The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-09-25
SUICIDE

A short while back there was an epidemic
of suicide by the bichloride Of mercury route
the public having gained the impression from
the publicity given the accidental poisoning by
that drug that death by that means was pain
less
The Journal of the American Medical asso
citation declares that this impression is grossly
erroneous There are few methods of suicide,"
says this distinguished authority more pain,
ous than that due to the taking OF oichioride
of mercury" -
But why suicide by any method? Why should
man woman violate the laws OF nature ana
the laws of God and shuttle off before their
time? Suicide is the remedy for nothing Sui
eide is abject surrender Suicide Is laying
down" Suicide Is lynching. Sometimes sui
eide is based on desertion OF wife and children.
1t is for man to take his own life
and leave those dependent him to shift for
themselves than it would be to run away. 1t
Is almost as cowardly for a man to commit
suicide to escape bodily atfcton or mental an
guish.
we do not mean to speak harshly of the
dead. We do sit in Judgment upon any
man woman who in a moment OF despair mas
yielded to the irresistible impulse to END II
air and fly away. The heart know.th its
bitterness and no one can judge OF
anothers woes Not all of us have the same
point of view. 1t is hard to know what you
would do in another mans circumstances. We
must be charitable towards another's weakness.
But, be charitable. suicide is never justi-
fl BILE and always a mistake. Thou shalt not
kin" is the universal command to every man
and every woman in all circumstances OF IN
divdual conduct. 1t is the law of God and
1t is much q violation OF the law TO take
ones own life a sit is to take the life OF an
other.
Aside from all that 1t happens more often
than otherwise that If the suicide had faced
his trouble with manly courage the situation
would have cleared up by and by and life
would have been worth living after all. II Is
| related that Henry A. Wise, the war governor
! of Virginia called his son out OF doors
/ to watch the progress of thunder storm. The
/ lightning flashing the wind was blowing a
gale, the rains descending in torrents. But
the old philosopher required his son to weather
the father replied: Il want you to observe and
| 1t may be, the worst storm that God Almighty
! ever sent is followed in by calm. The
winds cease the sun shines and there is peace"
John S. Wise, in relating the incident to a
kinsman in this city, remarked that the lesson
fhad been a comfort and inspiration to him
| throughout all the vcissitudes of his life.
/ We have all had similar experiences, We
have had the clouds of affection adversely
to gather about us, and it seemed that we were
about to be overwhelmed. But suddenly the
sun broke through the clouds and the storm
passed off and left unhurt.
One day King David seized with III
of blues and he exclaimed in his anguish: "Wiil
the Lord cast off forever? And will he be IA
vorable more? Is his mercy clean gone for
ever? Hath he in anger shut up his tender
mercies?"
But by and by the storm passed Off and
King David sang a song and he said
This is my infirmity; but |. viii remember
the years OF the right hand of the Mos. High.
Newport News Press