much note iv tho colonies of late is not confined to them alone, but is prevalent iv Great Britain. Jn the old days it was not held to bo dishonorable for a man to take his own life, provided always the heroic element could be introduced into the net, but with the advancement of Christianity the sanctity of human life was taught to be respected, and tho means adopted to prevent self-murder were hideously repellant to our modern ideas, while their effectiveness was more than doubtful. It is admitted thut the suicides in England just now are due, in the vast majority of cases, to extreme mental depression, and the same cause is assigned by medical men in this colony. One authority avers that in his opinion the competition and struggle for existence is one cause, and a second is that the sole aim and object of a large number of our young people is pleasure, and on the first touch of adversity their highstrung nerves fail them, and they seek a haven in death. The tendency to commit suicide is undoubtedly on the increase, because in the ten years 1865-74 the annual average suicides per million living was 66 1, and in the ten years 1879-88 it was 76 7. The rate of suicides in various countries in each year per 100,000 persons living was as follows : — tsaxony heads the list with 31 1, Denmark follows with 25 8, gradually decreasing uutil we come to Queensland, 13 5 ; Prussia, 13 3; Victoria, 11*5; New South Wales, 9 3 ; New Zealand, 9 ; South Australia, 8 9 : Sweden, B*l ; Norway, 7-5 ; Belgium, 6-9 ; England and Wales, 6 9 ; Tasmania, 53; Scotland, 4 ; United States, 3"5 ; Ireland, 17 ; Spam, I*4. These figures are interesting. If it is admitted that mental depression is the main and leading influence towards self destruction, it appears to us that the way to cure the epidemic is plain and simple. Let the people live less for themselves, their own aggrandisement, and their own pleasures and self-gratification. Let there be more real charity for each others' faults and shortcomings, and let kindliness of heart, or sympathy for the sorrows and troubles of others be looked upon, and spoken of, as virtues in place of as weaknesses which " interferD with the allpowerful passion " of money making. Many a sinful man and erring woman has been turned into the right path by a kindly word spoken at the right \ momeut.