The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1898-11-02

VI every mower Douo0G0 the SKIES,
They lift their pretty heads to me
But who shall say the same of theof
~. Redfern Kenyon III Literary World.
A PAINFUL PREDiCAMENT.
Story Of Man who ssdsed q Fellow Man
From Suicide.
well. Z would hardly be willing
to sas7," I" responded the physician to
AN inquiry made by one Of group
Of listeners, sthat man who COM
mitted suicide was insane, for ]
know several persons who were nev-
er suspected of insanity before the
act, nor have they been since. who.
to my certain knowledge. have at
tempted suicide. One or two cases
have been public and have got into
the newspapers, but the great ma
jority of them ara professional Sc
orets, and no one will ever know Of
them except those few who know
now. That's one of the responsible
ties that a physician takes upon
himself.
'sI recall one instance where I
seyed man from committing sui
eide, and, though he never showed
the slightest symptom Of it after
ward. I am positive he was crazy az
alloon at the time of tho attempt. Il
happened about six years ago in a
western city. in a hotel where J. was
the resident physician l had met
the man in the evening after dinner
and had played a game Of chess with
him in his apartments, the finest
suit in the house. He had arrived
at the hotel the day before alona
and had asked for the best rooms,
paying for them in advance. Then
he had asked for the house physi-
clan, and as one result Of our ac-
quaintanoe we were playing this
game of chess. We had had one or
two mild drinks during the evening,
anu after the game was finished ha
turned the talk upon suicide, having
some very interesting and peculiar
ideas on the subject. chief Of which
was his utter aversion to self mur.
Ger under any circumstances what
ever. He was so firm in his opposi-
ton that he almost lost his temper
when / ventured the assertion that
suicide might be almost justiiable.
In the midst of this conversation
ne suddenly went into the adjoining
room and returned with two revolv.
ers, which he laid down on the ta-
BILE between us I didn't understand
Whist they were for and asked him.
"sWell. he answered in the cool
est kind Of fashion. the time has
come for me to die. and you have
got to kill me. Ny soul would ba
damned forever If did it myself,
but IL you do it my blood will not ba
on my own hands. There are two
revolve1s. You take this one
handing me one-sand< I'll take thu
other. AS you see, they are both
loaded and in perfect condition. II
you do not shoot me within a min.
ute, / shall shoot you
HE took out his watch: and,
standing five or six feet from me, he
counted the ticks and aimed his gun
directly at my head. saw by hia
eye that he was crazy and that ]
would have to obey him or pay the
penalty of disobedience with my life.
and still did not want to shoot a
man, however I might be justified
init. With this thought lifted the
revolver, and, taking careful aim.
he watching me narrowly. drew
Che gun square down upon his fore
head. and just as was about to pull
the trigger threw it to one side and
shot for his pistol arm. Ny inten-
ton was good. but was excited,
and my shot only cut through the
flesh without disabling him. and be-
fore had time to move, he had fired
at my heart. A case Of instruments
In my vest pocket saved me, and
the next shot fred was more to
the purpose. and my host was dead
without having committed suicide.
II told the story to the landlord.
who was my friend and relative. ex-
actly as it occurred. but to the world
at large the story went forth that
the man had committed suicide
while crazed, and the fact that he
had been in an asylum was sufficient
guarantee that I was telling the
truth. Washington Star.
When tho Astrologers Were Wrong.
Not all Of the ancients were gu
perstitious. Where wilt thou spend
0hristmass' asked Henry VII Of
Evans, a noted astrologer. May
it please your majesty. I am unable
to tell" "Then I ana wiser than
thou" said the king. "for know it
will be in prison. Another astrolo-
ger told John Gallezzo. duke of
Milan, that he would die early
land how long do you expect Z,