"Is Life Worth Living"

Feilding Star, Volume XI, Issue 95, 4 February 1890, Page 3

"Is Life Worth Living"

A SUICIDE'S LETTER TO A CORONER. Melbqubnb, January 22. A carpenter named Stubbs, who was thirty T three years of age and un married committed suicide by ."shooting himself in the Brighton train one day last week. In the pockets of his clothes were found several letters, which showed clearly that he intended to commit suicide. Amongst them was one addressed to the Coroner, Dr Youl, which was as follows:— '* My dear Doctor,— Whilst still in the fles-i and ere my soul takes its flight from its frail tenement of clay, the body, allow me, with all due jrespect to the serious functions of your high and office, to tender you my hearty congratulations ou the business like and consistent manner iv which you have, for a considerable length of time, performed the onerous duties of Coroner to the city of Melbourne. As you are aware, I have uot the pleasure of your personal acquaintance, and in anticipation I cannot but regret the fact that when we do meet I shall have to occupy such an unconscious position in the interview, besides having to sutfer without opposition the indignity of being sat on. However, dear doctor, I feel assured, that you aud the respectable company who may assist in the ceremony of in <juiry will do so with becoming respect and decorum, .if not for my own memory's" sakfo, at all events for the aake of those who have the misfortune to be connected with me hy ties of blood. The question has been raised •"Is life worth living?' Well as the Yankee says it all depends. Speaking peraonally, I must say iv many respects I have found it a jolly old world, and if I have had a goodly share of its ill luck, I have also had a fair share of its pleasure. Therefore I think that I ana "this ancient planet may cry quits. I dare say, dear doctor, you find life on the whole pretty jolly. It is just possible tbat if I possessed you ability, and the good fat screw attached to your office I would not be iv such a hurry to leave this sphere. However, we cau't all be City Coroners, and even you, dear doctor, must at times encouuter vexations. In conclusion, let me express the hope that your remaining years may he characterised with au abund ance of the joys of life, and few of its ills, and that when your time of uisui ion arrives, it may be at a period of cou touted old age, unattended by violence aud in the orthodox '. manner thus avoiding the necessity aud unenviable notoriety of being sat uyo 1. In pros pect of an early meetiug, I remain with due respects, yours in came.' 1