The evening light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1881-1883, 1882-05-29
EPIDEMIC SUICIDE.

try. Is it the loosening of religious re-
straint, lately so universal, that en-
boldens men and women to rush heed.
lessly into the Divine presence? Or
from what source is derived the cour.
age to transgress the laws of life, and
the temerity to die unbidden. 1t has
become the specific for every disease,
mental or physical, real or imaginary.
Boys and girls in the glow of life's
morning freshness aid with the souls
early radiance unshed, as precipitately
as men and women who have tasted
thoroughly of the tree of life and found
its fruit askes, invoke pistol or knife,
poslon or rope, as a means of exit from
the beautiful world which is their fitting
home, into one which, whatever or
wherever it be, they are unprepared to
lnhablt or enjoy. There is little doubt
that unrestrained thought, habitual
OF late years to large classes of society
which, tempered with discomfort, fills
the world with fine fancies of a univer-
sal paradise, undreamed in the most
gorgeous visions of sleep, has much to
90 with this prevailing sin. The mar
vellous theories of happiness without
accountability and perfection, without
growth, have added the brains of
thousands who, when subjected to tri-
ais, or even over-vexed, leap into the
abyss without hesitation and apparently
free from fear. Yet in the face of all
spiritual romance it seems to US mock
cry OF sense to imagine that the infinite
law can be violated with impunitv, or
the penalties of crime evaded. If we
are placed here, as generally conceded,
to acquire the rudiments of spiritual
life it must be because they are
necessary to our progress; SO that
1t becomes wanton breach of COM
mon sense to suppose that the immut-
able decree can be changed, or any
advancement made without such &C.
qulrements. 1t must, too, of necessity
be momentous absurdity to hold that
any condition, however bad, can be
improved by a violation of law, or by
any commission of crime. A little re-
Election may save some of the human
lives that are being daily thrown in the
face of the Divine Giver. Let us con.
slider whether crime is likely to secure
us happiness, or violence to bring us
peace.
The distracted northern people, who
know nothing of home for the lack of
stability to stay long enough in any
one place, are breaking in great num-
bers for Europe-the annual exodus.
Paris, London and Berlin will soon be
overrun with American codfshery in
gold and satins, Illuminated with the
thought that the world is made for
show, and that they are the best it has
on exhibition. There is no animal
will do so much, or 60 so tar to have
himself seen as your genuine Ameri-
can, not doubling that every one is as
much delighted as himself. All New
York-of course its misery and squalor
are no part Of New York-is a show
of animated curiosities, living bazaar
of women and men in grand liveries, on
exhibition, if not for sale. They do
sometimes buy and sell each other,
till all feel affluent and grand, and none
are sensible of the deplorable wretch
edness of such commerce in human
happiness and human lives.
One of our brightest San Antonio ladies. in
writing to stock man, friend of the family,
said:-"l see our friend - has returned 10
our city, with the firm determination of becom-
ing the future cattle king of Western Texas
Hoyu Scalx,ac, ,c,n q.