The New York Times/1916/11/22/Chose Death to Blindness
CHOSE DEATH TO BLINDNESS
Eyes Ruined by Constant Reading, Brooklyn Girl Hangs Herself.
Special to The New York Times.
BRIDGEPORT, Conn., Nov. 21.—Depressed by the realization that she was going blind, Miss Irene Chornock, 24 years old, of Brooklyn, N. Y., hanged herself last night in the attic of the Greek Catholic Rectory. Her cousin, the Rev. Orestes P. Chornock, is pastor of that church. Her body was found this morning. Pinned to her dress was a note, which ended with four lines from “The Journey Onward,” by Moore, the girl's favorite author. The note read:
This deed I have done myself. I have lost my vision. Life for me has lost its joy. I am of no earthly use, doomed soon to become a burden.
From all the links that bind us;
So turn our hearts, as on we rove
To those we’ve left behind us.
IRENE.
Before coming to visit Father Chornock, three weeks ago, the girl consulted an eye specialist in New York, who told her that constant reading had ruined her eyesight, and that it was only a matter of time when she would be totally blind. Miss Chornock had an aunt and a sister in Brooklyn.