The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1920-12-27
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"suleiae."
The average expectancy q life has
Increased from IS years 10 about SO
years. This has been brought about
By the reduction Ia the prevalence Of
diseases Nv modern public health
methods. There Is one cause OF death.
however. that has steadily increased
uifh the advance Of civilization.
II IL rather startling 20 find that
over 10000 people take their own lives
in this country every year and that
America leads the world in both hasn-
lcide and suicide We beast of be-
ing the waaithiesf. happiest. most in
teiligent. most progressive Of nations.
yet the very centsrs OF our SO called
civilization. New York and Chicago.
have each many times more murders
ard suicides annually than London.
Modern life affords many more
comforts and convenience. even for
the very poorest. than tho life Of so
ar Toe years ago. In the good cid
days, people bore hnrdshipa and auf-
ferings. some even welcoming 81 yet
today when former Injuries are now
necessities and life IL SO much easter
more and more people find Il SO hnrsi
that they are willing % go out OF 70
By their own hands.
Does the trouble lie with the indl.
viduals or with our modern life and
civilization And why. especially IL
Americas suicide rate VIGOROUSLY
high?
Careful analysis Of suicide statistics
haE shown that Il il not harashins or
physical diseomforts as commonly he
lieved that bring about the mental
state which iEnpels suicide. The men,
tai condition IA one ia which the in
dividual Is unable 20 adapt himself 20
adverse surroundings or III fortune
and o. result. usually. OF the me-
glecr Of early training In self denial
and elf-controi A nation 90 fathers
and mothers who permit their children
20 be raised In lives Of ease and in
dulge every within must expect a high
suicide rate The dignity Of labor,
the value Of hard knocks and advefa-
lty in the building Of character are
neglected or taught in q haphazard
way. Children brought Up this way
have learned TO expect something for
nothing when actually there Is moth
Ing so expensive as something for
nothing.
Authorities on this subject state
that our generation is engaged in
producing many oversensitive young
folks who cannot stand being disturb
ed in their hopes and aspirations IL
il stated that suicide Is primarily -
pathological seiflshness In which the
utter preoccupation with self as the
most important thing ira the universe
Is tho underlying cause.
II may be interesting 20 note some
other facts that have been brought
out:
u) The average age of those who
commit suicide IL constantly becoming
younger
az Again. there are more suicides
on bright sunny days than on rainy
days; Also more In spring and sum ,
mer than winter
ca Strange as Il may seem. sta |
tistiCs show that the month OF June /
has the most suicides and December /
the least The last 40 days In De /
cember. however. show more than 7
the remainder Of the month These /
facts show that suicide Is not dae 20 I
disccmforts but % the contrasts which 1
the suicide observes between his cor + 4
ditlon and those around him. Wealth I
and speculation also favor the occur |
ence 81 suicide.
(4) on tho other hand, poverty I
and severe physical suffering OF any
kind. when shared by a whole people. !
such as famiues. earthquakes aud I
wars reduce the suicide rate. In San K
Francisco before the great fire and 4
earthquake there were i2 suicides "A
week. afterwards. IL was reduced 20 1
three IN two months.
t5) Suicide increase seems 70 fol- 4
low civilization, probably because IL 4
makes people capable OF feeling pain I