The Washington herald., 1909-01-04
The Suicides


OF al purely ethical and personal dues-
lions there are few that have caused more
difference OF opinion than the question Of
suicide. From the religious standpoint
there Is. of course. no room for argument.
nor is there from the legal standpoint
for the lawmakers have decided that
the man who tries to XIII himself and
fails has been guilty Of an offense against
the laws. But It would seem that neither
Of these viewpoints affects deeply the
individual bent upon self-destruction-
Once resolved 20 travel 20 that "bOurn
from which no Traveller returns" religious,
ethical. and legal viewpoints are disre-
garded
There have been few more striking cases
OF suicide than that Of Prof. and Mrs.
!. P. Gordy. OF the New York University,
who killed themselves because OF the un-
timely death of their daughter. The grief
enEendered by the loss WIS too hard for
them 70 bear. and they at once decided
that it was better
To take arms agains; Of troubles.
And By oFpOsing end them
The case IS the more grievous because
OF the standing Of this man and woman
who chose. FOR even such cause, 10
shuttle OF this mortal coil" Prof. Gordy
vas only in the prime Of life. ffty-seven
years cid. His life work lay before him.
and he had fitted himself by long years Of
study for that work. Books he had writ
ten were cited as authority; his education
had been cuIled from both Europe and
America He had done loyal service as
an educator in Ohio: he was engaged. at
the time OF his trouble. in the noble occu-
patton OF teaching teachers how to edu-
cate the young.
And Yet all OF his education and cul-
ture, the possession Of a good position
the eompaniOnship Of helpful wife the
respect and honor Of his associates were
not sufficient 20 stay his hand, and the
example he has set in his tragic taking
Of will in all probability, more than or
set all the good that before his trouble
came upon him, he set out to do.
No one willingly speaks harsh words
about the dead. But surely It is not un-
kind to take lesson from this tragic
occurrence. II IS not unfair. surely. to
point out that one OF the highest duties
Of a man is to live up TO his opportuni-
ties. Il is not true that any one OF US
may live or die wholly 10 ourselves. There
Is an obligation between q man and the
God who made him for God alone may
know how severely man Is tried; but
there is an obligation. also. between man
and his fellOw-man. and upon US all les
the duty Of fulfilling our obligation. For
the poor. uneducated man, the man who
cannot. by virtue Of birth. breeding. OF
education. understand the meaning OF
nobIesse obEge- We can have nothing but
pity. If. in the fell clutch Of circum-
stance he so mistakes the purposes of
God as 10 take the question OF life OF
death into his own hands. But what can
we say about the man who has Won UP
I TO the place Of teacher OF the people the
man who has Won his spurs; the man
who. armed with the strength OF his fel-
/ lOw-mens love and respect. weakens AT
/ the hour Of trial. fails 20 keep the faith,
and refuses 10 face with manly courage
/ and high determination the fate that is
/ in store?
Sad and pathetic as this case OF double
suicide Is. it serves 20 emphasize once
more how utterly selfish and cowardly il
IS Ter a man 70 ay the battle Of life. 10
quit the field vanquished, when he should
be a victor. II IS only through lie and
the opportunities OF lie that il is given
rs to express the purposes Of God. If We
/ fail Him. then are we towards indeed.