Democratic Sentinel, Volume 16, Number 46, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 December 1892 — SUICIDE IN CHINA. [ARTICLE]

SUICIDE IN CHINA.

Impressive Ceremonies to Drive Aamy the Demons. Many Chinese believe that the suicide was induced to kill himself by an evil spirit who made him a present of agoldeu oils , Therefore these superstitious p o’ 1<- hire a priest to drive out the ten. ding spirit whenever a sit aide has been committed in their houses. After the priest has concluded various ceremonies he re.-Sives a email black dog, a block and a hatchet from the owner of the house. Then the priest chops off the tail of the poor animal and places a rope about its neck, wheret.non the head of the family dra ;;•> ui_ howling and bleeding dog through all the rooms of the house and finally k., : . s him unmercifully into the street. The dog is supposed to drive the evil spirits away with hie howling and to pursue them in their Hight through the s Teets. To purify the house the priest, preceded by a man with a torch, walks through all the apartments w.th a copper pan upon which sulphur, saltpeter and other combustible substances are burned, and to prevent the evil spirits from returning the priest places some amulets written on red paper over the doors before he leaves. If the suicide was committed by hanging, the beam from which the deceased suspended himself is replaced by a new one, to prevent the soul of the departed from returning and settling in the fatal rafter. The Chinese condemn and despise self-destruction that is a consequence of vice or passion, but express the greatest respect for people who commit suicide for reasons which they regard as noble. The gates of paradise arc ajar for ‘ honorable” suicides, m 1 they are considered brave and virtuous. All government officials who kill themselves because they cannot survive a defeat on the battle field or an insult of the Emperor, sons who commit suicide because they arc unable to avenge an injury done their parents, and affectionate wives who cannot survive the death of their husbands are In this oatigory.