The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-01-03

The suicide mania is so prevalent mat
the following article from western eA-
change is worthy of study:
.1, e. related by Montague that in form
or times there was kept In the city OF
Marseilles a poison prepared out Of hem
Iock at the public charge. to be admins
,ered 70 those who desired TO hasten ther
and on the condition that they should nrst
give satisfactory reasons and motives lot
their purpose to the legal authorities. IN
fortunately he does not tell us now OFTEN
the permission to die was thus Bidhteu' VI
what causes were considered suihcient 10
Justify 1t. but 1t is safe TO say that II
such a rule prevailed IN this country at
the present time few or none "ou'u se'
leave to end their own lives.
seThe reasons assigned for suicide, IN
most instances. are obviously Inadequate.
ho,b logically and morally. They pertain
USUALLY TO those sings ana arrows OF
fortune which are part OF the genera
exnerlence OF life. and which countess
thousands of people are constantly ehuur-
ing without thought or selI-uestruCtioh
There are emergencies. OF course III W"iOh
A. may easily seem TO man OF SENSITIVE vi
melancholy rga~'7ation that he has out
,,rsd his useful and that the best
thing he can do Is 10 quit the world wheTe
he has become superfiuous, II not burden
souo. hut the darkness of such situation =
IS ant 10 be exaggerated even IN the worst
cases II submitted TO jury OF ntell-
gent and disinterested persons the decis-
ion would invariably be that the Nlctlh
OF a misfortune that he thinks unbearaDie
IS not entitled to the coveted poison put
owes alike TO himself and 10 society the
duty OF survival.
..rhose who read the newspapers do not
need 10 be told that suicide. like insanity
a. steadily increasing. TINS Is que ID
large mart TO the severe strain or our
methods OF life. We do everything al
high pressure and with little relaxation
The struggle for wealth and position Is
go fierce and exacting that the strongest
. faculties are not always equal 10 the TASK
and so IL is not TO be wondered AT that
weaker brains frequently lose the,i pa'-
ance and leave men at the mercy OF IRA
tionai impulses.
Moreover. we cannot be sure that the
reasons given for these self-killings are
the only moving considerations. me
heart lknoweth it's own bitterness ana does
not always reveal the whole story or
trial. defeat and misery. There are sec
rets and mysteries in the matter that
we cannot understand But the supreme
facts remains that surrender 10 sinister
forces An any stress OF misfortune IS a
duty.
...Things are. happily. so ordered In the
scheme Of the universe that there $ an
other chance for every one who failS. IL
Is not necessary TO give up because fate
refuses TO be proptiated in our favor at
a particular time or for a particular Iur-
nose. We are not obliged TO yield our
right OF existence because II IS Knocked by
interposing disaster and sorrow. The
true and manly course is 10 10 on trying
for success. IN spite OF all drawbacks and
disappointrnents. That is what we are
placed here for. and We cannot afford TO
do otherwise.
.rhe plea OF despair. in short is not .
valid one where the opportunity OF fur
ther effort is provided. and the hope Of
fnal triumph Is not taken away while LIE
remains"
We do not remember TO have read a
moro thoughtful. more pathetic and
more practical article on suicide than
the above. II appears 10 us TO have come
from q rational man. who sympathized
with the weaknesses Of humanity and yet
understood for himself the true philos-
ophy OF life. II appears to us 10 be
sonvinca-s axxuents against suicide. and