Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1907-02-20

cut the sacred thread which binds
them to this world if they dare? Nay,
how many of the gay, laughing
crowds around us have at one time
or another contemplated suicide, and
how many this very day would hurry
away from the present stage of being
but for an indefnable dread of the
future? l believe the number is lar
ger than most people have the slight
est conception OF.
LAS to the causes that lead to sui
eide, they are numberless. No doubt
temporary insanity the reason COM
monty assigned by the gentlemen who
are SO often called upon to inquire
into the matter, is frequently the cor
rect one. For who, not worked up to
some terrible pitch of excitement.
tantamount to mental arrangement,
would commit so foolish a deed?
But how does that arrangement
come about? What is behind it?
"The reasons commonly suggested
are drink, speculation, dissipation,
gambling and similar follies. These
things lead, it is said, to all sorts OF
disappointments and vexations, un-
der the influence of which weak, ill.,
balanced, passionate and unassisted
minds reel and give way, ending only
| too often in the deadly resource to
poison, the water, the revolver or the
rope.
But farther back in the string OF
causes for this melancholy transac-
ton l should say there too frequently
lies a sense of failure in the struggle
of life; especially is this the case
with those who have come down in
the world With many, believe, the
step is taken in the struggle to be
good-in the vain effort to master
some hated evil habit with the sense
of utter friendlessness.
"No one is at hand with sufficient
sympathy or sense to understand
them to whom the poor, bleeding
heart can be laid bare. So the fatal
step is taken.
Suicide in 80 cases out Of 100
must be the triumph Of despair.
| rs there any remedy? Like the
antidote to every human sorrow, the
remedy must begin with pity. 1t is
true that self-murder is an evil thing
But it is only so many degrees worse
than other evil things men do, by
which they kill themselves as surely
as does the man who, Keeling beneath
the weight of his distress, in frenzied
madness filings himself beneath the
wheels of the roaring railway train.
"For example, what about the peo-
pie who drink or eat or idle them.
selves to death?
But will not argue about causes.
Can anything be done to prevent the
suicidal tide from rising? That is the
practical question. And it seems to
me that we must supply the friend
less with friend, the broken in heart
with comfort, the dazed, bewildered
creatures with guide, the momen-
tary maddened slaves of folly with
thoughts and hopes that will steady
them to the arms of him who is still
saying, Come unto me all We that la
Dor and are heavy laden, and l will
give you rest
II am aware, Of course, of the diff
culties-perhaps dangers-connected
with anything like an organized ef-
fort in this direction. It will be open
to abuse. But I will lay down hard
and fast lines of guidance for these
officers. On no account will they be
permitted to promise financial assist
ance. No inquiries will be made into
the antecedents or private circum-
stances of those who seek advice.
Condolences will be rigidly kept, and
unless a person gives permission moth
ing will be committed to writing
likely to cause the slightest trouble
or sorrow to anyone. Secrecy will be
inviolably preserved"