The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1878-10-12
CURIOUS WILLS.

Peoples eccentrcities will manifest
themselves, despite strenuous efforts made
TO conceal them. Peculiarities rise to the
surface, and are palpablc facts tn all around
although their owners may Halter them
selves that they pass unnoticed. Possibly
there ale people so fearful of being thought
odd that they suppress all outward mani
festation of accentricity during life, and
only allow it to crop out in their last wills
and tcstameutS. However this NAV be- il,
is certainly an excellent opportunity TO be
sharp, caustic, sarcastic, Or witty at the
expense OF relatives or friends, As there is
no possible chance OF their ever reply wing,
and either wouudiug or defeating the AZ
gresSor IN 4 verbal conflict. Clauses III
wills, which are highly calculated To gricve
OF enragc those whom they concern afford
much amusement. and perhaps "A little in
structiou. To others not interested or ac-
quainted with the injured parties; at all
events, they give an insight into the work
ings OF that wonderful and complicated
construction called the human mind. Not
knowing how much the testators have suf-
fered during their lives from their relatives,
1t is quite impossible to decide where sym
pathy is TO be expended, or if it be less
CALLING to receive a rcproach Tifhow a
bequcst than it is 20 receive a bequest riti
i reproach The extracts from the two
following wills are cases i'll point.
- s
died, leaving 4 will containing this clause
Whereas, it was my misfortune to be
made very uneasy by -, my wife. for
many yeas from our marriage, by her
turbulent behavior; for she was not con-
tent with despisng my admonitinn, but she
contrircd every method TO make me un-
happy; she was SO perverse to her nature
that she would not be reclaimed but seem
ed only 10 be born to he plague TO me; the
strength .. Samson, the knowledge of
Homer, the prudence of Augustus, the
cunning of Pyrrhus, the patience of Job,
the subtlety of Hannibal, and the watch
fulness of icrmog,nes could not have bee
sufficient to subdue her; for no skill or force
in the word would make her good; and as
we had lived separate aud apart from each
other eight years, and she having perverted
her son to leave and totally abandon me,
therefore give her one shilling only"
To be furnished with such character,
and then oil with 4 shilling, is really too
cruel IL is not wives alone who suffer. as
ySt ha I..
sisters both married and single receive
their share Of reproach and sarcasm In
this will Of DIR. Dunlops, however, there
Is some compensation for the wounds in
ilicted lie was OF Scotch origin, and a
member Of Congress. HIS will contained
this amusing clause: - leave my property
Of Gairbread and all the property may be
possessed OF 10 my sisters - and -: the
former because she is married To a minister
whom-may God help him, she hen pecks:
the latter because she is married to nobody
nor is she likely To be, for she is an old
maid, and not marked rife..I leave my
silver tankard 10 the eldest son of John. as
the representative of the family. | would
have left it to old John himself but he
would have melted it down to make tenn
perauce medals, and that would have been
a sacrilege. However, | leave him my big
horn snuff box; he can only make TEN
perance horn spoons out of that. leave
my brother-i law Allan my punch bowl, as
lac is a big. ganchy man. aud likely to do
credit to it'll leave to Palson Chevassie
my big silver snuff box. as 4 small token Of
gratitude To him for taking my sister Mag
gle, whom no man of taste would have
taken......l leave to John Caddell a silver
tea pot, to the end that he may drink tea
;herefrom 10 comfort him under the allie
ton Of slatternly wife.....I leave my
silver cup, with the sovereign in the bot
tom of il, to my sister, because she is
an old maid aud pious, and therefore neces.
sa'ily given 10 boarding; and also my
-rauimotheg's snuff box, rs it looks decent
TO see an old maid taking snuff"