Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1902-09-13

I the eleventh OF 5AfrO-AEeIlCaHElF eSuoan.
In the following year came my second
case. Then there was an interval OF
four years without one, since when, WITH
an occasional break of one to three years,
the cases have required pretty regularly,
and in four OF the years there were two
cases in eacfl-one of the four. being the
present year This is considerable show
ing for Richmond, which is not consptcu-
ously q suiciding town; ana 70 the iss
might be fairly added the large NUMBER OF
unsuccessful attempts which nave come
under the cogn1zance or the amouisnce
physicians.
Concerning four of my cases there is
some doubt whether they were suicides.
though the proba bility is that they We're
OF the IL persons 9 must be adJudged 10
nave been insane in the sense IN winch
this term is understood by everybody
Four killed themselves while intoxicated,
presenting no obvious reason other than
drunken imbecility TO account for the act
and had apparently resorted to suicide
as the result of what We must regard
as actual reasoning upon It. VI THESE
last, 1 could not tell his trouble, being in
4 state of stupor. 2 refused to tell, and
the remaining one was impelled by 1eai-
ousy. Nine of them took poison, 8 cut
their Threats, threw themselves OUT OF
the window, 2 used shooting, and drown
ed himself.
a All the years of my childhood and many
of my manhood were passed among
slaves, and as child and man they were
my companions and friends. / do not re-
call a single instance of the suicide or
slave, and ii one is known to any one else
l should require strong proof to make me
concede that it was not an act OF insanity
A distinction should certainly be made
between a suicide which has been reasoned
r + hnr o.
suit anu suicide which is the outcome
Of an insane impulse. The latter is to be
regarded as of the nature of an accident
which might occur with nearly equal like
Jihood to white or, black if the person
were bereft of reason.
It is painfully obvious to US, who were
familiar with negroes as slaves, that a
great change has begun and is progress
ing -4l the mental makeup OF their race.
AS we knew them they were undoubtedly
a Elost mirthful and easy-going people.
and no sentimental feelings over the hor-
rors of slavery on the paft of those who
never associated with the Old-time ne
groes can obliterate the patent fact that
they were not only cheerful themselves.
but they were the cause OF cheerfulness in
others In some of the secluded sections
of our State, which I have visitad, I have
found that their Characteristics, delightful
and well-rernembered, yet linger among
| them. But in the city I note that the edu-
Gated negroes tend to become grave and
solemn, and more or less sad, II they are
of the worthy class, while the depraved
ones are made no better morally, and, in
deed, are often made worse by the edu-
ca ton to which they have been subjected.
Civilizatio of which education is the
predominant factor, has its perils, anu
the black man can no more escape them
| than the white man can. The cultivate
of the intellect inevitably exalts sensible
ity and evolies .'the demon Thought
demon that can perplex, torment, and
destroy. Slavery had for the African at
least the benefcent power to keep down
this devil, but freedom is putting him IN
der It's dominion, and suicide Is one of
the tributes it eXacts from it's victims.
The human brain is an instrument whose
operations are capable of improvement to
a wonderful degree Of exaltation, but is
then liable to become uncontrollably sem
sitive to impressions it receives-like some
kinds of scientific apparatus, whose very
PROJECTIONS render them too refined for
ordinary use. That under the high-pres-
sure devices now employed to suddenly
educate and civilize the negro. he does
not more frequently kill himself may
justly be advanced as an argument to
demonstrate the inherent inferiority of
his mental endowment; for suicide. not
wfthStanding it is commonly held to be
something shameful, will by many
thoughtful people be considered, when it
is committed by sane person, TO be, in
fact, Indicative of highly developed in
tellectuality. and these will be moved
to look upon the victim, not with con-
tempt. but with tenderness and pity. as
a fellow-creature desperately miserable,
and neither criminal nor fool
WILLIAM III. TAYLOR.