The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-04-27
IDEAL OF THRIFTY FATHER
FATAL TO SLOTHFUL SON
Ambitious Parent Sends Youth
Out to Win Fortune and Boy
Commits Suicide.
STRUGGLE A FAILURE

NEW YORK, April 26.-If Jacob Rosen-
baum. an immigrant with decided ideals as
to the future of his offspring, had not been
so ambitious for the success of his only
son Joseph he would probably not be
mourning his death to-day
Because the father thought that his son
would be better off if cast upon his own
resources and outside the family fold, he
sent him out into the world Ito make a
man of him. and after only a weeks trial
the boys courage gave way, and he COM
mitted suicide in aslittle ROOM the rent for
which he found himself unable to pay
His body was found propped up in a chair
by the landlady in the house where he was
boarding. A gas jet attached to small
stove had been turned on.
Josephs last words to his parents were
of forgiveness and a plea to them not to
feel that they were responsible for his
DEATH
ITO my dear mother and my dear IA
ther," a note was addressed, which was
found in his lap, where it was certain not
TO pass unnoticed. There followed a pitifuI
acknowledgment that his death was of his
own choosing, and that 1t was entirely his
own fault. and not that of any one else.
II always tried to be good and to do
right" he concluded, land nobody can say
anything to the contrary"
Joseph, until a week ago, was employed
in laundry, where he was paid 81 a week
He lived at home, and with no board to
pay found his salary sufficient to give him
"a little spending money and pay for his
clothes. lie was quiet boy and not as
robust as most of his companions. but
what chiefly worried his father was the
fact that he appeared to be contented with
his station IN life and with the amount of
money he was earning.
His father was continually urging him
to better his condition, to demand more
money where he employed or to seek
a more profitable position, but the admoni-
tions seemed to the father to fall on un-
talked the matter over and arrived at the
conclusion that as long as their son had
clothes and some spending money he never
would develop the push" which they had
been praying for a characteristic of
the one who was TO carry on the family
name and fortune.
The result was that Jospeh was told that
he had better shift for himself. and against
his will the lad left home. He found that
III order to live as he had been living at
home he would have to earn more money,
and made a demand for an increase Of
wages. Instead of his request being grant
ed he was dismissed, and, try he did.
he could find other employment He
was too proud, apparently, to return home
or 10 tell his parents of his unfortunate
condition, and determined that, as he was
making a failure of the plans his parents
cherished for him, he had better make an
end of himself
He went TO his room late on Saturday
night, and, after writing the note of fare
well 10 his parents, arranged himself on
a chair beneath gas jet. with pillow on
the back Of the chair TO support his head,
and waited patiently for the end. The
fumes of gas escaping from the room called
the attention of other dodgers TO him, ard
they found him dead. physician was
called in, but the boy had died hours be-
fore.
The father was notified yesterday OF the
boys death, and when he reached the lodg-
ing house he was allowed 10 enter the room
where the body still lay, it had been
found. There for hours. the father re-
NAMED alone with his sons body, and he
could be heard saying over and over again.
IL trying 10 wake the dead, that he had
only tried 10 make a man of the boy and
believed at the time that he was acting
only for the boys best interests.