The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1881-07-15
Ancient Wills!

AS lar Dack as we KNOW any OhAlS VI
civilization. men have been in the habit
of formally bequeathing their property.
In the oldest times of which we have
any knowledge, people were accustomed
to hide their more precious possessions,
and one of the most important parts OF
will-making then was for the testator to
reveal where he had concealed his
Jewels, his choice weapons, or his store
of gold. The head of family beng
about to die would summon to his bed
side his nearest relations or his most
Intimate friends, and tell them what he
possessed, where it was hidden, and
how he wished it divided after his
death.
All readers remember the impressive
scenes delineated in the GA Testament,
wherein the dying patriarchs made
known by word of mouth their last VIII
to their sons gathered about their bed.
Next to these, the oldest will of which
we have any mention is that OF -Teie-
machus, son of Ulysses, given by Homer
in the Odyssey. The. young hero,
being about to go into battle, gave to a
friend the precious objects which he
possessed, but with the proviso that II
he survived the battle, his friend was
to return them all to him. Almost
every soldier does the same at the pres
ent day; custom of which we had
thousands of instances in the late
war 81
The Oldest will which was written out,
and has come down to us in the original
words. is that of Sennacherib, King OF
Assyria. who fourished about 700 B. @.
He left to his favorite son certain
bracelets, coronets, and other precious
. objects of gold, ivory and precious
stones, deposited for safe keeping in the
! Temple of Nebo." 1t is by no means
certain that this will was written by the
King, though it is recorded as his ---! ana
cities of Asia. Ages before the institu
ton of Safe Deposit Companies, Kings
and mobiles found it necessary to have
safe places for hiding their jewels and
gold, and this was usually In some relig-
ious edifce under the guardianship Of
! priests. ~
The most interesting will that has
come to us from antiquity is that of the
! CoriDthian philosopher, Eudamidas,
who had no property to leave, and who
died about 400 B. g. This will, prob
ably dictated on his death bed, and
| taken down by bystander, was as
! follows:
81 bequeath to Aretheus my mother to sup
! port; and pray him to have a tender care Of
her declining years. ..#
!, II bedueath to Glarixenes my daughter tx
settle in marriage, and to give her to that enc
! the best dowry he can afford. Ia d
''Should either happen to die, I beg the
| other to undertake both charges"
It was the law in Corinth at that time
that wills should be read in the public
square in the hearing of the people,
The deceased philosopher was known to
be destitute of property, and, conse
quently, when this will was read, il
excited more laughter than admiration
and people were disposed to joke upor
the good luck of the two legatees. They
however, promptly accepted the trust
aud, one of them dying soon after, the
other supported the philosopher
mother, found suitable husband fol
the daughter, and gave her a portion Of
two talents, about equal to 81. 500 of or1
money. He gave the same portion tt
his own daughter, and both were mar
ried on the same day.
The will Of the illustrious Greek phil
osopher, Plato, who died 348 B. c., We
possess entire, aud it gives us the pleas
ing knowledge that he was a gentlemal
of property. He leaves two farms to hi
only son; likewise a considerable sun
in money, various cups Of silver and
heavy gold ring. He frees from bond
age his slave Diana, but bequeaths hi
four other slaves and all his "chattels'
to his son. II have no debts, say
Plato; an excellent thing to be able t.
say in viii; and he appoints no les
than six executors. s-sf D..
We have also the VIII of Aristotle,
document of some length, and very
minute in its provisions. He decide
who is to marry his little daughter whel
she grows up. He frees several of hi
slaves, and orders that the children o
the rest when they are of age shall b
set free IF they have deserved il. >
flames Parton. .f