The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-01-06

SEATTLE, WEDNESDAY, JAN. g.


Now that the shock OF Editor McCul-
lash's death Is past. the practical lessons
u his life stand out more clearly. The
ACTIVITY OF tire life and the consequent
sad ending Of It. each brings It's warning
o. temperatures. No man could wish
fer ar old age 40 free from care as that
OF ]. y. McCuHagh. lie died bachelor.
a II true. with none OF the affections
rr7ost men prize. bat their absence was no
ioss 70 him. because ne VAS not man
OF domestic lnelina tons, and he could
scarreiy regret very poignantly the lost
opportunities Of earlier years IN estab-
lshlng home. II he ever regretted hav-
ing failed 10 surround himself by family
associations. IL was certainly not 10 the
extent Of influencing aim 10 voluntarily
close his life.
II Is very probable that he did not
jump from the window of his sick cham
Der with suicidal intent. except as the re-
sult or hallucination. The truth, no
doubt. Is that he had overtaxed his mind
and an iilsess foan6 him entirely unpre-
pared 20 meet the extra strain. lie COM
United suicide as surely, though uncon-
ecIousiy, as IL he had intended Il. Nc
Cullagb VAS not an old man, nor prema-
,urely decrepif: he was a mar OF temper
ate appefites and regular habits. They
were not model habits; u IS not wise 10
stay up half the night and sleep half the
DAY. bat the newspaper business exacts
such sacrifices OF its workers, and within
those lines ne was methodicL. He suf-
fered from no chronic disease, he had no
family anxssties, his home with his sister
sas comfortable and no had "a measure
Of affection extended TO him He had an
ample provision for his old age In a prop
eriy worth. for his share, about $i00, eOo,
and an assured competence for the years
when he could no longer work for a
salary.
Exacting as a daily newspaper Is upon
IL respous.b employees. 81 can arrive at
stage OF established prosperity when a
man situated as McCuilagh was could de-
volve some OF tsle responsibilities upon
other shoulders. II will have to get along
entireSy now without his aid: Il could have
done 80 sz4h only his partial aid. Yet ne
wore himself orr long after his declining
strength justified &. attempting TO sustain
the load which II was no doubt necesssIs,
FOR him TO bear in It's earKer days
Many men do shis ia business. The past
few years have put age on many before
the years demanded IT. Tasy have CON-
PEELED men 10 strain every nerve and draw
upon every vital resource fn order to avoid
stHccnmhinE. But the day OF reckoning
win come. Nature IS a severe creditor,
and exaots with interest the advances she
makes.
Mccu.lagh might have spent his decln-
ing years sn such intellectual leisure as
his tastes prompted. doing enough work
10 keep him from becoming irritable IN
tilene=s-Tslat torture to an active man.
, lie would have done more service 70 raan-
kind by such an example OF d.gnifed and
judiciosIs repose chan he does nv the ex-
ample Of unNise persistence IN laSors be-
POND his strength. and by the shocking,
sngloriols end.
II al that McCuliagh accomplished IN
life. 50 all that he possessed in mentality
and temperament. and al that ne ac-
CURED BY his industry and capacity lead
only % a domeufcd coalition ard vso-
cent death. or either. g may wei be ques-
kgoned whether man Is not better OF
and living more wisely welo accomphshes
tess and accumulates less.