The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1901-05-18
M. A CO ~oTe
9a1Ll 49, Ea1@
N. N. MuRDocK, Editor.
FEARFUL SPREAD OF SUICIDAL MANIA.

L
III. aess-e 10 kill ones self is one the most re
aable and peculiar epidemics Of the opening century
Night before last the Eagles Associated Press report
+aned no less than ten suicides. and owing to the
enliar rule Of that news gathering institution it does
not renort more than one out of every ten suicidal hap
nepines in the United States In Kansas during one day
This week five suicides were reported in special dis
matches and it is reasonable suppose that others were
committed in remote places that were not reported
The suicidal tendency is growing every week and De
comes more unaccountable The country is prosperous
beyond compare business making money almost
everywhere labor is employed at fair wages, and yet
with what are supposedly the most prolific causes OF self
destruction removed men and are killing them
selves The fact should demand governmental inquiry.
There is something wrong
One Of the most interesting things about the present
phase Of the suicidal mania is that apparently one sui
eide suggests another. In Arkansas City there were
three within short time In this city last month TWO
acts Of selfdestruction accomplished and two at
tempted within a week It might startie some TO kno"
that more than twenty-five suicides have been attempted
in wichita since January and not valid excuse Tor
either Have people faith in Supreme Being who
ovpg upon suicide or do they the courage to meet
the small annoyances and embarrassments OF lfe OF IS
there a suicide microbe in the we breathe?
There have been suicides in ali ages and in all coun-
tries but until comparatively recently selfdestructon
was not common in America One of the most singular
things in The history of the crime the number OF great
minds that have conceived it Herbert Simpson that
eccentric young man committed suicide last year
IN this city found delight calling the names OF
distinguished galaxy brilliant people who were pos
sessea Of the mania Among them zeno Cleanthes
Dionysus Lucretius Lucan Fisher ROmily, Miller
Gohring Kuh Jules Uberti TannahiH Klest Chatterton
Lord Give Creech Blount Hayden and David Simpson
justified suicide with great enthusiasm all occasions
and finally accomplished it when he became the victim
Of comparatively trihing embarrassments.
Many distinguished persons contemplated suicide
Abraham Lincoln was accidentally prevented from taking
ns own life Schiller used to say of had my dear opium
I would put end to my miserable life" PaTiset was
saved from suicide by friend Lessman wrote superby
humorous piece on suicide and then hanged himself
Every tine George Sand saw precipce body Of water
or bottle Of poison she desired for eternal repose
Rossni the great composer was afflicted with terrible
desire to his throat Voaire sought to sarVe him
self to death Gray who wrote the elegy wanted
to commit suicide and had be watched. Chopin was
anxious for death desired to open his
veins doubted the morality Of suicide. He used to
say while this doubt exists it is best for to initiate
Hamlet viii not kill myself. but shall pray earnestly
for a quick consumption" Chateaubriand placed the
muzzle Of gun mouth for the purpose of blowing
his brains out the appearance Of paseby suspend
ed his resolution J. S Mil and Lord Colerdge contem
plated suicide. And these are not all
There have been many and peculiar reasons for sui
ride Domenichino was induced kill himself by the
contempt rival spagnoetto by the abduction Of his
daughter; Kest died in the presence Of his Mistress
sought his life because he had paid
more for house than it worth Chopin wanted to
get away the ghosts that he supposed were
haunting him. Brutus fell upon his sword because he was
battle Mil seriously meditated sefdestruc
ton because he feared the exhaustion musical com
binations.
The modern causes Of suicide are entirely different from
the above; it the prevailing causes
today were known to cause sedestruction as
far as recorded history goes. Love Jealousy dis
appointment business sickness remorse and dishonor
caused suicides every age but in no age more than
this At the same tine it can be said that men and
have been confronted with all these suicidal
causes without entertaining for moment thought OF
sefdestrueton. 1t is clear. then that what can be
cause for one person to XIII himself is not cause for
another person to kill himself and that there is some
physical condition which provokes the mania. George
Sand thought excessive bile others think it is the
wasting of force while great many others look
the direct and indirect influence of ntozieans
with suspicion At any the careful selection OF
competent national international commission. esab
nshed an inquiry matter could hardly fail in
accomplishing results would more than justify the
expenses incurred.
CONCERNING PRESBYTERIAN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
The great ecclesiastical body which in session
at Philadelphia. the proceedings OF which fully out
lined in the Eagles dispatches represents one Of the
strongest and most influential religious in the
country In point Of numbers the Presbyterans are sur