The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-09-28
An OmirOus Sign,

Present day civilization seems to-
possess one phase that is not only
deplorable but mystifying, and that
is suicide among the youth of the
land. 1t is singular fact that death
is seldom dreaded as much by the
young as by the old.
Physicians say that as a rule the
young step smilingly out into the mists
that shut aside the mysteries Of eter-
nifty, while those who have passed the
scriptural allotment of years often
shrink back, reaching for the realities
Cf this world with the trembling grasp
of age. Yet it is unnatural for the
boy or girl of twelve to eighteen to
hasten after death with the despera-
tion that seems to characterize many
recent suicides. Hope springs eter-
nal in the human heart" and certainly
this must be especially true of those
whose tender years have left fewer
scars of disappointment and bitterness.
1t is an abnormal condition in civilized
life when n very young girl, because of
the humiliation of being subjected to
q scolding, or separated from her lover
or driven to school, deliberately takes
her own life, and yet this is becom-
ing a daily occurrence. No terrible
burden Of shame weighs down the fool
ish young creatures; no irreparale past
haunts their footstep; no utterly
wretched future lowers before them
and yet they stop forever the beating
of their strong youthful hearts, cut off
the hope of a useful career and send
their fresh unsoiled souls out into the
unknown, with as little apparent re-
Eret as if they had survived all the
joys of life and endured all the sor-
rows of long, miserable years.
The time was when young people en-
dured many greater hardships than
now; when their future, because of
the different views entertained regard
ing children and those of inexperienced
age, had less consideration than in
these days, when to the youth of the
land belongs the earth and the full
ness thereof, and when all things are
bent to their desire. Hard and unlove-
ly vistas often stretched out before
their gaze as little children, and small
prospect of advancement was prom
ised, yet there were few suicides among
those of tender years. Now q fit of
pque, a parental protest against a
boy and girl marriage, a Jealous whim,
or a thwarted desire sends the unds-
ciplined youngsters to the nearest riv-
cr the druggist or the dealer in fire.
arms.
This is an alarming state Of affairs
and while there appears to be little use
of suggesting ramedies the reasons for
existence should be investigated. 1t is
a lamentable feature of our civilization
that the evil seems to increase at such
a parilous rate that even the most OPP
timistic thinker must realize the
change. Whether it is the fault of So
ciety in general or an outgrowth OF
modern conditions is difficult to deter
mine. There can be no doubt that the
discontentment pervading all classes Is
largely responsible, but it is to be fear
ed that the blame should be attributed
more directly to individual careless,
ness. or lack of judgment. 1t would
seem that something is wrong with
the training of a child who on tbs
threshold of maturity takes it's owl
life. Parental guidance must be sore
ly at fault in not having given sufiic
INT heed to the uplifting OF high IDEALS
to the stimulation of proper ambition
and the principles of self control
Something is sadly wrong with tn,
civilization that takes away from
youth, even amid disappointment
and sorrows, the vision of brlghte
day tomorrow. and leaves nothing bu
a bleak unreasoning desire for self
annihilation.