The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1857-01-19

suicide and I,s s-anses--Thc One Absorbing
Passion.
Our readers rscois,ct the sensation that was
created few years since by the appearance Of a
shallow hu, prettptious work. entitled the ives
tiges Of Creation LIS authorship was Surround
ed with almost az much mystery and excited al
most as much speculation as that of the lettersof
ferent scientific men, and amongst Others, to
hugh Miller, the eminent geologist- To dissbuse
the public Of this IMPRESSION or it may have been
TO realize On object contemplated by the treatise
itself, Miller published his Footprints Of the
Creator" work in every way superior to that
to which it was intended as reply, and which
saltd in 10 small degree TO the fame of its au-
thor. In another column win be fCuad an &C
count of the suicide Of this remaIka able mar, Oc-
casioned by the intense mental labor to which he
has for years subjected biTsself. He bad beenfOr
some time past engaged in the preparation OF q
work called "The Testimony of the Rocks" in
which he had undertaken so settle some of the
theories in dispute amongst modern biologists
Day aud night were increasingly devoted to the
accomplishment of his task, unta his Overwrought
brain could no longer resist the demands made
Oh it, and be finally, it is believed, put an end by
his own hand TO sufferings which the intensity of
bis devotion to his favOrite pursuit bad brought
upon him. This calamity is the more to be la
me pted from The fact that be had just completed
bis work, and could have afforded to give him
self the repose necessary to recruit HE exhausted
powers
We do not allude thus specifically to this case
as presenting any features remarkable ia them
selves. The causes that led to the death of this
gentleman are hut too common among persons of
bic class to excite wonder. The penalty that men
must pay for literary or scientific distinction is
inevitably associated with shattered nerves and
disOrdeIed mental action. 1t is in vain to remon-
strate with persons who cOvet reputation more
than life itself upon the folly Of thus prodigaly
wasting th.r vital powers Tkey are aware of the
punishment 10 which such unreasonable demands
upon their strength win subject them, and they
must be content with The compensation which they
find in the worlds applause. Not SO with
another and more numerous class who have no
such rewards to look forward to, and to whom
our remarks are more particularly intended to
apply. We allude TO those Mammon seekers,
whose sordid souls are so absorbed in the acquisi
ton of wealth as to end no time for the health
full recreations and Intellectual enjoy ments which
are necessary to keep the body and mind in
their proper condition. This passion has of late
years become so general characteristic of our
&C immunity that it is likely to bring physical |
curse upon our people. We no longer see the |
bale and robust frames and cheerful countenances |
which formerly greeted the eye in our CONNER
cial baunts. Men are now so much engrossed by
this absorbing desire to grow rich that they give
themselves no time even to cat or sleep. The
thirst Of competition has become 80 strong in
them that they will not rest satisfied with a CON-
petence sufficient 70 afford them all the rational
enjoy mcnts life. And to what purpose does all
this self denial and incessant labor tend
The illustration which we had the other day
Of one of our merchants toiling until he
had become millionaire only to lose all sens
Of qualification from his wealth in confirmed III
macy, is becoming too common not to inspire us
with feelings of anxiety and alarm at this PERM
cious and degrading tendency The frightful in
crease in the statistics of insanity observed of
late years is entirely to he attributed to it. When
viii men learn that God has given ms a variety
Of gifts in order to afford US o variety Of enjoy
ments and that any attempt to divert them to
unworthy ard unnatural purposes will be certain
70 meet with painful retribution. The pursuit.
Of wealth is in itself legitimate one but 1t was
never intended that we should consecrate to ii
exclusively all our faculties. A fair portion of
our time should be devoted TO exercise, relaxa-
ton and intellectual Improvement Without
that man Is reduced to the condition OF mere
animal drudge, on level with the brute creation.
Il s only by the proper exercise and cultivation
Of our intellectual and physical faculties that we
can hope TO keep them in vgor, and thus fulfl the
purposes for which the Almighty has bestowed
them upon us