The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1879-10-23
The Suicidal Mania.

ton. Saturday. before another was re-
ported. All over the country, chroni-
cled every week and every day Of the
week, are like instances, or unsuccessful
attempts. Intentional self-destruction
has often been epidemic in character,
and We doubt the propriety of publishing
these things, and especially Of dressing up
the revolving crime in sentimental garb
and making it appear as about the legit-
innate thing to do if life goes hard with
one, If business does not prosper, if
plans or health fsil, or one experiences
unjust treatment. .. ..rf-... ............
With all due regard to the feelings of
their friends and not in any spirit of
harshness toward the unfortunate vic
Tins of cruel circumstances, of insane
delusion, or of uncontrolled desponden-
cy, we honestly wish that self-murder
might be considered as no less crime
than to kill another; and that such dis
grace might be associated with 1t as to
deter any more from rushing into the
presence Of their Maker in this precipi-
tous manner. This kind of morbid SEN
timentalism is fostered and stimulated
by much reading of unhealthy fiction,
and the highly colored and romantic style
in which the accounts of these tragic
deaths are written. .. ....a.-
Readers Of newspapers demand the re-
cording of current events and if there
has been suicide expect the particulars
to be given. But it is also the duty of
newspapers to protest against and dis
courage the suicidal custom. Sometimes
disease has much to do with the disposi-
ton to suicide, and the victim is no more
responsible than is genuine insanity q
voluntary act. But even hydrophobia
is thought to be good deal under the
control of the will and to q certain ex-
tent, possible to be resisted. In the fam
lily, the school-room, from the pulpit,
through the press. should be taught a
more sacred regard for the value of hu-
man life.. .aalhrH "a r.-.up-. sa'Oy ra
If there is any suspicion of suicidal
intention in person, every possible pre-
caution should be taken to divert the
mind into healthy channels, and remove
any means tha. might be used in self
destruction. Employment that occupies
the thoughts is healthier for those in
trouble than that which leaves the mind
free to dwell upon and magnify its sor-
rows and perplexities. II over-work and
ill-heal,h have wrought the mischief,
then change, recreation, and freedom
from care may soon bring back the
cheerfulness of spirit that makes exist
ence not simply an endurance, but a
luxury. --.i,-.rgi 5-fs,,,,..s
Finally and above every other means
for the proper counterpoise of the human
mind, helping it better to appreciate the
moral quality Of mental conditions as we'll
as physical acts, and to overcome those
that are morbid, selfish and, unsafe, is
the Christian faith which has saved null
titudes of persons from yielding to and
being overwhelmed by. tenpofary mis-
cries. The persons who die by their own
act are not struggling against more ad-
verse fortune or more bitter trials than
scores Of others all about them manage
to live under, and yet keep brave and
often cheerful spirit. Think of the in
Vulnerable army of invalids and of the
MANNED and crippled, sufferers to whom
life is still sweet, and who as often as any
are found not with idle or empty hands,
and upon their lips songs instead OF
complaints. .sf "a, ...,,,.I 10 &C.,.
These brave, patient souls, mute teach
ers of thankfulness, are constant re-
proach 10 the lamentations of the well and
strong. There are no sorrows SO darkly
deep that others have not sounded themi
every heart knoweth Its own bitterness.
History records the Intervention of
civil law to restrain epidemics Of self
destruction. In 1893 the number of
suicides in Versailles was 1900, q num-
Der greatly disproportioned TO the pop
ulation.. In the army of the First Nspo-
leon, the soldiers, not content with their
chances of being killed, took to suicide.
and it was only after strong appeal to
their courage and pride by the Emperor
that it was suppressed. The literature
of suicide is as curious as interesting,
but not good for general reading. In
times and countries where 1t has been
considered as felony. and certain pen
alties have been imposed on the property
and person of the deceased, such as for
feiture Of the estate and denial Of the
rights Of Christian burial, the barbarity
has had the good effect to almost entire
ly suppress the crime. Burial in the
night at the crossing of two highways
for example, served to stamp the act as
one of peculisr adherence, and to make it
anything but romantic to choose ones
own time and method Of shufling of the
T'''''f'rfi foI T.lTUi - tH
mortal coil. .,ri liz frGI .e.sr
,sa ..-- SULLIVAN, OCT. IS, 1879.