The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1868-12-09
psciAi Correspondence of the Cincinnati rsms..l

FOR HIS MONUMENT.
Special Correspondence Of the Cincinnati TimesJ
PORTLAND, Nov. 81, 1868.
BY accident your paper fell into my hands,
among other exchanges which were sent to me
while away with a severe illness. and my eye fell
upon the short but pertinent article in your edi-
tOrial columns. headed " The Late Artemus
Ward )" in which il il stated that much dissats-
faction etill prevails in England about the manner
in which Artemus Wards will has been admins
tered" and quoting from an English paper to
the effect that Ward had made very largely by
bis lectures and writings in England that he had
lived frpPsy, and that there is no reason for be-
heving that after his funeral expenses paid
there wete assets left to his estate. 1t calls for
explanation OF the whole matter from his execu-
tors, and there are many at this side of the At
lantc who are interested IN having the explana-
lion as toll and satisfactory as possible"
As | was born and raised with poor Artemus.
and wasibis bosom friend In life and Ia death,
may be able to enlghten you some what When
Artemus Waru left New York he calculated him
self worth about $l5 600, aside from his estate at
YoDkers, on the Hudson, for which he paid $1,000.
He went TO London, but it was sometime before be
got fairly to work, and his agent, Kingston, in
formed he when was there last summer "a year,
that is cost GOO for Ward to get started on
paying basis in great city like London notwith.
stand ng he Was known here J" Gold at that time
was ranging at about 1855, which would make the
amount in greenbacks about $500.
This amount with other contingent expenses,
probably consumed more than nslf his available
means before he opened at Egyptian Hall. That
he Z" made very largely by his writings and lee.
lures in England" is true that he had lived fru-
gsllyp is not so true it was simply impossible for
genial. whole-souled. generous fellow like Ward,
with such hosts of friends and such surroundings
as he had, 10 " live frugally :" but that he did
make money rapidly, and +" that there is no reason
for believing that after his funeral expenses we're
paid there were no assets left to his estate, !" is
correct IN toto.
Arterpus Wards will was no "joke," but a de-
liberately drawn document, in the presence of
witnesses. Ward refused TO make a will when
first requested by bis agent and friend. Mr.. Hing
stoD and the American consul Il think il was)
went to Wards room and told him that he could
not live, and that it his duty to make a will,
adding; " know your business is joking, Ward;
but this is no joke and no time for jOking;" aud
Ward was finally prevailed upon to make his will.
That he knew what he was about at the time is
evidenced by the language he used and the dis
bursements be ordered.
"Gse my library to the best boy in the village
school In my native town. send George This
boyD to printing Office TO learn the trade that he
may there learn how little he knows" And then
his ordDess for little children whom he had
loved to pet, developed itself in bequeathing
s. $500 TO each Of the two children of my agent
HDgstbn;" land one thousand dollars to be
given to each of the children of my old friend
-, -, -. OF my native town." There be.
ing four or five of them There were some other
minor gifts and then the balance (thOught TO be
some $40 0O0) was put at iGterest for the benefit
of his mother. and, after her demise, the whole
was TO go to Horace Greeley, to be invested in
Home for Aged and INDECENT Printers" Now,
what has been done with all this propertyiu you
naturally ask, and have been asked the question
q thousand times since Wards death, and never
Oftener than 1 have Ia this city, where lee
tured only last Monday evening. the 10th, for
the purpose of raising funds to build a monu.
ment over bis grave, which is at Waterford. Ok
ford county, Maine, where his mother now lives.
Where hes the money gomez" inquire the PEG.
pie whom l solicit to pstTOnize an enter .ainment
Tor the purpose mentioned. In the first place.
Wards sickness attended with great expense,
az be changed physicians as often as freak or
fancy dictated. and they. of course, charged .
accordingly. Then his burial expenses 10 London
were heavy his ioterment 10 Kensal Green was
taxed, and his disinterment and removal across
the water TO New York was expensive.
Then there were some accounts to settle after
his death, which took more money still. All this
In justice TO Artemus Ward 8 ex agent aud execu.
tor. and my friend, Mr.. Kingston. But MORE
after strict observation OF affairs on this side of
the Atlantic and in England, after conversations
innumerable with Wards friends In both coun.
tries not excepting his executors and his own
mo,ter / can but say that Artemus Wards pro-
perry has not only not been economical but that
1t has been extravsgantly drawn upon. This Is
the opinion of his most intimate friends almost
without exception. and also of bis mother. | do
Lot cast any reflections upon Mr.. Hingston-I
mska no personal accusations, but do say that
there might and should have been more coming to
Artemus Wards mother out of his estate than will
be realized
Mr.. Kingston took out the $500 apiece for his
two children some time ago, as was told by one
OF MIR. Wards executors within ten days. OF |
course he took 1t 10 gold. Would those legacies |
TO children on this side the water have been paid
in gold had the money held outg Notwithstaud.
ing Words executors very reserved aud reti-
cent in regard 10 Wards affairs when l was in |
London Zone of them knowing of our intimacy |
and Of the fact of my having left Wards mother
shortly previous, and in an extremely anxious |
frame OF mind IN regard TO her sons matters in |
England,) saw aud learned enough TO convince
me that the executors should have been assisted
by on auditor.
Bills were rendered against Artemus Wards
estate that were perfectly absurd and ridiculous
in their extravaganza. and saw one bill OF about
sl67 in gold, which / do not believe was Just or
even contracted by ward, and Mr.. Kingston also
expressed his doubts In regard to the matter. But
Mr.. H., | understand, has forwarded all papers
and documents 20 Wards executors here and, as
" figures won't lie" they may be able to satisfy
themselves and the public as to " where the
money has all gone" As far az all information
goes how, there ia not over $1,000 or $1,000 beside
that real estate on the Hudson.
There IL neither stake nor stone 70 mark the
place where poor Ward now sleeps, aud more |
the sexton is not yet paid FOR his services at
Wards second iuterment!
Yet In face Of these and other unfortunate
facts, tried TO increase this small sum have
raised. for the purpose of building monument
by giving an entertainment. consisting OF a short
and hnmerops lecture on Ward myself, assisted \
BY the Portland Band and some other of the best
musical talent of the city, and the generous
hearted citizens seconded my efforts, and showed
heir affection for poor Ward by purchasing $57 |
worth of tickets leaving me some $50 for ex
pensesl Ii was saved ON being worse by the
generosity Of the performers.
] have obly TO say, In conclusion. that Wards
property. so far only shows about $4,000 Ii NAV
smount TO more, and | sincerely hope. for his
"a 4 W | nd fha h.. |
les very obedient servant,
E. O. halle. { "A Head"
Vice -Pres't A. W. Monument Assn (South.)