The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1869-03-12
CORNELIUS o'DowD'sn WILL.

Cornelius O'Dowd" (Chas. Lever who
is q regular contributor to the Backwood
Magazine, in late number publishes bis
will, which contains some capital hits at
popular follies, both in America and England.
Mr. Lever has evidently read 10 advantage
Chas Lamb and Thos. Hood, for his writings
always abound in that amiable good humor
which is at once iorbearins toward the Of.
fender and pruning knife to his fault His
wit is pungent and yet otfends not. The
bequest Of his sense Of decency and deco
rum should have been more general, and
embraced editors Of American newspapers
in the number Of the legatees. The habitu.
al publication Of the details Of divorce suits
and of the frequent acts Of infdeity to the
conjugal relation 90 far to poison the inno'
cence of youth and reproduce the offences
which they narraie.
1t is hoped that the publication by Mr.
"O'Dowd" of his will bequeathing such a
rich legacy is not made in view of his early
departure from the world of letters, for the
cannot spare his genius. 49,
We commend this splendid bequest which
We subjon, to our readers, and particularly
the item, sense of decorum and decency
To the Americans leave my forgiveness,
and ! do not know if ever admired the
benevolence of my own nature as much as
in this act. For as many years as | have
been a writer have said aippant imperti
nences Of tbem-On their pretensions, their
boastfulness, their arrogance and their &C,
cent. ! have quizzed their vulgarty aud
laughed at their conceit, and yet have met
numberles5 proofs of American good will
and kindliness don't speak Of their hos.
pttality-tbey cant help that but | refer to
tue mindful little attentions shown years ago
after one might have imagined himself for.
gotten kndnesses shown to friends simply
because they were our friends, and scores Of
small civihties which by accumulation reach
the size Of great benefits. All these ! have
on my conscience and when | say forgive
them, ] ask you, can you imagine anything
more touchlngly beautiful than this geuer.
osity on my part? To forget an injury is
fine in its way, but to pardon the man you
have wronged-to 70 give him you have been
unjust tots about as fine trait as human
nature can boast Of
bequeath my Wit and Drollery--I can
not say exactly where / have put them
eway--to the new House Of Commons. II
strikes me that they WIN need many llkI
legacies to carry them through their ney
labors pleasanty--all the more that tn
honorable House has lost the airy graceful
ness of Horseman and the genial pleasaHtr
Of Stuart Mill.
To those who believe that Mr.. Lowe an
Mr.. Bright can long continue to eat out c
the same dish, leave my Credulity, an
beg them to mix it with their own, though
be not exactly of the same quality.
My sense OF Decency and DecOrum-m
dislike to details of the Divorce Court al
the general annals Of prurient living
leave to the lady novellsts, whose utter de
titutlen in this respect moves pity and cor
passion; and appeal to all those who ha,
any qualities, even worn ones, Of regard fl
cleanliness of life and decency of demea
or, not TO forget creatures 50 utterly bere
OF these gifts, and to whom even the mel
rags OF virtue would prove an unspeakab
luxury.
| bequeath an lnciplent Deafness, whit
prom ises well to become total. to 81
friends who are in the habit of attendlr
private concerts. | have myself e1 per
enced great camfort from the blessin
which has sustained me through much
WaEaurs music and several missionary COZ
terences.
leave my Patience-I have not much
II ie't--to all who listen to such sermons q
am "eyt'y exposed TO, and entreat then
" ie'neu'oet mat not the least Of the mira
ces Of Cur Church is its power N sprv;v.
its paid defenders
leave my Buoyancy to our iron.pla,ed
squadron, which needs it sadly.
To any gentleman, about to leave Emo
land, with little intention to return 10 it
leave my Faith in Public Meu"-it vii
not cucumber his baggage, or subiec
him TO examination by custom house off
GERS.
Any Irish Discomfort NAV feel on N
score of English superciiousness and in
pertineuce-the tone Of disparagement al
played TO lrishmen generally as bullmaker
blunderers, bogtrotters, and such like
bed1eath to those enlightened individual
who desire to cede Gibraltar to Spain, al
whose enlarged views will certainly at la
prevail to persuade their countrymen he
wise it would be 10 sell Ireland to Il
Americans, and the Isle of Wight to Il
french; and so enforce that commendab
Poi,ey 'hA' the less we possess the less
will cost US 70 keen IT,
My Curiosity as to what will happen
France after the Empire-wbether Garibal
vii be the next Pope, and Hobart Pash
King of Candis-I leave TO Colonel DsrE