Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-01-27
An Epidemic Of Suicide.

Today's paper contains a notice Of sew
eral suicides. Every days paper recounts
from one 10 three or four. II the reader
Is acquainted with the unfortunate person
then the untimely death may cause some
reflection II the suicidal mania Is
stranEer-unknown-th his name passes
out OF remembrance as quickly as ne
passed out OF life. This mode OF death
has become 50 common nobody feels much
surprise and very few are much con-
cerned- The vessel that was dipped into
the pool makes cfrcling rlpples when lifted
ont OF the water but in a few. seconds the
water Is as smooth as ever and the pail
fun is not missed or wanted about there
any more
The wretched suicide is a painful remem-
brance TO those connected with him or
her. as the case may be. and the outsiders
care nothing at all as a rule.
There Is something wrong somewhere IN
American social life that has made self
destruction an epidemic
1t IS not an attendant on poverty, for
many rich people blow their brains out or
die under opiates and poisOns- A woman.
q few days ago. drenched herself with
kerosene oil and then touched a match 20
the oil-soalxed apparel A great many
swing or like criminal on the gallows-
There seems TO be no method too violent
OF repulstve 10 deter the self-destrOyer.
But Il may be understood once for all
that while a suicide violently shocks rela-
tfves and friends the idea is not new or
unfamiliar 10 the one most concerned The
intention has been a plant Of considerable
growth. perhaps exploded by some fuse of
dread. anger. grief or loss. which even
tuated IN self-destructiOn-
1.-THE roofs OF hundreds Of homes could
be lifted and a glimpse taken Of the in
mates in hours Of abandon and without
concealment IL would doubtless surprise
the most sagaciOus to see and know how
many. many lives are tortured TO agony
by cruel treatment. modification, injus-
tIce and despair. Trouble is the rule. free
dom from care the exception in most
dwellings Pride. ambition. appearances
sake. love for helpless children, unwil
lngneSs TO expose the family skeleton
have made thousands walk on burning
plowshares'' until death put an end 10 life
and 10 misery. II by reason OF overstrain.
despair or defeat spring snaps In the
brains delicate machinery. then IL is per-
fectly in order for the machine to go TO
pieces or become useless forevermOre.
Eccentricity Is many times harmless.
but sometimes Il is a finger-board pointing
70 something more serious. II there were
enough interested people 10 stop and ex-
anime symptoms in the beginning OF mind
disease without. waiting until the fever
IS wasting and the malady bearing down
in dead earnest on a patient not able to
bear the pressure Of both physical and
mental suffering. there might be proven
ton many times when cure is not TO be &C
complished later on
Many years ago. when my young life
was unworn and tender. knew some
young people whose mother went out one
day and hung herself. IL Is impossible to
express in words the pity and unspoken
grief felt for them. 1t was said she had
a hard. rough-speaking. unkind husband.
and my young mind jumped to conclu-
sions at once. have, however. lived long
enough 10 know that physical weakness
will sometimes produce mental weakness,
and maybe the hapless mothers death was
not affected at all by the husbands I'M
kindness. but resulted entirely from her
own distressing ailments
Brain troubles are for the most part in
explIcable. Jaundice viii fling out its yell
low flag. tuberculosis win show the hectic
with the cough. rheumatism viii pun up
the joints and contract the muscles. but
brain trouble must and will work its way
silently until dementia is developed. and
then II Is generally too late, for after the
wreck the pieces viii scarcely bear weld
ing together any more.
There Is manifest determination and zeal
IN care and treatment OF the insane by our
public authorities, but the preventive
measures are in their infancy stfll. hence
The strenuous character Of American
l6e IS likewise promoter Of brain trou-
bles. This epidemic OF suicide is a serious
indictment against our habits. methods,
business absorption and brain overwork In
the present era
Too much business, too much study. too
much ambition are each and all worse
than an overplus of manual labor for the
minds health and satisfaction
.Homicides are more frequent than sui
cIdes and perhaps both are generated :"
the same place and by the same influences.
II the secrets OF the hidden were disclosed
to human understanding
IL is a common plea in the defense Of
nurderers mat the mind was unhinged
and the act. therefore, not one OF guilt
While improper in many instances no one
is prepared 10 decide thus for all who are
arraigned at the bar Of justice Who
knows? Who can know but the Great In
finite Mind?