The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1879-10-08
ALEXANDRIA, La, WEDNESDAY,, OCTOBER s, 1879
SAVED FROM SUICIDE.

1AS "dS SoAilbS CIV VI tsie NS1t
Francisco Post Office one morning in
the year 1855, u tall, dark skinned
man placed himself in fsont of rae,
and, fixing his Intensely g!ittetIng
eyes upon me, said, in very excl
ted tone
s'Sir, can you give me q half hour
|of your time this morning?''
eyes," / replied, .sif | can be OF
any service to you by SO doing
"Not here, but in your office, psi,
vatcly," he continued. 81 must
speak to somebody, and having heard
you preach in the church on Pine
street, I felt could approach you.
| am in trouble and danger, and must
speak to some one.''
His manner was excited, his hand
trembled, and his eye had ~ insane
CLEAN as he spoke, We. walked OH
in silence until we reached NY office
in Montgomery street, when he bur
riedly locked the door on tie inside,
saying rs Le did SO: 800,
"This conversation is to be pri,
vatc, and do not intend 10 be inter.
rupted.'' ,.s...t
AS he turned toward me saw that
he had q pistol in his hand, which,
he laid on deck and then sat down,
| waited for him to speak, cycling
him and the pistol closely, and feel
ing little uncomfortable, locked in
thus with an armed madman Of al
most giant-like size and strength
"Haye you ever been haunted by
the idea of suicide2'' he asked ab
ruptly, his eyes glazing upon me as
he spoke.
"No, not particularly;-but why
do you ask?'
"Because the idea is haunting me-
he said, in an agitated tone, rising
from his chair as he spoke. "I have
lain for two nights with a cooked
pistol in my hand, calculating tic
value Of my life. l bought the pis.
toll to shoot myself with, and / won.
der that I have not done it; some.
thing has held me hack"
"What has put the idea Of suicide
into your mind?'
"My life's failure, sir; and there
is nothing left for such q fool rs
have BEEN" he said, bitterly
when a man has no hop. Ill he
should die"
Twas making some reply xl.Q, b
broke in:
s'Icar my History, then tell me il
death is not the only thing left FOL
me-"
When he told me his name I re-
cognized it as that Of man of gen,
Jus, whose contributions to certain
popular periodical had given him q
wide fame in the world Of letters
He was the son of s venerable New
England bishop, and o graduate oil
Harvard University. I will give his
story in his own words, as nearly as
l cant -.
Sin 1850 ! started for California
with honorable purposes and high
ambition. Ny father being cler-
gyman, and poor, and greatly ad.
vanced in years, I felt that it .was
my duty to make provision for him
and for the family circle to which ]
belonged. Animated by this pur.
pose, I was full Of hope and energy
On the ship that took me to Califor.
MIA I made the acquaintance and fell
into the snares Of a beautiful but an.
principled woman, for whom I tuiled
and sacrificed every thing for eight
years Of weakness and folly, neve,
RENTING dollar for those intend
ed to provide for at home. / made
immense sums Of money, but it al
went for nothing but to feed the ex
trayagance and recklessness Of my
evil genius. Tortured By remorse,
made many struggles to free mysel
from the evil connection that blight
ed my life, but in vain, when deati
lifted the shadow from my path
The unhappy woman died and I wa!
free. I felt like a new man. Thu
glowing hopes that had been smoth
cred revived. l worked hard ant
prospered. ] made money and saves
it, making occasional remittances Il
the family at home, who we're over
Ijoyed to hear from me after SO lons
and guilty silence. ! had learned
to gamble, of course, but now l re
solved to quit. For two years / KEEP