The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1921-03-21
BOY IS INVITED TO
WEDDING; PALTN'T,
50 HE ENDSHIS LIFE
Henry Smith of Glen Rock
Couldn't Understand Why
He Was Left Out.
SAID HE'D CHOKE SELF
Parents, Invited, Explained
That Little Boys Never
Went to Weddings.
FOUND DEAD ON FLOOR
He Watched Guests Enter
Home Of Neighb0r, Then
Twisted Tie About Neck.
FOUND DEAD ON FLOOR

Henry Wadsworth Smith met his
friend, George Commings, Jr.. by ap-
pointment in the back yard Of the
Smith home in Glen Rock, n. j.. last
Friday afternoon, and being each IL
years of age. 1t took them no more
than half an hour to decide that when
they grew up, or rather when they
had convinced their parents that they
were grown up, Henry would be a
barber and George would be a fire.
man. 1t was mutually agreed that
Henry would cut Georges hair and
George would put out Henry's fires,
neither OF these tasks to cost even so
much as the price of one all day
Sucker"
The momentous question Of the fu-
ture being decided, the boys discussed
the neighbors, and finally their con-
versation reached the then approach
ing marriage of Mrs. Jane Chapelie,
who lived across the street from
Henry, TO J. r. Townsend. They
agreed this was a very proper and a
most interesting event. and doubtless
would be an affair OF much pomp and
circumstance.
Il expect we ought TO CO." said
Henry. "T'd like to see real wedding
once l never saw one"
Chum Got Invitation.
I'm going" boasted George. II got
an invitation to come with my folks"
Now Henry thought this was strange.
that George should have an invitation
to the wedding while he had received
none He thought perhaps he. would go
without one, but George told him that
such thing wasn't done in fact. George
may have boasted Dit because he had
been invited and Henry had not.
"I bet they better invite me- said
Henry. "Tf they don't" he kicked
up piece OF clod with mis- heel. IF
they don't invite me I'll choke myself"
That night Henry asked his father,
who is borough clerk of Glen Rock. why
he hadn't been invited TO the wedding.
Mr.. Smith told him little boys were
never invited. Henry said that George
had been invited. Well. then, Mr.. Smith
didn't know why. Anyway. It didn't
matter he wouldn't care for II. But
Henry did care for II. He cared so
much that he asked them again the next
morning which was Saturday, and when
they told him that he was not 70 go he
went away ana cried. Late that after
noon he sat on the doorstep and watched
his father and mother cross the street
TO the wedding and he saw George 90
by with his parents. and George waved
at Linn as he entered Mrs. Chapelles
house And then Henry was all alone.
very lonesome little boy sitting on the
stoop, while across the street there were
lights and gayety and music.
watches Wedding Guests.
About s o'clock Saturday afternoon,
while the Rev. William j. Lonsdale was
performing the wedding ceremony, some
one noticed the face of Henry Smith
pressed against window pane, eagerly
watching what was going on. But he
went away as soon as he saw that he
had been seen. and he was seen no more.
He wasn't even at the front door to meet
his father and mother when they came
from the wedding. and he didn't answer
when his mother shouted
Come down. Henry, and I'll tell you
about the weddingi"
And when he didn't come down Mrs.
Smith climbed the stairs She thought
he was asleep. or perhaps he was lying
on the bed crying because he hadn't
been invited to the wedding. But when
she went into Henry's bedroom she
found Henry's body slumped on the floor
at the foot Of the bed and around his
neck was necktie. one end of II tied TO
the bedpost. He was dead. He had
choked himself. as he had told George
Commings he would DO II he wasn't In
vited TO the wedding