The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-07-20
ELLA WHEELER WILCOX SAYS
1t Takes COnceit or C1wsrdiee in
Order to be "a suicide

1 OTOrr 70 DO u RuIctuc.
New York July 1S.-A London physician
in the course of his testimony on the wit
ness stand said that he knew a poison in
stantaneous in it's action and positively
! painless. He refused to tell the court the
, poison. In the succeeding two weeks this
| physician said he had received more
than 1900 letters from men and women
in London begging the name of the
poison.
The world has. been running many mill
ions Of years, and we have scientific proof
that man has existed many thousands at
least.
In view Of this fact It seems strange
| that human nature is yet in such an un.
formed state as the above paragraph in.
dlcates. 80
There is great conciet and cruelty In tht
mind that contemplates suicide.
Among the 5000 people who asked the
physician for poison. evidently with the
idea Of self destruction, there might have
been three who were Ill of an incurable
disease, old and homeless. That trio of
disaster might save a man from being re-
garded as cowardly or insane who plan
ned suicide. but it could not save him be-
ing considered most unwise and rash and
foolish.
The old have not long to wait for death
at longest. For those who are not old
there Is always a possible future no mat
ter what shadows envelop their lives.
There Is no disease that cannot be DOM
mated and controlled by will power and
science.
Proper thoughts. proper methods of life,
proper diet, even without the aid Of skill
ed specialists. will root our disease.
Poverty is subject to the same laws. It
is a disease and under the control OF
the spiritual and mental facilitiese. 1 do
not care how a man Is handicapped by
circumstances and fate, II he realizes his
own divine nature fully he can move walls
which seem to be of adamant and mount
obstacles which seem impossible.
If the person who is sick and in pow
erty will make up his mind with deter
mination, based on belief in God. 20 over
come these conditions, instead OF making
up his mind in unbelief to commit self
destruction. he will live to roejolce, in
place Of dying to regret his vain effort to
destroy the indestructibie.
Where not poverty or disease, but
trouble and sorrow, are motives for SUI
eide, human egotism and self conceit can
be said to lie at the bottom Of the matter.
What man or woman on earth ever
escaped trouble of some soft?
Why should you declare your burden
more unbearable than that of another?
Why are you to be spared sorrow or 20
plunge into the unknown I'M an effort TO
escape 1t. when ali about You are peo-
pie bearing just as great sorrows and
growing stronger through the experience?
Is II not for You To look at your neigh
Dor and TO assume that he is more favor
ed by fate than you. You can judge of no
mans life until you have lived II. You
cannot estimate thewe.ght of his burdens
until you know the exact amount o. his
strength. While his pack may appear TO
You to be very light compared with your
own. yet his back may be weak and sore
where yours is whole.
\ man OK social distinction and the
possessor of many millions has recently
been dragged through such domestic dis
grace as few poor day laborers ever ex-
perienced. however. they may feel them
selves TO be neglected by fate and fortune.
The people who justly suicide on the
grounds that they are especially perse-
cuted by malicious chance are invaribly
people OF small powers Of observation and
peculiarly self-ceatered In their mental
Ity.
The word Is large and full OF varied
scenery. But the man who holds his own
Photograph directly in front Of his eyes
shuts ont mountains and rivers from his
vision.
II We set our souls and our minds 20
receive coed results from every experience
and to think and do good. no matter what
comes. We shall dominate disease. poverty
aad sorrow. and death Will have TO take
US by surprise in order to catch Us, in
stead Of our attempting 20 lasso him.
One ship sails cas-; and another sails west,
With the very same winds that blow:
It's the set % the saiis. ard not the gales
That tells Us the way TO go.
Like the winds OF the SEA are the ways Of
fate
As We voyage along through life:
It's the se< Of the soul thai decides q
goal.
And not the calm ofsthe strife.
ELLA wHBEBER WILCOX