There is a very frequent misconception of the true meaning of heroism, and one can only pity the misguided youth whose death is reported this week from Berlin and who took his own life as a consequence of desiring to star as the hero of a tragedy.

The young man was a baker’s apprentice, but before shooting himself with a revolver, he left a letter stating that, having read more than 100 sensational novels, he was determined to make himself the hero of a tragedy. One may have a little pity for any youth who has read 100 sensational novels, and even many sensible men might feel inclined to do the same if they could imagine themselves capable of reading so many volumes of trash.

It is a poor kind of tragedy, the hero of which flies from the active duties of life and seeks refuge in the dark caves of suicide.