Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1869-07-20
YARBNTAL

A short time siuce there was pub
lished an account Of the suicide Of q
boy, thirteen years Of age, 10 Philadel.
phia, by taking arsenic. Quite lately a
school girl, having been reprimauded
by her teacher, informed her school
mates that she intended drowning her
self, aud having persuaded them to
assemble on the bank Of the river, she
actually consummsted the terrible
deed, and before assistance could reach
her, life was extinct. A contemporary
states that three boys under fifteen
years of age have committed suicide 10
Fulton County, Illinois. within q period
Of nine weeks-two by shooting aud
one by hanging. These cases may
we'll stsrtle every parent and educator
Of youth, aud lead them to ask how
such things car be. When tho strong
vitality and love of life that character.
izs the young, and the terrible and
bitter despair that is usually supposed
to induce the act Of suicide, are oon-
sidered, the causes that have been
brought to bear upon these young
people to produce so unnatural, so
awful a result, may well be a subject OF
earnest inquiry.
II is true, in a certain sense. that the
children Of the present day enjoy far
more freedom and happiness, aud lead,
upon the whole, a plsasautsr life than
those Of oldeu timss, who were more
restricted in action, whose pleasures
were fewer and whose tolls were more
severe. Perhaps the parents of the
present day are less likely to err by
undue severity than by negligent in-
diligence, and yet it may be that in the
cases cited above, as we'll as in too many
other instances not brought into public
notice, the sympathy and love that
would have made life pleasant to the
young have been denied, aud a stern
and chilling severity has turned the
naturally hopeful life into desolats
despair. In numerous cases, where no
severity dsrkeus the life Of childhood,
yet neglect and indifference prove
almost as baneful 10 their results. The
father immersed in his daily business,
and the mother too often plugged into
the vortex Of fashion, that allows no
time for the most precious duties OF
life, permit their children to grow up
under the fare Of others, and deny them
the affectiona,s conpanionsbip and in.
tercourse which would, Of itself, be an
education worth moro than all that
schools have power to impart. Children
possess keener sensibilities and deeper
feelings than is usually believed posi-
BILE. II their reason is less developed,
aud their judgment moro faulty, than
those Of their elders, their susceptible
ties are more acute, and their affections
more ardent and easier wounded. While
By harsh and stern rules there may be
secured a sullen obedience Of action,
these can never reach the heart Of the
child, and the only way to influence it
truly for good is through love and con.
6dence.
Parents little know how much they
lose by refusing companionship to their
children. OF all affections, one Of the
most enduring aud grateful is that Of
the child, who having arrived at ma.
turity, turns foudly back to the authors
Of hi, existence and happiness, and
strives to repay them for their love and
care, by blessing and houoriug their
old age. Such blessings and bonors,
however, are euly given to those who
have secured the confidence of their
children 10 early life. Naturally every
little child comes to his parent anxious
to share with him his joys aud sorrows,
his hopes and fears. II he is met with
sympathy aud consideration, his love
and faith are unreserredly bestowed
but If ho be colby repulsed or care
lessly sighted, his heart recoils in
,ullsn disappointment, and he seek:
and soon fiuds other aud less suitable
channels for his sympathies. Every
parent who values his child's bes,
welfare, or who hopes to reap an aFec.
tiouate gratitude in after life, should
bestow upon him At once, and always,
the kindly consideration, the loving
sympathy and tho confidential inter-
course which will bind them together
ia ties that no distance, no changes,
and not even death itself can sunder.
RuxoRs The failure Of the Union
Pacific train to connect with the Central
"