The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1917-10-12
A Story for Parents
nv ". ADDINGroN BHUCE
Author OF The Riddle OF Person
atty" Psychology and
Parenthood." etc.

He was young man. only ~
years ot age His family history
was good. from a medical stand.
point lie seemed UP 20 the aver
age In intelligence.
But within the space OF few
months he had made four attempts
az suicide
First he had tried 20 drown him
self. Then he had swallowed a
large dose OF laudanum Sent 10 a
private hospital. he had crushed
and swallowed an electric light
globe Later he again took lauda-
mum. In despair. his relatives now
had him examined BY an eminent
medical psychologist.
To the psychologists question as
20 why he wished 20 die, the young
man ilrst declared that n was be
cause OF ill health
Ny stomach troubles me. | can.
not get well. ! would be better
dead"
As contributary cause ne Blamed
interference Al home" His moth
er, brother, and sister were always
picking on me" Later ne stated
IL have been dissatisfied all my
life do not know what my
trouble Is or what ] have done dir
terent from any one else
When you went 20 school. how
did YOU get along"
Badly / was bAshfui with the
glrls and the boys leased me
much
Now the question was put
Have YOU done anything for
which 20 reprosch YOURSELF
'No." The young man answered
Then Il guess the whole case is
Imagination
what did be mean rs that Tho
psychologist began 10 probe deeply
into his past And presently an i'm.
portant discovery was made.
Despite the patients denial, Il
appeared That. Ia early adolescence
10 had been guilty OF misconduct
which hllod bin With mingled feel
ings OF fear and shame.
For one thing he feared hat
others could read his secret Ia his
eyes Hence his bashfglness Also
Re was in An agony OF dread lest his
miscondHe, should prove harmful
20 his health
Conading n no one, overwhelmed
with worry. MI. health naturally D."
came affected Thereupon he wcr
ried stll more. until hts mind ~ q
dare. suicide seemed 20 him the
only way % escape.
Fortunately. having ascertained
The true situation. the medical
psychologist was able 10 give him
Tho reinsurance needed 20 esta0
llsh mental peace and poise.
But. you ask what were his par
ents doing al this time When he
was an adolescenf boy could
they not have told from bis behavior
that something was preying on he
mind,
n his father had gained his con
hdence. might not all hts later sur
terinzs and the attempts az suicide
J have been Rverted7
The probability is that they would
have been. But let me ask you q
View 1UEE-Tur, - Az -tnrn
Your own child Is perhaps aorof-
( 'na!,v ttmtd or salky 81 moody ar
( given 70 solitary meditation Have
YOU bestowed on these traits. any
special thought
or have you taken q FOR granted
hat they will be :oui grown. and
that YOU need MOI tfeHbie :. hail
them. need not Try 90 ascertain
their meaning
know well that this q the usual
attitude OF parents toward me
psychic danger signals % child.
hood
And 80 long as q Is the attitude.
No shall End IN children mental
conflicts perNstinE into adut iiie.
and eliminating. sometimes In .n'
I eide. more often IA strange detects
/ % character or long continued nerF
Gus and mental invalidism