St. Landry democrat., 1889-04-20
THE Il OF su,c,Ds.
ssssflons Inoonsistency-Ths Aaina

Ainsdom-Moral Cowardise.
= very mysterious inconsistency Il
human nature lies 10 the contrast be
tween hte which makes self preseryatio,
rs nrst love. and that utter contemns an
nsoae.ance OF 1t which induces self de
aructson. By all human laws, the mar
VINO sakes anotfer's life in defending hi.
o"h rs neid guiltless of murder; his deec
- lustifiable in recognition O.
.-ie ssif saving instinct with which ths
easa.or mas accompanied the gift Of liz,
~ an, ms creatures. With the eariies1
CONSCIOUSNESS of young animals this in,
s'iict appears in timidity and shrinking
from danger, real or imaginary; and
GOWN TO the lowest order Of beings. 6
Wounded thing will exert its last strength
70 escape having its existence blotted out.
q as .or the human species, we have it or
authority that ':all that o mar
hath viii he give for his life"
In view OF this, who that is unaware
OF the facts would expect to so con.
SANITY hear Of men and women, and
sven children, finding life .unbearable
ana ending ali? What q surprising VIC.
iataon OF this innate principle it GEMS
when for this or that cause, and. often
Tor no cause shat IS evident. some choose
death rather than life,
suicide IS not entirely confined to the
human species. There are numerous
well authenticated instances of different
animals deliberately killing themselves
when circumstances rendered life no
longer desirable. 4 recent traveller in
the tropics tells Of coming at various
times upon the skeleton Of a species Of
poisonous serpent within a circle Of
leaves OF the prickly cactus. and later the
T1ddie was solved by his seeing some
monkeys engaged In surrounding a sleep
Eng reptile with the spirous vegetation.
Upon awaking and finding itself inn
pr1soned and all its attempts to escape
Yut'le, the serpent presently took refuge
in singing its W body and dying ut
once. 1t Is commonly reported that the
same thing happens when a poisonous
snake Is hesnmed in by fire, in a spasm
OF desperation at finding no chance Of es-
cape. it turns its means OF self defense
into means OF self destruction.
Che animal kingdom is a law unto
stselk. Not 80 with man.. He is subject
70 the higher law Of duty and accounta-
biiity; and no environment can bc called
hopeless 10 one who believes in a gra-
cSous everything power and the better
Life to "A portion of the alarming
number Of current suicides, 1t must be
confessed. awaken only the sineerest
pity in every susceptible and benevolent
heart, and probably there are very many
more cases of this kind, were the secret
callses that have actuated the victims
brought TO light. Yet wherever human
law is founded ON the divine law, eelf
as . crime. A mans buildings are not
his o~sn in the sense that he can set them
on, fire and burn them down with impu-
nifty: much less is his lifc-a possession
which cannot be restored-so exclusively
personal that he has the right to end 1t
by violence In an hour Of discourage
Jnent or disgust.
The yearly list of suicides in some Of
the countries OF Europe Is appalling to
contemplate. The waters of the Seine
give up their dead daily, and drowning
j. but one among the common methods
Ton shutting off this mortal coil. Pas
sion, impetuosity and, above all, infldel-
ity, are prominent factors H. recruiting
rho army OF suicides. Statistics of all
nations Alow that occasionally there oc-
ours what has been called all epidemic
OF suicide; though whether this is an
illustration of tho force Of example, or
che result OF some general im,aiiiBg |
force, such as Temperature during the
sxhausting heat Of stinlmer, remains IN
unsettled question, That the month Of
1uly has long been noted for the large
Number of its suicides fayors the latter
OF, direct causes among /
young people, affairs Of the heart, love
matters that have taken an unfortunate
turn, must be reckoned the leading one.
Very often, too, tho circumstance at
these cases are ~unspeakabIy pa
thetl1. Next come losses Of money and
business, friends and health. OF Grim
mails who have recourse to dagger, bull
lot or rops 10 evade just penalty, it is
unnecessary t0spsak,
There is q moral coYardice in fleeing
from the battle Of life. which sirikingly
contrasts with the patient, heroic andnr-
sace of multitndes of mel and women
n every land and In all sorts Of hard
10 the tempted it might
as q tonic to read history on this
,oint, or better. 10 recall syeats. Think,
or example, of the crew OF the Jean
in their frozen fastnesses, and of
apt. DeLong aud his men In the Lena
os!ta. dying OF slow starvation, yet
,savs 10 the last. But what need to go
,cyond tie streets OF a city. with It's
Of rncssed and haggarl faces and
oiiing decrepitude. for heroes and hero
that shall be forever narrelsss5-
ATinla g. Goodwin iii Boston Globe.
A Old 81 the Exodus.