The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1907-03-22
CEzW WZZZZ4zI BOOTH ~

how many this very day would hurry
away from the present stage Of being
but for an indetinable dread Of the
future? | believe the number is lar.
ger than most people have the slight
est conception Of.
''As to the causes that lead to sui
eide. they are numberless. No doubt
temporary insanity, the reason conn
monty assigned BY the gentlemen who
are 50 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 50 foolish deed2
But how does that arrangement
come about? What is behind it2
"The reasons commonly suggested
are drink, speculation, dissipation,
gambling and similar follies4 These
things lead, it is said to all sorts Of
disappointments and Vexations, an
der the influence Of which weak, Ill
| balanced, passionate and unnssisted
minds reel and give way, ending only
too often in the deadly resource to
poison, tie water, the revolver or the
rope
But farther back In the string OF
causes for this melancholy transac-
tion | should say there too fre4cently
| lies a sense Of failure in the saaggle
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 friendiessness.
mo 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. It Is
.Iue that self-murder is an evil thing
But It is only SO many degrees verse
, than other evil things men do, by
which they kill themselves as surely
as does the man who. reeling 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
2 selves to death?
sBut I will not argue about causes.
Can anything be done to prevent the
: suicidal tide from rising That Is the
2 practical question And It seems to
! me that we must supply the friend
Q less with friend, the broken in heart
i with comfort, the dazed, bewildered
9 creatures with a guide, the momen
a tary maddened slaves Of folly with
q thoughts and hopes that win steady
: them to the arms of him who is still
7 saving, Come unto me all We that Ia
S Dor and are heavy laden. and will
: give you rest.
: Il am aware, Of course, Of the diff
{, culties-perhaps dangers-connectet
7 with anything like an organized ct
fort In this direction. It will be opel
to abuse. But I will lay down har'
y and fast lines Of guidance for thes'
officers. On no account will they b
permitted to promise financial assist
= anoe. No Inquiries win be made int
= the antecedents or private cireum
u stances o1 those who seek advice
Condolences win be rigidly kept an
y unless a person gives permission noth
Z ing viii be committed to writin
J. J. likely to cause the slightest tfoapl
!. or sorrow to anyone. Secrecy Will b
= inviolably preserved.