J he last a eel; in the eld year
was a poor schoul week becaust
of snow, sickness and Xmas still
in our bones. The two upper
rooms had enough pupils to be
lively.
We regretted very much that
our primary teacher, Mrs. Par-
rttt, had to be in a week with la
grippe.
The ol i yet.r is gone now. Let
us have no regrets but take hold
of the new with renewed interest
and enthusiasm.
The people of Fort Sumner
were pained and shocked on Sun
day, the 19th, when they heard
that Dr. G. W. Bennett huí died
by his own hand, at 11:30 a. m.,
having shot himself in the right
temple with a .38 sixshooter.
The act occurred at his resi
dence in the south part of Fort
Sumner. Mr. Bennett was at
tending church services at the
time and was shojkt-d beyond
expression when she became
cognizant of the sad event.
The deceased left a note for
his wife, couched in rntst endear
ing terms, explaining his reaaons
for the act. IU said that life
had become unbearable for him;
that he had become a burden to
her and his friends, and that she
and the world would be better
off when relieved ef his presence.
The death of Dr. Bennett by
his own hands was not surpris
ing to some of his intimate
friends, as he had frequently of
late expressed himself weary of
existence, and that but for the
stigma attached to a suicide's
death he would end it all. He
was hopelessly addicted to the
drug habit and bis will power so
weakened from the use of nar
cotics that he realized there was
no relief for him in this life.
