The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1875-10-05


| connective in the Fourth avenue, and his
corpse, reduced to a shapeless mass, was
only recognized by papers in the pocket
| NO such suicide had ever occurred before,
and 1t had been reserved for Frank Gray to
set an example which has since then been
too often followed. He had come from the
| West, had got on debauch. which ended
in this dreadful death. After a lapse of 90
years an advertisement appears making in
quiry for the kindred of the unfortunate
man. Has Frank Gray any children to in
herit an estate which now awaits them in
Chicago? If so let them step out from their
obscurity and accept the prize, which thus
gives fresh proof that truth is stranger
than fiction.
| SUICIDE NOTES.
| The present mania for sclf-destruction
shows how easily our race is led by pernic-
| ious influences. Widespread decisions at
times engross entire communities. We
who live in modern times wonder at the
witchcraft frenzy but that was the dis
| temper peculiar TO that age, while suicide
! was then hardly known. BY similar
| rule 1t may be said that horrible delu-
sion now pervades our entire society. 1t
Is developed in suicide, which now assumes
| the form and power of n mania 1t is n
| very curious fact connected with this sub
| Ject that while this mania has found vic
tins in all classes in society and among so
many professions, there is one that has es-
| capped. l refer 10 journalism, and | am
very certain that you can find but few in
stances IN this country Gf any where any
editor has died by his own hand, while as
regards New York cannot recall a single
instance. If am mistaken, AM willing
to be corrected when make the assertion
nj C,sin has tr,ta .1.l tln. 81
profession of this city. A few instances,
admit, have occurred among writers, but
they were not journalists.
LOOK AT EDITORS.
1t is also n matter of note that although
so continually engaged in combats of opin-
ion our editors have meyer died by violence,
except In one instance. Young Graham,
of the Courier and Enquirer, was killed in
a duel, in 1928, and this case stands by it.
self. Most of our editors attained an age
beyond the average. the chief exception be.
ing William Leggett, formerly of the Eoen-
ing Post, who died at 81 The first printer
this city ever had lived to 80, as NAV he
seen by early reference to the epitaph on
VIM. Bradfords gravestone, in Trinity
churchyard. Charles King formerly of the
american, was past 70 when he died
Gerard Hallock was of equal age. NJ. Nj.
Moab, the best editor of Hebrew birth this
city ever saw, lived to be an old man.
Greeley died at &c. but he was the victim
of intense distress. working on an over
taxed system. Bennett lived to 76, and
most of his life had been very hard work.
er. Both Willis and Morris, who were as
ISOLATED in the Home Journal, were more
than three score. Raymond died at SO,
but there were special causes connected
nj 10 he
ly 20. Bryant is now more than four
score, and James Watson Webb, formerly
of the Courier and Enquirer, is about the
same age. Turning to the religious press.
Joshua Leavitt of the Independent reached
an advanced age, and Ireneus Prime of the
Observer is becoming old in years, yet is
considered an able writer.
REASON.
1t is not because they have an easy life
that editors avoid suicide, for they labor
with severe application and at low rates of
pay. In fact, no class of brain workers
are 80 poorly paid. Probably the true
cause of this remarkable exception is found
in the fact tnat editors are, as a class, dc
voted to the public veal. They are oc-
cupied with thoughts bearing upon the des-
tiny of others. Their minds arc trained to
| a wide consideration of important questions
concerning national progress. They dis
cuss the motives and conduct Of leading
men they combat error ; they teach the
masses they mould the sentiment of think
ing minds; they promote culture, and thus,
in fact, become the soul of the body polite.
Editors are in this manner led away from
| themselves. Their true life is in their pro-
fession, and they have no time to brood
| ouer misfortunes, real Or imaginery. Let
| the reader enter an editorial sanctum and
| invite the occupant to commit suicide, and
| the reply will be, "liavn't time-call when
| I'm at leisure. Editors have no time for
such folly.
ANOTHER FACT.
A very large proportion of the vast num-
| Der of suicides is occasionally speculation.
| Now our editors are rarely found in the
| Specializing ranks. They have no money
| to invest, and are generally too much en-
crossed in their profession to engage in any
bubbles, however attractive. am under
the impression that the same rule which
prevails here will apply to the profession
in Great Britain. The only Instance can
recall of suicide there is found in Hugh
Miller, who was professional geoiogist,
| in which subject he became insane. 1t
was not in connection with editorial duties
that his misfortune occurred. Journalists
/
| ity. Their mental activity conserves health
because 1t is exercised in the welfare of
others, which is the noblest destiny of man,
however sacriticial it may be.
| THE DEAD PUGILIsT.
The OBaldwin shooting affair would
hardly have attracted notice had not the
deceased been a noted boxer. For this his
unusual strength well fitted him. tboug'l il
| .,,at cd far
est labor. The excitement in Greenwich
street has been intense, and the place where
he died mo. 144) has been thronged. II
is to be noticed that many of our noted
shoulder hitters die by pistol shot. In adj
| dition to the case of O'Baldwin is that ct
''Paudene," once the terror Of the eighth
ward also Bill Poole, who was the fight
ing man of Washington market and who
was shot in brawl with one of his asso.
ciates. Izzy Lazarus was the best boxer OF
his day in this city. but Fleery's bullet gave
HIM perpetual quietus, for which the lat
ter was hanged. There were two noted
Irishmen in the first ward last week, Ned
O'Baldwin and Ned Burke. but now there
is only one. Burke is not a shoulder hit
ter, but still he has mad, some fine hits in
real estate. He owns more tenement
house property than any other man in this
| CITY. IN lact, ne mas ueVoicu hinsei, W
this Specially for 30 years. In point OF
of numbers, he has more tenants (such MS
they are) than William b. Aston, Ned be-
gan by saving his pennies, as soon as he
landed, and bought tenement house as
soon as his funds permitted. He now owns
this class of property to the amount of a
half million in the first ward. IT Ned
O'Baldwin had begun that way, he might
have escaped that pistol shot.
STREET DEGRADATION.
Speaking of Greenwich street, where
Ned OBaldwin died, it is a matter of re-
| mark that the lower part of this street has
been on a decline for 40 Yeas. While so
foul spot as Church street has become II
great business centre, Greenwich street has
gone from bad to worse. There was lime