Delaware state journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1870-1883, 1873-05-31

GENTLEMAN WHO CONTEMPLATED SUICIDE
sAvK 1T Up AFTER HEARING MAGGIE
MITCHELL.
The return Of Maggie Mitchell to our city,
and the presentation of Little Barefoot by
her, recall to our mind an incident which
we last week promised to relate to-day. 1t
ID as follows:
Several years ago gentleman now CON
neeted with the press OF the South, and
we'll known to the writer, was a journey.
man printer In the city Of New York. All
went well for awhile, but soon misfortune
overlook him, work became scarce, money
tight, and at last he lost his situation. He
was so constituted that this made his
usually steady nerves tremulOus, and u
prOstrating fever set In.
Recovering from his sickness he went
forth in the great metropolis again to seek
work At his trade, but his search for
employment proved fruitless and few
weeks later found his purse nearly empty
and the prospect for work no brighter. Yet
he continued his endesvors to find employ
ment, but failing to obtain any work by
which he might earn livelihood he at last
abandoned his endeavors and coolly and
calmly considered what he should do.
All kinds Of propositions fitted through
his mind, but he at last concluded that no
solution Of his troubles could be found ex.
cept In death. He nhuddered at the idea Of
taking his own life but as there was no
present or future prospect Of employment,
he thought he would be justified In drown.
ing himself. Then all trouble would end.
he thought, and his trials would cease.
The next night he set apart for the pur.
pose of fixing all preliminarles Of the rash
act he had determined TO commit on the fol.
lowing evening. He proceeded to the East
River and chose a wharf from which he
determined 70 plunge, and then returned
home TO awaitthe coming Of the following
A length II came and found him with
lust rs cents in his pocket, He left his
boarding hpuae after writing letter AZ 10
the disposition OF few small things be,
logging 20 him and proceeded towsrd the
river. He went BY way Of the old Bowsry
theatre, At which place Maggie Mitchell
was then playing Little Barsfeot He
stopped In front Of the theatre and for 4
while looked on At the merry crowd
who were seeking admission. Remember
which he would never have. any use for
again, IN thought hr Would bly, 4 ticket
admitting him 70 the peanut gallery. The
performance had commenced, aud m few
minutes he was Joining with the audience
gradually fsll more ike living and battling
with theworld while longer, hut the hide.
Gus liberalization Of downing himself was
not entirely abandoned until the scene
where Jenny expresses desire ~ take his
own life by the same means, and " rsproved
BY Amry for being so sinful
AFTER that SAYS our southern friend, ~
determined 10 live a thousand years, il pos.
sihie, and When the performance was con-
oluded felt like another man, and strong
enough 10 stand anything
He soon left New York and found employ.
! ment In the South, first a. compositor, then
| reporter, afterwards editor. and ia to-day
part owner OF one Of the few successful
Journals Of the sunny South. He IL mar.
ried now, has several children, and when
| ever Maggie Mitchell plays In his city, or
within 90 miles OF it, he makes II a point to
not only witness her performance himself
but takes with him his family, believing
that thoughts Of suicide will never enter
the head OF any one who sees the "supfeme
fsYsrittr A. leart opee year