Product Description
Book may have numerous typos, missing text, images, or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1903. Not illustrated. Excerpt: ... SUICIDES Carcely a day goes by without the newspapers containing an account like this: "Tenants of No. 40 B street were startled iA Wednesday night by the report of two shots that proceeded from the apartment occupied by Mr. X . The door was burst open and he was ^ found on the floor, in a pool of blood, his hand still grasping the revolver with which he committed suicide. Mr. X was fifty-seven years old and prosperous. He had everything to live for, and no reason can be ascribed for his tragic act." j>. What grief and secret despair, what burning sor-. » rows lead these people, who are supposed to be happy, to end their lives? Financial troubles and love tragedies are hinted at, but as nothing really precise ever becomes known, these deaths are pronounced "mysterious." A letter that was found on the table of one of these suicides, who wrote it during his last night on earth, with the loaded pistol within his reach, has come into our possession. We deem it interesting, though it reveals no great tragedy such as one usually expects to find at the bottom of these rash acts. It only tells of the slow succession of the little Ills of life, of the inevitable disorganization of a solitary existence weaned from its illusions; it makes clear those tragic endings which no others but people of highstrung, supersensitive temperaments can understand. This is the letter: "It is midnight. When I finish this letter I intend to destroy myself. Why? I will endeavor to explain, not for those who read this, but for myself, in order to strengthen my failing courage and to convince myself of the now fatal necessity of my determination which, if not carried out to-night, could only be deferred. "I was brought up by parents who believed in everything, and so I, too, believed. My d...
