Bradford opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1874-1881, 1876-06-03
A SUICIDES LETTER.
Tho Feelings OF bernard Bailey, who shst
Himself In ~. Louis Because no was
JlIted.

Tho Feelings OF bernard Bailey, who She
Himself In ~. Louis Because hc wa
Tilted.
To THE PUBLIC: Would you like h
know how man feels who Ia about Il
commit suicide In the first place, III
must feel SO badly that no matter wha
is to come hereafter, it is more endura
BILE than the present; and secondly, h
must feel that, more enduIable or not
he cannot help the act; that II even the
future ia worse than the present, tho
present is uncomfortable. I suppose
medical men would like to know just the
mental condition OF one who can shuttle
Off this mortal coil.
It is this: My nerves and senses arc
as sound as they ever were. I can attend
to business rs efficiently, and as fully
realize that the chief end OF man is tC
gather ducats, as l ever could. but ]
can also realize that without my better
half am as a perfect engine without
steam-useless.
Doctors of divinity would doubtless
like to know my moral and religious
ideas. My moral idea is this: That man
should do his duty in spite of obstacles
and consequences, and that so doing il
the only thing which will bring the
peace which passeth all understanding.
I acknowledge that I was too weak 80 to
do. In regard to my future state, my
reason does not fully accept that thereis
future state of which we will be con-
scious. I believe in the Immortality OF
the soul, or the life principle, or what.
ever it is, as believe in the immortality
of a bushel of coal; that it may change
it's form go essentially MS to be uncon-
scious of having ever existed before, but
that still, as the coal, it is not destroy.
ed, but simply changes its form. My
heart may speak differently to me, but
even then 1 believe that whatever is, is
inevitable, as it must all proceed from
one great original, and so must be in
accordance with his will.
However, shall probably know more
about it in twenty.four hours than all
the d. DIS living. lam not crazy. l
know til t tho world is full of good and
enjoyable things, and that they were
put here for our good and benefit, and
that we should strive and work to obtain
them.
But I am unable to care for them
without the love of my darling. I wish
to state that Miss -- is in no way re-
sponsible for my having loved her; that
almost before she had ground for think
ing that my feelings toward her were
more tender than those of friendship,
she informed mo that her heart was an-
others, and that, while she esteemed
and cared for me as a friend, ! could be
nothing more to her. But she was mis-
taken in that, ana though I could not
convince her of it while living, she will
realize it when l sleep the sleep that
knows no waking. A sweet good night
to all.
On the back of sheet of note paper
were the words: "Respect this" On
the other side was written the following:
81 wish to be buried just in the
in which die. Do not move
me from where / am found, except to
my grave.
"Bury me in plain pine coffin, and
have me carried to my grave in a one
horse spring wagon. Do not let the
total cost of my burial exceed IS. As the
last request of dying man, I conjure
you to respect these instructions.