Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1876-08-16

A little volume has been recently
published in England, filled with eX-
amples OF curious, eccentric and be-
nevolent' wills. On looking it over,
one is surprised at the ingenuity eXer-
cised by various erratic individuals in
finding odd and unique objects ON
which to bestow the possessions that
could not be carried with them out of
the present world. Some ambitious
mortals, coveting perpetual memory
upon earth by a lasting influence in its
affairs, have thought to secure the full
filment of their desire by arranging for
the disposition of their property to the
end Of time. Thus, goldsmith dying
i'll 1903 bequeathed $50 per annum for
ever to manned soldiers; and to this
day the amount is yearly distributed,
chiefly among the Chelsea pensioners,
who must, in natural gratitude, for
few moments annually recall, with
kindly benediction, the memory of
their benefactor. In 1921, a testator
in Sussex, having human sympathy
for thirsty souls, left lbs. yearly to the
poor Of Slinford, for "a drinking"
and IS. to the Church Wardens and
Overseers for the same comfortable
purpose The money is annually dis
pensed at Christmas; and, as the tank
ards Of stout, or of 'alf-and-' alf, are
tossed off, it is to be hoped that a bleS-
sing on his soul whose bounty filed the
foaming cups is regularly invoked.
One of the quaintest English wills
cited is that of Bishop White of Peter
borough, who, in 1851, was deprived
of his Bishopric for refusing to take
the oaths. This eccentric prelate left
gao, to he laid out in land, ten pounds
Of the rent of which was to be given
to the poor of the Parish of Newark
forever, and the remnant to the rector,
for attending to the faithful discharge
Of the beQuest. 1t was directed in the
will "that the disposition should be
made yearly by the rector, in the
church porch, in the presence of the
Church Wardens and Overseers, IN the
following manner, viz. That it should
be distributed the 14th of December, to
twenty poor families, or persons Of
forty years old each, by equal shares,
reckoning husband and wife for one
person, who should before the receipt
thereof, exactly and distinctly repeat
the Lords Prayer, the Apostles Creed
and the Ten Commandments, Uith0ut
missing or changing one acord therein.
And if any man and woman should APP
pear for a share in the said charity,
it should not be Il sufficient quailica-
ton for them that one of them made
the exact rehearsal, but they should
both make it. or else have no share at
all in it." The money expended III ac-
cordance with the directions of this
will brings a rent of forty pounds an
nually, and the sum of ten pounds is
distributed to the poor, the rector re-
tanning the surplus.
A singular will, said to have been
dictated 10y one John Underwood, who
died at Lexington, America. 1873, pre-
scribed the ceremonialS of the funeral
which We're consequently conducted in
the following extraordinary manner:
1.-The funeral was at five in the even
ing. No bell was tolled; no relative
was present. The bier was painted
green, and the body was laid on it and
dressed i'll ordinary clothes. Beneath
the head was placed copy of Horace;
at his feet, Il Milton; on his right
hand, small Greek Bible, with his
name on the binding in gilt letters; on
the left, a smaller edition of Horace,
with the inscription Musis amicus, J.
[. land, under his shoulders, Bentley's
Horace. When the ceremony was
concluded, his friends returned to the
house, where his sister awaited them,
and all sat down to an elegant supper.
After it was over the company Joined
in singing the thirty-tirst ode of the
first book of Horace. Then they drank
gayly tor some time, but retired at
eight O'Clock. Mr.. Underwood be-
Queathed about $50, 600 to his sister on
condition that she should carry out
faithfully the conditions of his will !
he left ten pounds sterling to each of
his friends, requesting them not to
wear mourning. AS another detail, as
soon as the grave was filled up and
covered with turf, the six friends who
had attended on the occasion sang the !
last Stan2a of the twentieth ode OF the
second book of Horace. Chicago Tgt- |
blHe.
Chill is making r3pid prOuress in !