The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1923-04-24
70 MILL|ONAIRES
SUICIDES IN 1922
Report Shows 1900 Persons
Killed Themselves in u. S.
NE-TKlRD OF NUMBER WOMEN

| UUL-ItililU Vi NU.TbL!l UUNflV
! Seventy-nine millionaires were among
the $4,000 persons who committed sui
| eide in 1922, 1t was reported by DIR.
Harry M. Warren, president of the
| Save-a-Life league. One-thlrd of those
whs killed themselves were women,
the oldest was great great-grand-
mother, one hundred years old, and
| the youngest a child Of five.
In New York city 500 persons killed
themselves, and an increasing number
| threw themselves in front of subway
trains and jumped from high buildings
Some parts OF the country reported
waves OF suicides, and one girls sui
eide club was discovered Those who
took their lives-about the same num-
Der as in the preceding year-included
wealthy, socially prominent and high
ly educated persons. There were 80
college students, so college professors
and school teachers, 10 preachers and
leaders OF religious work, 80 judges
and lawyers, "a physicians, 100 pres
idsnts and heads Of large business con-
Germs, and q number Of bank presi-
dents, one Of whom tried ten times to
die before succeeding.
Due to Trivia! Causes.
AS usual, many have put a low esti-
mate upon the value of human life,
most trivial" said Doctor Warren. "A
girl did the act because she became de-
pressed after bobbing her hair, man
because he was forced to quit playing
golf. A woman killed herself after
missing two trains, man because he
feared the end Of the world was at
hand, another because of row over
trying to guess the coming spring
styles for women. One recently ended
his life rather than face another cold
winter. A young man killed himself
for the fun OF It, And another left
q note saying she was taking poison
Just to get new thrill.
'The suicide OF children Is a matter
particularly distressing, and most Sc
rious problem, to be carefully consId- |
cred In 1919 we reported AIT child
suicides. In 1920 there were 1877 In !
1921 the number had increased to S58. |
In 1922 there were over 800 or nearly |
5000 in four years The average age |
Of boy suicides Is sixteen, girls, fifteen. |
Most girls use poison the boys use a
gun. When I'VE school girls In four
days commit suicide 1t il time the pub
lie asked the reason why. The con
clusion reached probably will be that
they were Temporarily disordered, or
home conditions were intolerable or
that the school system WAS at fault.
All three are the chief causes for child
suicide s.,
Child marriage is another serious
cause. In 1920 there were 1900 boys
and 1900 girls fifteen years Of age In
the United States listed as married,
and nearly 500 Of them were recorded
as widowed or divorced The married
boys Of sixteen numbered 1922. Those
If seventeen numbered 1890. those Of
eighteen, 24O44. Girls who had mar
led at sixteen numbered 1920, at sew
.nteen, 99,93O, and those at eight
zen, 1S8,645 Many Of these cffl-
lren soon after marriage find that
hey have made great mistake in
heir choice quarrel. separate, get df-
'orced and supply many OF our sui
ides as well as homicides Parents {
nd teachers should educate children
0 avoid emotional exeesses. to meet
ravely the unpleasant things of life. t
Prohibition to Blame IN Part
"The inability to procure customary
Icoholic drinks and narcotic drugs g
elped to swell the total Of unfertu- c
ates who died by thcir own hRndb. q
erhaps nothing has given more real q
PROV and humiliation than the sui
de Of so many of our soldier boys. a
hese shell-shocked and disabled SOL r.
ers have given way to Helpless deS- IL
,fr, more than 1000 having ALREADY r,
suicide. This league has h
ven special attention to- such cases, fl
I'd is proud Of having saved not
w from their greatest battfe. II
"Dr. Thomas w Salmon says that a,
rost suicides are preventaDle' The Of
ague has proved that people tempted r.
end their lives will FIRST come and sf
Tx It over. and that in most cases f.
ey can be saved. We have heard
uch about our duty to society and
untry, but we have forgotten our
lty to<those who at our very doors
ded their lives for the lack Of a help Il o.
Z hand when passing through ilfefa z
eatest crisis. We do not need In W
stirators The facts are we'll known. o.
Iicide causes fill our papers and usu- y
" without attracting the slightest u
tention. We need instant aetionv al