Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1857-10-24

MAGNANmoUs AcL-Mr. Lefevre wealthy sugar
planter Of Dafourche, died recently without Issue
his wife having preceded him to the grave.-His es
tate was appraised at about 500, 900. A few days
since bis WIN was opened, when II was found that
be had LEFT the whole Of his possessions to be divid
ed equally between two gentlemen Of this city-onc
nephew to his wife, and the other the broker who
had transacted his business in this city, man in
nowise related to him only in the way Of his bust.
ness To the establishment of his friends, this brok-
err finding that he had been made legntee to half
the old mans estate $4,000, at least) went before
q notary public and renouced the whole legacy ma
king over in favor Of the relatives Of the deceased
in France consisting OF nephews and nieces to the
number Of twenty or thirty, and all humbly situat
ed In life. The old man had previously made will
in which his French relatives were handsomely
mcmbered; but on returning from visit to them,
not long ago, for some reason known only TO him.
SELF he tore tine will 10 pieces and wrote new one,
leaving every thing to his wifes nephew and his bro
ker, as above stated. luYt FHEEr
He came to this country when young. poor
halter; bat prospecting in bis business, and finally
marrying lady Of wealth, he went into the sugar
culture, and progressed well that few years
more might have made him millionaire. The bro
ker who so magnanimousy denounced his share Of
the estate gave his reason for so doing, that he
was already as rich as he wished to be, and felt
independent that he did not wish il to be in the
power of any one to say that any part of his fortune
certainly BE- heartily blessed the other side Of
the water. We would give the gentleman's name,
were not satisfied that he claims merit for his
act, and has no desire to be publicly mentioned in
connection with the matter.-N. o. Crescent.
The IMP OF THE PERvERsE.-When we read The
other day. Of the suicide Of Allen at Niagara Falls il
occurred to us-though subsequent facts render it
improbable-that this was perhaps one Of those ca
ses where suicide is simply the result Of an impulse
coming without motive. There are many "self
murders" which are not to be accounted for on eli.
ther the supposton Of some rational cause, or of
any true insanity. We know Of an excellent cer-
gyman, n man of more than usual solidity OF intel.
lec who disliked to visit Niagara Falls, for fear he
should jump off the precipice. Whenever he ap.
preached its verge, the impulse to plunge into the
abyss below was almost uncomfortable
We once heard another gentleman, distinguished
for scientific ability--an Englshman, bnt now resi-
dent in this country-ell an incident Of the sort in
his own life. lie had been engaged in prolonged
and excited study with friend IN London and star
ted at three in the morning to return to his home
on the Surrey side Of the Thames. As he crossed
Vauxhall bridge he stopped, and leaning over the
parapct, watched the play of the moonlight on the
ripping waters. A sense of peace and repose stole
over him, and with it the thought that If once bu-
red beneath that placid surface he should solve all
problems and find rest Before he could nnalyse his
motives he found himself climbed upon the parapet-
Another moment and he would have been suicide
but a sudden revusion Of feeling came, and with q
strong effort of the will he threw himself hack upon
the bridge, and ran in mortal terror to the land.
Many other similar instances might be recorded,
and most imaginative men have felt more less Of
this impulse, il not to commit suicide, to do some
other absurd thing Only year or two since, a
man deliberately put his hand under trip hammar,
and drew it forth manged and crushed, at the
prompting of this imp Of the perverse. How this
happens, or by what inexplicable mystery of the
mind it is controlled, will perhaps be explain
ed but students of suicide have reason to believe
that in many unexplained cases this sudden abey.
ance of the will is the only assgnabe canse.-Buf.
taloe Advertiser.