Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-12-01
BARS MANY SUICIDES
Men and Women Intending to
Die Write Rev. DR.. Warren.
ONE SAVED AND Welded
Unique Invitation From the Chaplain
Of New York's Hostelries.
RECEIVES IN ALL IL ANSWERS
Many Would Be Thwarted If They
Only Had Some Person in Whom
They Could Confide.
RECEIVES IN ALL IL ANSWERS

NEW YORK, December Twelve men
and women. frankly declaring that they be-
lieved suicide to be the only way out Of
difficulties in which they found themselves,
Aave sought the aid of the Rev. Henry NJ
Warren. chaplain Of the city hotels, within
the last five days in response to a general
invitation extended by him to those who
contemplated suicide, in which he said he
would help them to change their minds.
This invitation was given by DR.. Warren
in. his service last Sunday night in the
Fifth Avenue Hotel.
In his sermon DR.. Warren said there were
scores of strangers in New York every day
who had come here with the well-founded
intention of ending their lives. They came
he said, because they could easily conceal
or lose their identity.
DR.. Warren argued that the suicidal in
tent of such persons might often be
thwarted II they only had some person to
whom they could pour out their hearts at
the critical moment in their unhappy lives
They most invariably came to the city
alone and were therefore without counsel
when the contending thoughts coursed
through their brains. To serve as per-
sonal friend rather than as a minister
DR.. Warren made his request that all per-
sons SO inclined should come to see him be-
fore they carried out their purposes.
Keeps Identities Secret.
DR.. Warren granted an interview touch
ing the cases of those who called on him.
but refused to divulge the names or ad-
dresses Of any Of them.
'One of the most striking instances" said
DR.. Warren. was that of a man who came
to this city from Boston. He is the man.
ager of a large manufacturing concern
there and has a wife and several daughters.
Family and financial difficulties caused him
to ponder over suicide as a way out Of his
difficulties. and he came to this city and
registered in the Grand Union Hotel under
an assumed name. He had told his family
he was going to the Pacific coast on bust
ness.
"On his way through the lobby to drug
store, where he expected to purchase
poison, he saw my explanatory card and
asked the clerk about me. He came to
see me. and by remaining with him for a
whole day I got him to go back home 1
have received a letter from him telling
me l saved him from what he saw after
ward would have been an awful mistake"
Many of the cases which have come to
DR.. Warren's personal attention arose from
lack Of funds. Others were caused directly
by business or professional failure.
A College Graduate.
'This young man." said Dr. Warren, els
a college graduate and independently
wealthy. He told me he had tried to die
Wy AilueIluS gus III Ills Ucu
room. A servant, however, had entered
his room and turned off the gas, and he
had let the matter pass as accidental. He
told me he wanted to die because young
woman to whom he had been engaged had
broken the engagement and been married
to another man. Imagine my establishment
when he told me that had performed the
wedding ceremony myself
II soothed him and told him I was not
positive that / had ever performed such
kI-k
an erroneous report. He thought his case
over for an hour, shook hands and said
goodbye. He is today as happy as ever,
having heard that the report was false. and
I have learned that the sweetheart's quar-
rel may be patched up soOn."
Unusual because of it's grim philosophy
Letter From st. Louis.
is this letter recently received by DR.. War
rem from a man in St. Louis:
Dear Sir-I have seen your appeal in
the paper to the effect that any one who
intended suicide could address you. AS
am one of those unfortunate ones, or. per-
haps fortunate ones who can make up his
mind to such a step under certain circum-
stances, address you frankly.
1.-THE first question you'll ask me Is,
Is life worth living? My reply is that it is.
but when you have family depending upon
you and you cannot make livelihood for
them you are only an extra burden, whereas
they would benefit by your death. They
would get the life insurance. If stay here
much longer even this will be gone, as 1
am unable to keep it up. I am fifty years
old I was In business for myself, but failed
now out of work. You may think 1t an
easy thing to get a position at my time Of
life.~ Just try. it and you will learn diff
ferently; nobody wants you.
foundations from ScrinfrrA and
will not be Of any assistance. 1t Is prac-
teal assistance that Is wanted, and to get
this practical assistance the Lord must
help those who help themselves. The only
practical help see is suicide"
This mans case, hopeless though 1t may
seem. should not in reality be So" said DR..
Warren. IF there was some one to whom
he could go in st. Louis some one to adj
wise him, l feel sure that the cloud would
be dispelled."
Saves and Marries Man.
I'm small things, know of no better ex-
ample than that OF a young man who tried
to end his life recently in one of the larg-
est hotels here. simply because his
evening clothes did not arrive In time
for his wedding. He was so nerv-
GUS that the otherwise trivial matter
wrought him up to a pitch Of what was
almost fatal frenzy. I found him just as
he was about to drink carbolic acid.
spoke to him. and fifteen minutes after
ward I married him to his pretty bride.
They live not far from Columbus Circle.
"Only Wednesday young woman told
me she had intended to commit suicide
unless she was able to get position at,
once to buy her food and shelter. talked
to her for several hours and sent her away
in q cheerful mood. All she needed was
ray of hope and suggestion as to how
and where to find employment"
IT am in a dreadful fx," wrote O woman.
IT am here alone in the city, my only
home being a rented room at $2 week.
I owe 50 on 1t, and all have IL five cents
in cash. am too weak from lack Of food
to even hunt work. never thought would
be in such predicament when. several
years ago, my husband (now dead) was
pastor Of the -- Church, in --, and
I was organist."
.'This letter. said DR.. Warren, 'fs only
one Of many of It's type. A few dollars
from some fund would help such persons
to their feet,
Body Not Yet Recovered.
80