The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1910-10-15
Self-Destruction Never He
roic Under Any Circum-
stances, Says Writer. {
ALL ARE TEMPTED,
BUT FEW RESPOND
When Days Are Dark, Wait for
Sunshine in Renewed
Happiness.
By ELLA WHEELER WILCOX.

-HE attempted suicide OF a beauti-
full and gifted young girl which
has recently stirred New York
where suicides are almost daily
events, makes q rediscussion OF that
painful old topic timely.
There are few people of mature years
possessed Of emotional temperaments
who cannot recall some hour or day
when the thought Of self-destruction
entered their minds
It may have come and gone, like a
bat flying into and out of room with
one motion of its wings, or it may
have come to perch like a bird OF evil
omen on the tense strung hesrtsUrings
for hours or days.
But the memory of such Srim and
unwelcome visitors, who invaded-1he
kingdom Of mind should make every
human being feel a sense of pity Tor
the weak souls who have allowed them
10 remain and dominate the kingdom
instead Of saying to them. Get thee
behind me, Satan"
Suicides Not Heroes.
Yet. while We feel pity. it IS well 20
strip the suicidal mania OF the roman
tic decorations which give il morbid
fascination 70 many observers II 10
not wise 10 lucdllLt lll6 SubJS~1-SA -
make heroes Of suicides
There Is oftenumes in the mind OF
The suicide a great passion 10 be specta-
cuIar, to stand in the limeliSht, 10 at
tract the gaze Of he multitude; and
81 this passiOn does not find Srauhca-
ton in life. it IS sought IN death
Half-g~own children have been known
10 attempt suicide, in order TO make
their parents sorry for having punished
them, or to show the world how they
had been wronged.
suicides Of the excitement and sorrow
which their act viii produce on those
who are left behind would make inter-
esting reading, could II be written our
exactly as they thought II out.
Sometimes the letters left to SURVIVORS
give gIiInpSeS of this morbid reasoning,
aud not infreCuently a frank avoWal OF
a desire 20 revenge their wrongs is be-
tTayed by their letters.
Suicide a Disease.
Suicidal mania is a disease, and 1t
should be regarded as such by the VIC
tim of # the moment the idea comes
into his mind. 1t does not require great
sorrow, or great disappointment oil
great tragedy to produce this disease
Tor il IS oftentimes found among the
prosperous and successful and thoS'
who have all the blessings of life.
The mind that harbors thoughts o.
suicide is almost always a self-cen
tered mind. for if the thoughts turn on
10 Others and there is a deeD-seate'
,viSh to save others SOrTOW and give
others happiness, suicide VIII not %
entertained In the same mind
A man killed himself recently leavini
q letter In which he stated that he com
mtted the act In order to give his wiz
the chance to marry some rlcner MAJ
and 10 find happiness. He Said ne na'
failed in his effort TO please her. Blu
this man had refused his wife's plea Z
give up drink and the gambling table
To have turned hlSN back reSOlutei,
upon his bad habits and to have re
sORed to live FOR his wiieS happlneS
would have shown a far nobler couraS
than TO die by his own hand.
The very old, the hOpelessly iii. some
times commit suicide with desire Z
nave others trouble and themselves con
tiuued pain. There is an unuttera bl
pathOs in such cases
But with all the pity one may fee
for the despairing young who under
take self-destructiOn, there is, too,
sense Of impotence with them for thei
lack Of courage and perseverance
They seem like the angry childre
who fling themselves upon the grOun
and kick and scream and refuse I
walk along with their nurse, TO wher
food and rest await them.
Wait for Sunshine.
There is always hope for the youns
However dark the day may be at
o'clock, bright sunshine may illumin
the skies at II o'clock. IF not at 1
At p, and there is a long afternoon
which to enjoy the sunlight
Hundreds, thousands OF happy. SUI
cessfuI men and women today can loo
hack on desperate hours Of youth whe
there was no star in the sky and n
hope Of a dawn visible on the horizon
Copyright, 1910.