Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1858-01-21
TProu The Richmond Enquirer.I
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wrote several letters to friends; and beneath the
pillow of the bed on which he died was found
the following note written in a free business IKE
hand:
ttTo THE WoRLp.-When man commits sui
eide the world wishes to know why he did it
The answer in my case lies in a nut she'll
am tired of living Life is a farce, happiness
humbug, and the cares trials and trloulations
which see before inc, offer no inducement Tor
prolongation Of this earthly sorrow. Hltn
good heart and a calm mind, plunge IN aedtds
res and try the realities of an unknown world:
Looking forth upon the horizon of my life, all
looks dark and dreary, save one spot, where
wrinkles the star of hope and love.
$50 those of my friends who have watched
my career for the past three years, they Will see
nothing strange in my present determination
1t is not rash, for have calmly considered and
debated it for two months. am not MAD, ou1
perfectly calm, cool and collected Ihe'tuture
has nothing of promise, and IleaTe the woriq
with but single regret. Tony friends would
say goodbye; and of my enemies, i'll have any,
i would ask their forgiveness Poverty is
dreadful curse when coupled with discomfort
God help me in this present hour! Farewell
farewell forever u W. IL CLOVES
Some time ago, we noticed the query in one
of our exchanges-"Are we nation OF sui
cides 2" The manner in which the bills of NOR
tality have of late been sweed by such nntime-
" and unnatural deaths, seem to afford good
pretext for such an inquiry. This apparent
feature in American mortality, is the moTe
alarming from the Stole Indifference which it
discloses in the minds of those who perpetratc
acts of the kind. Our suicides are generally
from the intelligent ranks ofsociety. ehard-
ly ever hear Of the very poor and the humble
doing such a thing. But it is those with whom
fortune OF competence, at least, have dallied
awhile, then suddenly frowned upon. Such
persons have generally been educated in tho
belief Of the realities of another world, and as
we said, the Stole indifference with which they
strike out into an unknown darkness, Drawing
all the terrors of notwithstanding alike, both
the promises and warnings of Holy Writ, is
most horrible feature.
But aside from this view of 1t, what claim has
he to manhood who thus unbidden cuts short
the SPIN Of his life? Is he brave man, truly
brave, who can only live while the sun shines?
Who has no higher view or purpose than mere
physical pleasure and being disappointed in
obtaining it shirks his appointed round, and
hurries of uncalled to the presence OF his Ma
ker. The old heather philosophers placed
much better estimate on life than do,many of
our moderns They, with no higher motive be-
fore them than the teachings of their own intel
lects, reckoned life as sum of good and evil,
over both which ii was within the sphere and
province of the mind to preside, and to elicit
therefrom Contentnent.
We think that suicide is not national weak
ness with AMERICANS; but that the tendencies Of
our prevalent notions about wealth and specu-
lation, may legitimately result in suicide when
thwarted, is the true solution. To make money,
"a
or political position is the great absorbing idea
of the nation. We make immense sums ut a
single venture and lose them just as suddenly at
thenextventure. Land gambling stock gambling
of all sortsi rife and makes and breaks count
edby thousands every year. Those whom profits
have invested with temporary prosperity, DO
come elated, uprrted, and so when they are leI
down again, they arc driven to disgrace Tin
their own estmation,1 thence to despair, thence
to suicide.
AS showing that it is real or imaginary dis
grace which prompts nearly all our suicides,
We remember having read somewhere an ac=
count of the mania which once bcsct the French
army for committing suicide. 1t actually be-
came an epidemic, until one of their cool calcu-
lating generals, who understood the bent of the
French mind, ordered that thereafter every
mans body, who died by his own hand should
be dragged through the streets at the end of a
cart Such post norton indecency FRENCH
man shuddercd at, and just as the general APP
pretended, the suicides suddenly ceased. The
fact thatin this country, tnenlose or gain social
caste pretty much, as they lose or gain wealth,
has given great currency to the idea of irreme-
diable disgrace in the minds Ofloscrs, who have
become too proud "to dig" aud beipg ashamed
''to beg seek relief in death, yainly imagining
like the silly Ostrich of the DESERT when once
it has found hole in the sand large enough for
tito hide its head in, that because it can no
longer see its body, no one else can: So these
suicides seek relief in death, not thinking, not
knowing perhaps, of that solilOquy, that terri
BILE reverie of Hamlet's. who, though he could
'T4aat the Everlasting had not axed
His canon tsaInst self slaughter
Because he, in detected moment, reasoned
aHow weary, stale. aat and improbable
o uno All the of this WOrdt