Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1875-05-19
Never Give Up.

A few years ago party Of four sat down
TO a very ENJOYABLE dinner. They were men
appreciat;ye of good cheer and good com
pany, and during the meal all went merrily.
The hosts little girl came in with the des-
sert, and begged one Of her fathers guests
to tell one Of his delightfully."- horrible stories.
lie forthwith proceeded TO comply, and pres
emily was relating a terrible tale as 10 how
some robbers had seized an unhappy man
and cut his throat. In illustration he took
up his dessert knife and drew the back of it
across his own gullet when the father, IN
tone Of great distress, protested-but in vain.
1t then occurred to the recollection OF
another Of the four that the ugly scar across
the fathers throat had been self-infiicted,
while his opposite neighbor had attempted
10 shoot himself. Here, then, were two men
who had been so abjectly wretched that they
desired to put period to their lives, but
having, by merciful chance, been prevented.
lived to see very happy days
The circumstance carries strong moral
with it, and one which it is but too evident
that great many people would do well 10
lay TO heart. The deaths by suicide in New
York are stated on good authority to be
more numerous than anywhere else, cir
cumstance which may be largely accounted
perate circumstances who seek our shores !;
but the suicides are by no means confined to
foreigners. Three weeks ago, a Southern
gentleman, who had formerly been in az
nuent circumstances, killed himself in =
leading Brooklyn hotel; and since then q
once-thriving merchant shot himself at a
well-known hotel in this city. This gentle
man had been engaged in ths iron-smelting
business, and, as every one knows, every
thing to do with iron has for long time
been terrihy at discount. His health gave
way. probably through brooding on his
troubles, and he went to Florida, only TO put
an end to his life two days after his return.
There is no doubt that the excessive busi-
ness depression which has so long prevailed,
weighs terribly upon the minds OF those who
allow themselves to brood over their affairs.
The only chance for men of an anxious tenn
permanent in such plight is to be as lit,ls as
possible alone, and to insist on looking At the
bright side, and to remember the number OF
men who, in all walks OF life, have by per.
sistent energy succeeded, after conspicuous
failure, and when success seemed out OF the
question. They need scarcely 60 beyond the
President of the United States for a case in
point. Was there ever a more remarkable
and perfectly unforeseen leap from compare
tive Ohscurity 10 position whlcn Vles Win
that of the most powerful monarchs
man may be in the depths in 1875, and or
the top Of the wave ten years later indeed
there is no country where such changes are
so likely as in this. There is in New York
to-day, gentleman who sat beside the pres
ent Prime Minister of England on that mem
orabe night when he was hooted down as an
impertnent absurdity, and, in rage and cha
grin at the laughter and hooting with which
he was greeted, made the prophecy which h'
has so amply fulfilled. Yet Disraeli's dissp
pointment and modification were at tina
moment probably scarcely less keen than thu
business mans who despairs of success.
Bulwer tells us that there is ga profount
and excellent satisfaction for the man witt
can look back on past struggles, and feel tina
he has not lived in vain" II was, doubtless
that sympathy-such as makes the who'll
world kin-with such satisfaction that cause,
his countrymen of all parties to regard s.
so kindly Mr. Disraeli's advent to power
They saw in his success CLEAN OF sunshin
ON the rugged path of struggling humanity