按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
asphyxiated； or drowned； all came together； a frightful horde； like
citizens to the polls； to say to society：
〃Grant us； at least； a gentle death！ Help us to die； you who will not
help us to live！ See； we are numerous； we have the right to speak in
these days of freedom； of philosophic independence and of popular
suffrage。 Give to those who renounce life the charity of a death that
will not be repugnant nor terrible。〃
I began to dream； allowing my fancy to roam at will in weird and
mysterious fashion on this subject。
I seemed to be all at once in a beautiful city。 It was Paris； but at
what period？ I walked about the streets； looking at the houses； the
theaters； the public buildings； and presently found myself in a square
where I remarked a large building； very handsome； dainty and attractive。
I was surprised on reading on the facade this inscription in letters of
gold； 〃Suicide Bureau。〃
Oh； the weirdness of waking dreams where the spirit soars into a world of
unrealities and possibilities！ Nothing astonishes one； nothing shocks
one； and the unbridled fancy makes no distinction between the comic and
the tragic。
I approached the building where footmen in knee…breeches were seated in
the vestibule in front of a cloak…room as they do at the entrance of a
club。
I entered out of curiosity。 One of the men rose and said：
〃What does monsieur wish？〃
〃I wish to know what building this is。〃
〃Nothing more？〃
〃Why； no。〃
〃Then would monsieur like me to take him to the Secretary of the Bureau？〃
I hesitated； and asked：
〃But will not that disturb him？〃
〃Oh； no； monsieur； he is here to receive those who desire information。〃
〃Well； lead the way。〃
He took me through corridors where old gentlemen were chatting； and
finally led me into a beautiful office； somewhat somber； furnished
throughout in black wood。 A stout young man with a corporation was
writing a letter as he smoked a cigar； the fragrance of which gave
evidence of its quality。
He rose。 We bowed to each other； and as soon as the footman had retired
he asked：
〃What can I do for you？〃
〃Monsieur；〃 I replied； 〃pardon my curiosity。 I had never seen this
establishment。 The few words inscribed on the facade filled me with
astonishment； and I wanted to know what was going on here。〃
He smiled before replying； then said in a low tone with a complacent air：
〃Mon Dieu； monsieur； we put to death in a cleanly and gentleI do not
venture to say agreeable manner those persons who desire to die。〃
I did not feel very shocked； for it really seemed to me natural and
right。 What particularly surprised me was that on this planet； with its
low； utilitarian； humanitarian ideals； selfish and coercive of all true
freedom； any one should venture on a similar enterprise； worthy of an
emancipated humanity。
〃How did you get the idea？〃 I asked。
〃Monsieur；〃 he replied； 〃the number of suicides increased so enormously
during the five years succeeding the world exposition of 1889 that some
measures were urgently needed。 People killed themselves in the streets；
at fetes； in restaurants； at the theater； in railway carriages； at the
receptions held by the President of the Republic； everywhere。 It was not
only a horrid sight for those who love life； as I do； but also a bad
example for children。 Hence it became necessary to centralize suicides。〃
〃What caused this suicidal epidemic？〃
〃I do not know。 The fact is； I believe； the world is growing old。
People begin to see things clearly and they are getting disgruntled。
It is the same to…day with destiny as with the government； we have found
out what it is； people find that they are swindled in every direction；
and they just get out of it all。 When one discovers that Providence
lies； cheats； robs； deceives human beings just as a plain Deputy deceives
his constituents； one gets angry； and as one cannot nominate a fresh
Providence every three months as we do with our privileged
representatives； one just gets out of the whole thing； which is decidedly
bad。〃
〃Really！〃
〃Oh； as for me； I am not complaining。〃
〃Will you inform me how you carry on this establishment？〃
〃With pleasure。 You may become a member when you please。 It is a club。〃
〃A club！〃
〃Yes； monsieur； founded by the most eminent men in the country； by men of
the highest intellect and brightest intelligence。 And；〃 he added；
laughing heartily； 〃I swear to you that every one gets a great deal of
enjoyment out of it。〃
〃In this place？〃
〃Yes； in this place。〃
〃You surprise me。〃
〃Mon Dieu； they enjoy themselves because they have not that fear of death
which is the great killjoy in all our earthly pleasures。〃
〃But why should they be members of this club if they do not kill
themselves？〃
〃One may be a member of the club without being obliged for that reason to
commit suicide。〃
〃But then？〃
〃I will explain。 In view of the enormous increase in suicides； and of
the hideous spectacle they presented； a purely benevolent society was
formed for the protection of those in despair； which placed at their
disposal the facilities for a peaceful； painless； if not unforeseen
death。〃
〃Who can have authorized such an institution？〃
〃General Boulanger during his brief tenure of power。 He could never
refuse anything。 However； that was the only good thing he did。 Hence； a
society was formed of clear…sighted； disillusioned skeptics who desired
to erect in the heart of Paris a kind of temple dedicated to the contempt
for death。 This place was formerly a dreaded spot that no one ventured
to approach。 Then its founders； who met together here； gave a grand
inaugural entertainment with Mmes。 Sarah Bernhardt； Judic； Theo； Granier；
and twenty others； and Mme。 de Reske； Coquelin； Mounet…Sully； Paulus；
etc。； present； followed by concerts； the comedies of Dumas； of Meilhac；
Halevy and Sardon。 We had only one thing to mar it； one drama by Becque
which seemed sad； but which subsequently had a great success at the
Comedie…Francaise。 In fact all Paris came。 The enterprise was
launched。〃
〃In the midst of the festivities！ What a funereal joke！〃
〃Not at all。 Death need not be sad； it should be a matter of
indifference。 We made death cheerful； crowned it with flowers； covered
it with perfume； made it easy。 One learns to aid others through example；
one can see that it is nothing。〃
〃I can well understand that they should come to the entertainments； but
did they come to 。 。 。 Death？〃
〃Not at first； they were afraid。〃
〃And later？〃
〃They came。〃
〃Many of them？〃
〃In crowds。 We have had more than forty in a day。 One finds hardly any
more drowned bodies in the Seine。〃
〃Who was the first？〃
〃A club member。〃
〃As a sacrifice to the cause？〃
〃I don't think so。 A man who was sick of everything； a 'down and out'
who had lost heavily at baccarat for three months。〃
〃Indeed？〃
〃The second was an Englishman； an eccentric。 We then advertised in the
papers； we gave an account of our methods； we invented some attractive
instances。 But the great impetus was given by poor people。〃
〃How do you go to work？〃
〃Would you like to see？ I can explain at the same time。〃
〃Yes； indeed。〃
He took his hat； opened the door； allowed me to precede him； and we
entered a card room； where men sat playing as they； play in all gambling
places。 They were chatting cheerfully； eagerly。 I have seldom seen such
a jolly； lively； mirthful club。
As I seemed surprised； the secretary said：
〃Oh； the establishment has an unheard of prestige。 All the smart people
all over the world belong to it so as to appear as though they held death
in scorn。 Then； once they get here； they feel obliged to be cheerful
that they may not appear to be afraid。 So they joke and laugh and talk
flippantly； they are witty and they become so。 At present it is
certainly the most frequented and the most entertaining place in Paris。
The women are even thinking of building an annex for themselves。〃
〃And； in spite of all this； you have many suicides in the house？〃
〃As I said； about forty or fifty a day。 Society people are rare； but
poor devils abound。 The middle class has also a large contingent。
〃And how 。 。 。 do they do？〃
〃They are asphyxiated 。 。 。 very slowly。〃
〃In what manner？〃
〃A gas of our own invention。 We have the patent。 On the other side of
the building are the public entrancesthree little doors opening on
small streets。 When a man or a woman present themselves they are
interrogated。 Then they are offered assistance； aid； protection。 If a
client accepts； inquiries are made； and sometimes we have saved their
lives。〃
〃Where do you get your money？〃
〃We have a great deal。 There are a large number of shareholders。
Besides it is fashionable to contribute to the establishment。 The names
of the donors are published in Figaro。 Then the suicide of every rich
man costs a thousand francs。 And they look as if they were lying in
state。 It costs the poor nothing。〃
〃How can you tell who is poor？〃
〃Oh； oh； monsieur； we can guess！ And； besides； they must bring a
certificate of indigency from the commissary of police of t