Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1869-02-23
Shall a man be his own Executor in his
Life Time.

I
not his free will He would oarry
his riches with him to the mex
world-if be could. But knowing
that there must be closing scene tC
life's drama, the rich man Of Iast
makes will-because he has to. Fl
is extorted by that mysterious knock
ing at the door Of old father time
from which he would run away, "for
he hath great possessions
Now there is pleasure in acquirin G
wealth. Joy in holding on to it
But tlnally, how to decently dispose
OF great possessions latter a man
is dead, there is the interogatory Of
the heart. A man who finds pleas
ure il toiling long life time for
riches is at last in deep concern what
to do with bis fortune 1t must
go to his family, and he knows they
are To be either benefited o. damaged
thereby. lie is blinded as to the i'm
Huence it is to have upon them: He
cannot see or judge why it is that
such precious things are TO work the
ruin Of son or daughter. He has
known OF tho ruin Of hundreds
through inherited fortunes, but cans
not for moment see the same cause
and effect impending over his own
family.
Yet there are men who retain
sound judgmentsin matters of estates
es till very old. 1t is to sneh we
address friendly word.
The laws of Wisconsin for dispos,
ing OF the estates Of deceased intes>
tates are excellent--no better in the
world. The only question is, are
heirs 10 the large estates made 50
rapidly these days to be benefited or
injured by tho porperty inherited.
Ii IL we'll known that the sons of
rich men have u way OF waiting with
patience, lazily waiting upon the
turn OF events, knowing that fortune
must come some day-threfore, no
use III working for it.
A prayerful wish long treasured
in the most secret recess Of the mind
that God will speedily send grace to
the Old man, and then quickly call
him home to a better world is indulg-
ed only too often by the sons Of rich
fathers. We have no pleasure in eX-
posing such weakness CT human ma
ture. Shakespeare exposed the same
weakness, but next advised that it
had better be held by the reader az a
profound secret.
1t is this waitiag for the old man
to depart, this long waiting and se>
cretly prayerful hoping for that last
scene in the paternal drama, which
works slow but sure demoraliza-
ton of the son. And next it is the
sudden realization of snchinheritance
which completes the dispersion Of
all virtue. The effect is even great
er for evil than were the fortune
won in the lottery, or at gaming, or
even in the mineral prospect which
opens into a rich lode.
Considering, under the glare Of
such lights, would it not be better
for rich men to become their own
executors of will, and apportion
their own estates, reserving only
life.subsistence for themselves ? The
old man in such case remains but a
life director over the corporation and
business household He becomes
dear to the members, and instead Of
their wishing him dead they pray
for his long life aud great strength
that his stewardship may be enduring
and useful. He attains to powerful
influence in the circle, and each mems
Der resolves to be good and useful
man-if for no other reason to please
bis venerable ancestor. The habit
of being a responsible and true man
is soon formed, and each son
and daughter feels thereafter
no inclination to become WORTH
less The parent thus gives momon~
tnm to his planetarium Of sons and
daughters, and they travel forward
without inclination to fly off in
tangent. All OF which appears
impossible under the present selfish
practice Of rich men.
We leave the subject, hoping it
will be continued by others, and
thereby the Herald be the medium of
usefulness.