Gloucester County Democrat., 1904-09-01
THoRoEARE.


There were three OF them and they had
met by chance, and, by chance, the CONVEX
sation turned upon length Of life whether
it was desirable to live until one was very
old or not Judging casually, the one for
whom life had held least, and who was
already nearing the parting Of the ways,
desired long life. No matter whether she
was happy or not-no matter what the con-
ditions Of her life might be, she believed
that she had been placed here for purpose
and that she must live out the full measure
of her days-the more of them the better,
in order to fulfill this The second lady
was bright, and CHEEKY, and, compare
lively young. She agreed to this in part,
but thought very long life not altogether
desirable unless the conditions were favor
able. She looked as if the conditions Of
her life had been all that she could wish
thus far The other thought life not de-
sirable at all, young or old, unless one felt
herself to be in harmony with her surround
ings, and unless life brought her that which
her soul crayed. The world, and the
things of the world, were very dear to her,
but she would rather leave it than not have
what she wanted while in it. If life was
simply
1 % Keep the nerves at 5bldlu
To dry ones eyes and laugh at fall
And baffied get up and begin again"
OF what use was it? and why the struggle?
The conversation turned my thought to the
growing frequency Of suicides, and to the
yulgarity OF most of them. | wonder why
the people who are tired Of life don't in
vent something grand and tragic as they
did in ancient days But it is possible
that it is only the record of the great ones
of earth. who took their own lives, which
has come down to us. Perhaps the COM
mon herd drank carbolic acid, or some
equally obnoxious beverage, then as they
do now, and it was only royalty which
could take itself off royalty. at the last.
was much impressed in reading, not long
since, of the suicide of Sarakos the last of
the Ninevite kings. He was altogether
dissolute and effemlnate yet his death was
luxuriously tragic. When he found him
self about to be overcome by the Medes
and the Babylonians, who had risen against
him, he built huge funeral pyre in the
court Of his palace. 1t was constructed Of
the costliest perfumed woods and sur
rounded by enormous heaps Of treasure.
On the top Of this pyre sumptuous payi-
lion was erected, and in it Sarakos and his
WIVES anu tUucuUlucS doSCtlDlcu Il Lac
torch was applied and as the fragrant
smoke eddied about the king and the
women, golden goblets were filed with
wine that added it's madness to the revel
OF death. 1t is said, that the doomed roy
sterers laughed and sang until they sank
down in stupor. So they cheated the fire
of its torture, and the enemy found of Sar-
akos, and his treasure, only heap of ashes.
The Mantua Groye Sunday School, of
which Mr.. Chas. W. Wilkins is Superin-
tenaent, went on its annual picnic to Nat
ional Park on Thursday of last week. The
young people spent an enjoyable day.
The Rev. Geo. S. johnson, and wife,
returned last Friday, after his two weeks
vacation, and he occupied the pulpit in the
NJ. E.. Church on Sunday morning.
Mr.. Howard Williams, from Bridgeton,
visited his sister, Mrs. Isaac c. Low, last
week.
Miss Amy Rambo is home again after a
month spent in camping among the Thous-
and Islands.
Master Richard Wilkins, son Of Mr.. L..
K Wilkins, will enter Pennington Semin-
ary for the fall term, beginning September
18th.
Mr.. Leslie Gibbs has returned after a
visit of some days at Ocean Grove.
Mrs. Estell, from Woodbury., was the
guest of Mrs. Mary r. Low, last week.
Mr. and Mrs Damn and two sons John
and Louis, from Philadelphia, were over
Sunday visitors in the home Of Mr.. and
Mrs. Louis Otto.
Mrs. Ellis Reed has become the proud
grandmother of a beautiful boy.
Mr.. and Mrs. VIM. McGiIl and Miss
Frances McGill visited friends in Salem,
last week.
Miss Laura DeHart, Miss Bessie Rambo,
and Mr.. Alonzo P. Rambo, Jr., went to
Ocean Grove last Saturday for two weeks.
Mr.. Geo. Miller and two daughters,
Clara and Kate, from Philadelphia, are
spending two weeks in the home of Mr..
and Mrs. A. S. Truncer.
The Embroidery Club, otherwise known
as the gang, "..met at the home Of Miss
Laura DeHart on last Friday afternoon.
Those present were the Misses Bell Rambo
and Kizzie Wilkins, of Thorofare, and the
Misses Mabel and Reba Haines and Han
nah Peasley from Mickleton.
Mr.. Stewart Beakley and wife, from
Vineland, are guests of Mr.. and Mrs. A.
S. Truncer. Mr.. Beakley is an old soldier,
and comes from the Soldiers Home.
Mrs. Kate Miller has been recent visi-
tor in the home of her mother, Mrs. Louis
Otto.
Mr. Joseph Fox, Of Philadelphia, is a
guest of Mr.. and Mrs. A. S. Truncer
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HuRFFvILLE.