The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1905-10-19
SUDDEN DEATHS.

Sudden death seems to be unusu-
ally prevalent just now. The daily
papers have reports of cases i'll al
most every issue. The greatest
number OF such deaths appear to
occur from four causes: namely,
railroad collisions; from automo-
biles whereby some one is killed i'll
or by these vehicles; murder; and
from suicide. The vast amount Of
traffic carried by the railroads has
increased the difficulty of handling
trains, aud thus made travelling
more hazardous. The great num-
Der of automobiles has SO enlarged
the army Of chauffeurs that there
are naturally more reckless men
among them who are more or less
regardless of the rights of others;
and at the same time familiarity
with these machines has made pc
destrians more careless, and they
are frequently struck through their
own fault by taking unnecessary
chances.
1t is probable that there are no
more murders now than there have
been in years past in proportion to
the population. Very many of
them now reported are among the
foreigners who are permitted to
flock into this country by the thous-
ands, and who come largely from
the ignorant and lawless scum of
Europe.
But the suicide mania seems to
be on the increase. 1t is very COM
mon to read of self-murder with the
statement that there was no appar-
ent cause for the act, and if these
statements are true in all cases then
men and women are killing them
selves Just for the fun Of the thing,
No human being will take his
own life unless there is a cause that
impels him to do it. Either he is
mentally unbalanced, or there is
something back of it all that makes
him long for the quiet of the grave.
While to the world his life seems
all serene, there is a secret sorrow
that is gnawing at the heart that
takes away all desire to live, and
that gives him the courage to turn
his hand against his own life be-
cause he is too much of a coward TO
face the troubles that confront him.
There is disease, domestic infeli-
city, financial troubles, a great sin
committed and the fear of exposure
haunting him, and other things
that drive men to self destruction,
but it was not until quite recently
that the cause of a suiside was
ascribed to idleness. A wealthy
club man of New York who had
never worked a day in his life, who
ived in his political apartments in
New York, or his villa in Newport,
or his beautiful country residence;
who has spent his time in yachting
md racing and golfing and the like,
Who has no family of his own and
nothing to do but amuse himself,
was found few days ago in his
d-chamber by his valet with
revolver in his hand and his brains
)ozing from a bullet hole in his
temple. The papers said he had
killed himself because he had ex-
hausted every possible means that
could be devised for his amusement
md was tired of living. Perhaps
30! If that man was not crazy
there was some other cause for his
ash act, though it will never be
Known.
Death by accident or by the
recklessness of others can be check
ID by making penalties to fit the
rhine, but the suicidal mania can
,nly be governed by the estimate
which each individual puts upon
lis own lite, and by the belief that
.ach one entertains Of what eternity
means.