The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1953-03-14
HAL
BOYLE
SAYS

| SAYSl
NEW YORK R-Death in home
or hospital usually sends its warn
ing ahead, and arrives with small
surprise.
The survivors have already been
notified of the coming blow by
deaths pale ngtri1er.-sa lingering
illness.
But death in the office strikes
with the suddenness Of a mighty
hawk. No one is prepared for Il.
For nobody ever thinks he win die
at work. When he thinks of his own
death at all, it is in terms of pure
drama. He sees himself as the CEN
trail hero. stoically yielding to the
inevitable as weeping loved ones
at his bedside bewail his passing
as an act Of Heavenly larceny
against themselves.
Above all he sees his death as
an event of dignity that gives him
final stature.
Death doesn't come that way In
the office.
Poor Ned has felt bad, and
looked bad, and complained about
it mildly for years.
ITS in my chest here" he
says, land I've got this pain in my
left arm. II isn't like arthritis."
why don't you 60 homef"
ooh. that would only scare my
wife"
He grimaces and his face grays.
But in a while the pain goes away,
and he gets on with his work Grad
ually, since he won't take time of,
the word gets around that there
isn't really anything really wrong
with Ned. It's all in his head. He's
hypchondriae--one OF those guys
who never feels good unless he
feels bad.
But one day Ned grimaees.
stands up. and suddenly pitches 10
the floor. He turns . bit, and gives
a sound between a sob. sigh, q
moan. Nobody knows what to do.
Loosen his eollar--he Just faint
ed"
''Pick him up, and put him on q
sofa +"
mo. don't move him. II may BE-
a heart attack"
Get doctor. Where is-the near
est doctor7"
The others stand around IN fright
ened clusters as Ned makes his
last fight alone on the floor. The
llabored breathing slows, the sounds
cease, 3 lethargy flows almost vis-
IDLY through his tired body. A nurse
comes and bends over him.
Hes dead" she says. The elus.
ter pulls back q BIT, 40 Il death
we're contagious.
A doctor hurriex in. A pulmotor
arrives with oxygen Ned no longer
has any use for. But they so
through the Formally. They always
do. Everybody wants TO feel later
that everything that could BE done
was done.
They carry Ned away.
The cluster breaks up into small
knots, and the people IN the knots
say things like:
II never thought there was amp
thing really wrong with him. .
"They say he's got : wits and
three kids. Isn't il awfulg.
Its the good ones that 20 young.
! I could look around this Office and
see . dozen guys I'd rather see
keel over than Med
on. don.t talk that way--it lsn't
nice.a
Someone goes 70 Ned's home 10
help his widow. Somebody else
takes up collection for flowers.
A delegation from Tie utica
shows up for the funeral. but II
isn't very large. Ned has no veg Il
knowing which friends show up.
and which said. I'D like 10 !. !. Ia
give ms LEI arm 10 but /
can't today"
In few days new nnd younger
fellow shows up At Ned's desk.
/ The older employees rather reset
him IN . vague vas bat they
soon forget SD life goes 81.
The ripple n he eommonpiaes
has calmed.
But for . long time affsr nat
whenever anyone 10 TIE office Tsia
iwinTe 10 bis stomaeh or chest ke
vii clutch II 4 IL sudden panic Ne
xiII remember poor Ned. ainae -
ibe ofsies flonF an1 thiak:
Not that Nay Lord nog
that way."
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