Rensselaer Union, Volume 1, Number 48, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 26 August 1869 — A Man, Tired of Life. Gets Measured for a Coffin. [ARTICLE]

A Man, Tired of Life, Gets Measured for a Coffin. -----

AN incident occurred, yesterday, in the work-shop of Mr. Jacob Gish, undertaker, on Farnam street, which shows that happiness is not always to be found in the cup, and that death is looked fondly forward to as a relief from troubles against which it is hard to bear up. An old gentleman, evidently an Englishman by birth, walked into the ware room and said to Mr. Gish that he desired to purchase a coffin. “What size, sir?" said the burying man, always on the alert for business. “I want the thing for myself,” said the Englishman, “can’t you take my measure?” Mr. Gish now observed that his customer was laboring under the effects of liquor, but in order to humor him, requested the stranger to stretch himself on a board so that he might chalk out his dimensions . The man seemed only too happy to comply, and was soon lying at full length on his back. Putting his hand to his waist-coat pocket, he extracted $20 which he gave to Mr. Gish, as a pledge that he meant business. He said that he had been blacksmitiling at North Platte, but that whisky had got the better of him, and he was tired of life. He then gently implored Mr. Gish to kill him, which Mr. Gish, notwithstanding that such a proeced [sic]ure would make the proposed trival job a sure thing, refused to do. He gave the old fellow back the $20 and advised him to go home, sleep off the whisky, and take a new lease of life. The man left the premises, but before departing said he was determined to die as soon as possible.— <Omaha Herald>. ---<>---