The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1871-03-25

the bankug-house of Prime, Ward & King
committed suicide at his country seat at
Astoria. He was a retired man of large
wealth, and had every means of makiug
life desirable; but the misery of unem-
ployed money and abilities, which should
have been devoted to philanthropy, drove
him to self-destruction. The same state.
ment applies to the late Charles NJ. Leupp.
He had made great fortune in the leather
business and lived uptown in sumptuous
style, possessing, among other distinctions,
one of the finest picture galleries in the
city. Yet this man finished his course
with suicide, while 10 the fullness of man.
hood and possessed of ability which should
have given him distinction higher than
that of mere wealth.
Previous to this, one of the heaviest bu-
siness men in Exchange place suddenly ar
rested the course of lucrative business
by similar use of his razor. Another
capitalist threw himself beneath the wheels
of locomotive, while Van Auken, the
butter merchant, and David Rea, both
used the razor. Scarcely has the latter
been buried, when similar instance oc-
ours in the suburbs of Brooklyn. Here an
opulent market gardener and land specula-
tor, named Ditmars Duryea, has just COM
mitted suicide by taking laudanum, leaving
an estate of $4,000. OF course be had
reason for doing this. His wife had died
some time previously and had bequeathed
her estate, whose value was $1,000, to
other parties than himself. Being thus ne
elected, he had no resort but death, in
which he buried his troubles.
Seven thousand dollars would not be
generally considered an inducement to
commit suicide; and yet have known
rich man or this sum to be SO distressed by
the loss of $500, that be finished the matter
by hanging himself. But at any rate
seven thousand was a fatal sum to Ditmars
Duryea. Its loss was so great cloud
that it obscured the glory of those possess
sions, which were twenty times as great,
aud the result is bottle of laudanum and
coroner's inquest. 1t may be inferred
that these examples indicate what wide
spread disposition toward suicide exists
among rich men, for where one commits
the fatal act there must be nsany who are
tempted, but refrain. 1t is we'll known
shHe AAohy Vi tuto Ciuoo Ill
their pockets and are ready at any moment
when the temptation becomes triumphant
to swallow the fatal Dose I know several
successful business men who have given
such threatening signs of conduct that
their friends are obliged to watch them for
fear that they may end in just such
tragedy.
ONLY SAFETY
The only safety for rich man is found
in doing good with his money. If he re-
frain from this he will become miserable,
and should he not go so far as to commit
suicide, his life will become a burden to
himself and to others. The com mplants
and the general fretfuness of rich and in
dolent men render them a nuisance to So
ciety. Man must work in order to be
happy, and if it be not necessary for him
TO work for himself, there is plenty to do
for Others, aud in this he will have anoble
reward. Those of our rich men to whom
have referred as being useful, find this
% be necessity as well as pleasure, and
Tor this reason we sec none of this class
among the unfortunate victims of suicide.
some rich men pursue amateur professions.
Greeley, for instance, is farmer Peter
1oelet indulges his taste 10 rare poultry.
James Lenox is collector of books and
pictures.