Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1877-11-20
Alefan0rla Q6az&ttc
TUESDAY EVENIN9, NOVEMBER 20.
The Vanderbilt Will.

Rev. Mr.. Talmage devoted most OF his last
Friday nights lecture 10 the Vanderbilt will.
He said -
First let your wife have at least twothirdS
and your children share and share alike. II
you have $500 to bequeath don't give $95 Of it
to one boy and SIS to your wife and the other
children. IF you have $4,000 don't give
50, 500 to one child and $500 to the rest Of the
family. That family is awfully askew Which, tie
son receives more than the wife. When aman
takes wife she ought to be made a queen
first in every ambition, first in every provision
And when man does not act 10 that way |
conclude that he is cursed with very poor wife
or that she is cursed with very mean husband.
Laughter. The two.thirds spoken of in the
law are none too much for one who has to be
your counsel and has helped to build up that
estate, besides hunting up your slippers and
sewing on button in hot haste and sitting up
till midnight waiting for you to come home
wife has as mu,h to do with prosperity as the
husband. Itis gigantic injustice to give her
5000 and $95 900, 900 to BILL" Laugh
ter. The worst family feuds arc created by
Inequalities of Inheritance.
1t is often the case that one OF the family cod
dies to the old man in his last days and pre-.
pares mustard plastcrs for him and tucks him
up in bed with reference TO the inheritance, SO
that eventually be gets paid for his services at
the rate of 500 per mustard plaster and $50
Der tuck. Laughter. Partially on your part
ia sin against God as we'll as against your
children, except in those cases where there arc
physical or mental defects, and then the child
should got more, for he will be less able to help
himself
If your children start life with two hands and
two feet and healthy brain they have grand
fortune to start with. Look out for those who
enter the battle CT life already manned. The
Surropate's record of wills is often a story OF
appalling Injustice BY tho square Of Gods
eternal Justice let your will be measured and let
your children share and share alike.
Again, having made provision tor your taml'
lies, look out for the cause of God and human
ity. Out of the 100000 600 OF MIR. Wander
b.'s estate how much was given to religious
objects? The amount is so small comparatlVc-
" that cannot recollect. New York aud the
world groabiDg, bleeding, starving, aeonzlngg
for help, and yet, what miserable pittanee!
In this nineteenth century OF Wobegone suffer
ug L declare, in the name of the Almighty
God, no man has the right to be worth $780,.
100000! LApplausc. Al! the money a. man
has God gives to him as steward. Would
Joseph have O right to keep the corn cribs CT
Egypt shut while the nation was dying for
bread? Oh, you say Mr.. Vauderbt sung in
his last hours, Come, ye sinners, poor aud
needy"- lIaug bterl-but he did not change bis
will. If he had done so, and then sung that
hymn it would have made better music, and tho
want, hunger, ignorance and woe of New York
would lave joined 10 the chorous. Compared
with the Infinite stiogiucss of that death bed
look at George Peabody giving SO. 500, 900 for
the education Of the people of the South 10 this
country. Look at the others who have been
their own executors, not waiting till their death
To give away that which they could not keep
any longer, but in the days of their health
building their monument in nations honor
and the Church's triumph. l charge you in the
name of Christ when you make your will give
something if possible to the blind ana ame ana 40
ignorant and for the reformation Of the lost. 1t
will make your dying pillow the softer, and it
will give an easier swing to the gate CT Heaven
opening to your rapsomcd soul.