Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1886-02-06
SADNESS AND SUNSHINE:

That was q sad case when Daniel
Giradeau attempted to commit sui
eide by throwing himself from the
East River High Bridge. New York,
on the 18th. He had attracted
ettention from his forlorn and I'M
happy appearance, as he was search
ing IN his pocket for a penny to pay
for walking over the bridge. He
finally found it and started across.
When near the middle he quickly
climbed to the top, and was about
to throw himself either in the river
or under the approaching train
Several men saw him and grabbed
his heels as his body was neaely
over. By persistent efforts he was
pulled back and taken to a police
station. On his person was found
letter addressed to bis wife, in
atfectionate terms, telling her OF his
purpose and his despair in not being
able to procure work to prevent the
suffering his four little children and
their mother were undergoing. He
said he could not stand it any
longer and hoped the charitably dis
posed would do for them what he
was unable to do. The number of
the house to which the letter was
addressed was visited by officers
They found the mother and four
little half-naked children in a room
without carpet, a ragged lounge, a
table and several chairs, and a pic
ture of Sir Moses Montefiero consti-
tuting the furniture. The wife said
her husband had left home that
morning to hunt work, that ne had
not eaten anything for three days,
and that she did not suspect any
thing wrong, although he had spent
a half-hour writing before he went
out. 1t was the letter to her, in
forming her of his suicidal purpose,
that he had written. Investigation
showed that Giradeau was He
brew, the letter was written in He
brew, and that he was sober and in
dustrions when he could get any.
thing TO do. Yet in the great and
wealthy city of New York he was
unable to get employment to keep
the wolf from The door and protect
his helpless family from the pangs
of hunger and starvation. While
lavish luxury and extravaganza ease
pervade in all the avenues and cir.
Giles of the busy city, there was de-
spair and suffering in their midst,
which could have been prevented by
few crumbs from the table of the
opulent and fashionable. Society
must be out of joint where such con-
ditions are found, and Christian
charity at huge discount when
such intense suffering has to be en-
dured right in She midst of churches
and in the glare Of the abode of
those who count their possessions by
the millions.
The next day the case of Giradeau
was called in the police court. His
wife with her two-monthS old child
in her arms was at his side, nerved
Tor the ordeal, while the tears
Streamed down the cheeks of the
despairing husband. No one was
expected to appear for him. But as
tue case was called and he stepped
forward, his wife was by his side
Several Hebrews OF wealth and posi-
ion were also there, of their own
motion on seeing the account of the
attempted suicide, and entered into
bond for the good behavior of Gira.
deau. At the same time, one of the
Hebrew gentlemen advanced to the
wife and placed in her hand lot of
money. Another informed her that
he had $50 for her. Dazed by the
unexpected generosity shown them,
the pair proceeded home. There
they found friendly cheer in the
presence Of ladies and gentlemen
with gifts of clothing and food, and
during the whole day parties came
with parcels of various useful arti-
Giles until the room was filed. The
children were speedily clothed in
comfortable clothing and shoes, and
the husband notified that a Hebrew
charitable association had made
arrangement for his employment at
his trade. Thus darkness and
gloom and despair were turned INTO
9ladness and sunshine and the suf-
feriag poor made to realize that
there are true disciples of Him who
went about doing good--feeding the
hungry, clothing the naked and
healing the hroken-hearted.- VaHey
Pirginidr.
s@z-<=zz--z---a--.---~@
Jennie said venerable Gamer.
oman to his daughter, who was ask
inn LII. ooncnnt q no........a.z- L.