San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-01-25
had never heard of and who did not know

had never heard OF and who did not KNOW
him. II
While a majority of men die in bed, a
very large number die annually in acct
dents and drop dead without warning
from heart ailments, strokes and similar
Affections. We do not like to contem-
plate death vet it walks hand in hand
with us every day. We meet ncighbors
and friends today who are cold in death
tomorrow. Never do we sit by our fire.
side with our favoritc newspaper but
what we find mortuary column with
the names of fellowtownsmen who have
passed to the great beyond that very day.
Perhaps it is this familiarity with death
that leads us to ignore it as we seek
to do, yet every man is born into the
world with the certainty that he can not
escape in due time, a similar passing.
Data for the United States shows that
$500 men, women and children die every
day. There is 4 constant procession NOV
ing into eternity of 100000 Americans
every year. While we walk the earth con-
scious of health and we'll being we are
in reality but a part OF those serried ranks,
occupying our place in the cvcr-moving
procession that leads onward to the brink
of immortality. We may have no clear
ideas as to a future life and we may hold
no settled convictions as to what awaits
us beyond the grave, but this we know
with an absolute certainty, that to ouc
fate whatever it may be, we must go.
The allotment of human life is but so
MANY spans for one and all after which
we die. OF the $500 Americans who die
each day, twenty-seven are murdered and
fortv-one take their own lives. Figured
on the basis of the total population this
percentage is not large, yet it is dis
proportionatc to other countries. We
have too many murders in the United
States and our suicide rate is increasing.
OF the deaths, more babies die than
adults. Our infant mortality is one OF
the problems that our large industrial
communities confront The birth rate III
the United States is about 5000 babies
each day so that it is nearly double the
number of deaths, a hopeful sign tor
the nations future. While we may mourn
the passing of friends and dear ones and
lament the fact that our turn will arrive
100, vet WnSn VIC loon DIT uSdtll hum nv
vast scope of the centuries, it is soon
borne home to us that we are after all,
very infinitesimal atoms in the general
scheme of things. The death of $500
people every day is in reality but making
way for those who are born, clearing the
earth for new generations who in turn
will give place to others. A fair estimate
based on statistical data is that 100000
babies will be born in the United States
in 1923 many OF whom will perish in their
first year of life and slip away into that
unknown realm we call eternity.
For the whole world, approximately
| 2S,000,00s deaths will occur in 1928, rich
and poor, middle class and rabble, kings,
rulers, politicians, statesmen, diplomats,
high and low alike. The grave probably
is the greatest emblem of democracy,
where all sorts and conditions of men,
all colors, all creeds and all degrees must
lie down together, silent, helpless and on
an absolute equality We may robe bodies
in silks and satins, heap the tonlbs with
flowers but in death all is equality.