The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1915-07-13

I was almost historical by the tina
I had finished talking with DR.. Atwa-
ter about Aunt Mary. He took me o.
the hand and led me over ~ the sofa.
"Margie. my child, you must learn
that it does US poor weak mortals no
good to rail against the common lot
Of humanity.
Eve all must bear and a few far
seeing souls have found that it does
no good to cry over what we cannot
help, and so they have made it viz
tue not to do so. We have dubbed
this bravery. and honored it because
we know that without some such en-
enlargement in bearing our burdens
silently. this world would be pande-
monium rent with the cries OF the
sinner and the sufferer"
But, my dear doctor. it always
seems to me that saints like Aunt
Mary should be exempt"
"True, my dear child. We can't al
ways see the reason why: in fact, that
Is what the whole world is foreve.
asking, why. and the endless question
Is never answered. Let me tell you
q story OF a friend of mine. Margie,
who was the head of one OF the lar
gest universities in this country, and
under his management it had -four
iShed and spead until thousands OF
boys and girls each year went from
II with high hopes and soaring ambi-
tons rolled up in their bits OF sheep
skin. All at once he was stricken
with illness which was pronounced
cancer. He was still in the prime @:
life, and his doom was certain. when
the malady was found TO be inoper-
liable. He came over to me and said.
Doctor, I am going to end it all. I
can't stand this agony. Why should
Isuffer knowing that the end can only
mean death. I've done a great deal
for the university / have lived for
oothers all my life, and now 1t seems
to me that can at least give this boon
Of surcease from pain to myself, and
80 / have determined not to live much
longer
" told him could not blame him.
and that he must be the judge OF what
he should do under the circumstances,
and then / asked him how many boys
and girls had been graduated from his
1ubIlIulIOh SL4SS AS AaN OCStA at t4LS
head OF it.
AZ can't tell-many thousands he
answered.
"And they have all lco%et 10 70
and venerated you
az think so, but what has that to
do with it?'
"'Well we'll say that you do COM
NIT suicide, which you have perfect
right to do, and put yourself out OF
your misery. VIII not any one OF
these young men or women. if ne
comes to hard place in life's road,
be able to justify himself by saying
Prexy did it?'
"My friend looked at me for mo.
ment, and then said. Doctor, I'll
stick and stick he did through awful
suffering until the last"
It's a fine story, doctor" said,
Ssbut still I am not convinced OF Just
how much we owe to others and Just
how much we owe TO ourselves. We
have always been taught. Greater love
hath no man than this. that he lay
down his life for another anu yet
wonder II It is not better for one
sometimes to save his own life and
let the other perish"
But, Margie, YOU must remember
that we are not able to Judge" said
the dear old doctor. 1T would be per
fectly natural for each one OF us to
think that his life was more valuable
to the world than that other he might
save"
well. don't think it's right dear
Aunt Mary should suffer for anyone"
Hush, Margle, you must not Ques-
fIon the ways OF mysterious provi-
mysterious flddlesticks! Doctor,
am perfectly willing to take what's
coming TO me, but ! don't want any
mysterious Providence sending mo
something that am not looking for"
"Margie, you must not be so bitter.
There was some reason for the loss