New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-11-11
LIFE TOO CHEAP
AT 5 CENTS A DAY
Gods Will, Says Older of
Two Sisters Who Failed
in Suicide Pact.
PAIR. STARVING,
TRIED TO DROWN
One, a Teacher. Declares She
Never Had a Moment of Joy
in Hard Existence.

"God was in our suicide pact. too,
and knew that our life was too hard.
We did not succeed. That was his
will"
Smiling. flushed, and with something
like a child's pleased surprise at find
ing herself still alive, Mollie Mallet, IN
the suicide ward of Coney Island Hos
pital, yesterday told of her own and
her sister Laura's attempt to drown
themselve. TUESDAY night at brighton
Beach, and of the month and a half
of starvation that preceded their plans
for death.
at was Just the end that was all, y
she said, with her little French shrug.
al had struggled and struggled AUD
struggled until | couldn't do any more.
Think, mademoisele! | am forty years
old and | have never known one mo-
ment of JOY. not one. For more than
six weeks we had lived on five cents
a dav. If we had succeeded | should
be at peace. But it is as God wills"
Then she raised herself on one thin
arm, while she told her story as calmly
and impersonally and almost gaily as
if she had been discussing the latest
musical comedy. She spoke in low
tone. not to disturb her sister Laura,
two years younger than herself, asleep
in the small bed next her own.
"She had a hard night. that one,
said the older sister simply You
see, she thought | was dead until at
last came back to the world at 4
O'Clock this morning. also was sur
prised to find myself alive"
With twenty years experience IN
teaching languages in Paris and Lon
don, Mollie Mallet came TO New York
almost a year ago. She found America
$50 different" every one too busy TO pay
much attention to her reputation as a
teacher in Europe. Three weeks ago
her sister had followed her to this
country. i'll, and hoping that her sister
could help her. But the few pupils
Miss Mallet had been able to secure
did not enable her TO pay even the rent
on the house she had taken at Great
Neck, L. /. They had no food and
their money was almost gone.
$50 we paid what bills we could, and
then | returned the money that had
been paid in advance for the lessons,
the little brown-eyed French teacher
continued. I'VE had asked for help at
the Swiss Young Women's Christian AS
sociation. but had not received It. There
was no one in Europe or America we
could ask for aid"
With the suicide deliberately planned,
the two sisters left Great Neck, IN order
not 70 shock their neighbors there, and
Tuesday afternoon went to Brighton
Beach. They walked for hours and
hours until they were quite exhausted.
Then they made sure that no one was
watching them. commended their sous
To God. walked out 10 meet the waves
and lay down.
But the psychology OF drowning Is
very curious" said Mollie. WITH all
nv mind and heart I wanted TO drown
but my body did not want TO drown.
So I struggled in the water. and per-
hans NAV have screamed. But my
sister Laura's body wanted 70 drown,
though her mind had not desired II
so much as mine. She gripped my
hand firmly and We sank. Then l
thought / was dead.
Mounted Policeman James Norton, OF
the Coney Island police station nHd
sean the two women walk out INTO
the water. and. whistling for help had
so I awoke 70 ind that had not
succeeded" said the elder sister. ELL
am used 10 not succeeding. PER
hans i. was that God did not desire
us 20 die. since It has occurred thus.
How long do you think they VII
let u stay here" she added, aitsl
a rooment. II was not afraid OF death
but am afraid Of Iife nave see"
what IL can do