The Ordway new era., 1910-07-22

The record Of morgue and coroner,s
office tell tragedy after tragedy of this
sort. but convincing explanations are
not forthcoming. Here Is how a we'll.
known physician tries to explain the
mental condition which leads to the
mad step into eternity:
III ever a man or woman takes ac
count Of stock. physical. mental and
spiritual. It Is Just before marriage. I
am not speaking now of midnight mar.
riages following suppers and motor
trips. but just the plain garden variety
Of marriage. which is still for better
or worse while both still live.
However lightly marriage is treat.
ed today. however safe cynical people
may feel with divorce as an ameliora.
tive agency. there must come an hour
when. man or woman. the individual
checks up accounts with self and
Maker
IN that hour each must realize that
in the marriage relation practically
nothing can be hidden. The past,
whatever 1t has been. will surely
stand forth revealed. Clothing. medi.
cal attention. will power, all these may
have helped to hide traces OF disease
lurking in the system. disease inherit
ed or acquired. But the cloak will fall
after marriage and the truth is known.
This discovery may represent merely
disillusionment for the other party or
1t may mean actual injustice or in.
jury. And with that awful realization
comes the sudden thought that there
Is Just one way out-death!
Realization that they have only
the dregs Of misspent life to offer
the woman who stands for a belated
but real. fine love. is maddening to
men who have squandered their man
hood and dissipated their energies.
And instead Of rising to meet the
crisis. instead Of possessing the man.
hood to admit the truth and release
the woman. they turn towards and
carry their secret to the grave.
Cause Of Women's Suicides.
"On the part OF women. I think sui.
eide is generally due to an exaggera.
ted emotionalism. often the result OF
trying material preparations for the
wedding ceremony. I recall the case
OF school teacher who wanted to
have a showy trousseau. She secured
night work. and did tutoring for
months before her marriage. then
broke down nervously. She tried to
throw herself out Of the window few
nights before the ceremony. and we
had to place her under the influence
Of sedatives to save her life for the
man she sincerely loved. Left with.
out care and attention she would un.
doubtedly have added her suicide to
the list Of wedding eve tragedies. for
no reason except a nervous break.
down.
This is why many physicians insist
that daughters Of their wealthy pa.
tients take the rest cure Just before
marriage. Something must be done to
balance the nervous strain Of prepare.
ton.
"0ne Of my patients. a successful
business man. told me that he nearly
broke his engagement on his wedding
eve. though he Is the happiest Of hus.
bands today. His flancee was worn to
nervous exhaustion by foolishly elab.
crate preparation for the great day.
While they were going for their II.
cense she developed a tendency to
quarrel and nag. which struck terror
to the mans heart. Was his married
life to be one long wrangle? Better
broken engagement or suicide.
Fortunately he had the will power
to face the situation calmly. but direct.
ly after their marriage he brought his
wife to me for treatment. Her nerves
were In shocking condition. pre-.
scribed absolute rest and quiet. and
she has developed a charming wife.
Now. let such a condition stand be.
tween couple who do not understand
their own emotional!sm or the physical
strain which causes the nervous con.
ditions. and YOU get-suicide. simply
through fear Of unhappiness. which Is
vaguely indefnable. but h!deous. com.
bined with a touch Of physical revul.
sion which generally precedes the
wedding day
Ccroner's Opinions.
Coroner James E winterbo,tom OF
New York says: Il should say tha;
Ill health lies behind the case Of the
average male suicide. With women Il
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