The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1880-05-12
Inconsistencies and Ab.urdities of Suicide.

go Hll Montgomery Advertiser.I
Committing suicide is, no doubt, very
serious affair to the one most deeply interest
ed in the job. When a man or woman de-
Iberately decides todissolve their connection
with earthly affairs and strike out into a new
phase of existence it is reasonable to suppose
they feel very solemn over the performance.
That is, supposing that people in their right
minds ever do such things, which some good
people seriously doubt, but We think without
any reason. There is elaboration and fixed
ness of purpose about some cases of suicide
that would seem to preclude the idea of in
sanity in any form. The case of the young
man who recently took his own life in New
York is good illustration of perfectly sane
suicide. With methodical patience and no
small degree of ingenuity he rugged up a
kind of guillotine, and so arranged it that the
ak would fall in just Eve minutes from the
time the trigger was set Then he laid
his neck across the block, held a sponge satu-
rated with ether to his nose went of into
quiet sleep and awoke IN some other country
with no head on his shoulders. Evidently his
mind was acting in its normal channel during
the tune he was planning the Job, and we can
not but admire the degree of talent evinced
in the manner of his taking off. Other sui
cides have endeavored TO invent some plan
of suiciding while asleep, but this young man
is certainly entitled to patent for his inven-
ton; provided, ofcourse, there is patent of
fee where he has gone.
This is only one instance that has come
under our observation, though we mention it
specially because of its unique character, and
the beautiful adaptation of means to the de-
sired end. AS a suicide il is eminentlya sue.
cess, and would make Partisan turn green
with envy. But there are some ideas COLI
nected with the commission of suicide, or its
attempt, that have ever struck US as border
ing very closely on the ridiculous,
however disastrous it might be to the princi-
pal. 1t often happens that person becomes
disguised with life and its consequent
troubles, and thinks be can mend matters by
going out of the world entirely. How does
he know whether he can benefit himself by
the act or not? How does he know whose
hands he is going to fall into and what kind
of treatment he will receive when he gets
there?. The chances are that his circum-
stances will not be at all improved by the
change, and that he will find that he has
altogether made bad bargain. Again. a
man will contend that it shows courage to
take his life when his affairs go awry, but it
has always occurred to US that the genuine
courage consists in fighting the battle of life
out to the bitter end.
| Other persons, both male and female
generally female-kill themselves for love-
Because her selected one don't love her, or
if she thinks he don't, she straightway takes
header into some convenient stream, or
takes an extra quantity of poison, or takes
some other means of making way with her
self. Will he love her any better after she
is dead? Will the job improve her personal
appearance any, and make her more lovable2
Will his love, even if she succeeds in obtain
ing it, be of any value after she has gone, no
one knows where2 In short, will any good
result to her in the premises2
To us the whole business of suicide is de-
fenseless. Of course we do not now refer to
those, who, for any cause, have become
morally and mentally wrecked, and are in
capable of reasoning on the subject. They
are objects ofpity and sympathy, but the man
in his right mind who deliberately sets about
taking the inestimable boon of life which
none but the Almighty can bestow, is a
murderer, and can lay no claim to the SYM
patty of the world. He has thrown away
his last chance, and put it out of his power
TO do good for himself or others. Perhaps,
after all, it is as well for the rest of the world
that such persons should leave it.