Year: 1875

few years ago party oil four sat down
TO very enjoyable dinner. They were
men appreciatve of good cheer and good
company, and during the meal all went
merrily. The hosts little girl came in with
the dessert, and begged one Of her fathers
guests to tell her one of his delightfully."-
horrible stories. He forthwith proceeded
TO comply, and presently was relating a
terrible tale as TO how some robbers had
seized an unhappy man and cut his throat.
In illustration he took up his dessert knife
and drew the back OF it across his own
gullet, when the father, in tone of great
distress, protested-but in vain. 1t then
occurred to the recollection of another of
the four that the ugly scar across the faith
er's throat had been sell-inlcted, while
his opposite neighbor had attempted to
shoot himself. Here then, were two men
who had been so abjectly wretched that
they desired to put period to their lives,
but having, by merCiful chance, been pre-
vented, lived to see very happy days.


The circumstance carries a strong MOI al
that great many people would do well to
lay TO heart. The deaths by suicide in
New York are stated on good authority to
be more numerous than anywhere else, a
circumstance which may be largely ac-
counted for by the great number of per-
sons in desperate circumstances who seek
our shores but the suicides are by no
means confined TO foreigners. Three weeks
ago, Southern gentleman, who had form
erly been in affiuent circumstances, killed
himself in a leading Brooklyn hotel and
since then a once-thriving merchant shot
himself at a well-known hotel in this City.
This gentleman had been engaged in the
iron-smelting business, and, as every one
knows, everything to do with iron has for
long time been terribly at discount.
His health gave way, probably through
brooding on his troubles, and he went TO
Florida, only to put an end to his life two
days after his return.


There is no doubt that the excessive
business depression which has so long pre-
vailed weighs terribly upon the minds of
those who allow themselves to brood over
their affairs. The only chance for men OF
an anxious temperament in such a plight
is to be as little as possible alone, and to in
sist on looking at the bright side, and TO
remember the number of men who, in all
the walks of life, have by persistent energy
succeeded, after conspicuous failure, and
when success seemed out of the question.
They need scarcely go beyond the Pres-
dent of the United States for case In point.
Was there ever more remarkable and





obscurity to a position which vies with
that of the most powerful monarchs?
man may be in the depths in 1875, and on
the top of the wave ten years later indeed
there is no country where such changes
are so likely as in this. There is in New
York to-day gentleman who sat beside
the present Prime Minister of England on
that memorable night when he was hooted
down as an impertinent absurdity, and, in
rage and chagrin at the laughter and hoot.
ing with which he was greeted made thai
| prophecy which he has so amply fulfilled
Yet Dsraelfs disappointment and morti.
tcation were at that moment probably
scarcely less keen than the business mans
who despairs of success.


Bulwer Tells us that there is "a profound
and excellent satisfaction for the man who
can look back on past struggles, ant
feel that he has not lived in vain." 1t wa
doubtless that sym Pathy-such as makes
the whole world kin-with such satisfac
tion that caused his countrymen af all par
Ties to regard so kindly Mr.. Disraeli's ad


vent TO power. They saw in his success
CLEAN OF sunshine on the rugged path o


struggling humanity.-N. Y. Times.