Dodge City times. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1876-1892, 1881-06-16
ANCIENT WILLS.


As far back rs We know anything of
civilization men have been in the habit
of formally bequeathing their property.
In the oldest times of which We have
any knowledge, people were accus-
toned to hide their more precious pos
sessions, and one of the most important
parts of will-making then was for the
testator to reveal where he had con-
cealed his jewels, his choice weapons,
or his store of gold. The head of
family being about to die would sum-
mon to his bedside 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.
Thus, Mahomet in the Koran is very
severe upon witnesses to wills who do
not impart all that they know of the
property OF a deceased person. Faith
less men would sometimes, it appears,
forget to tell of jeweled cup or a bag
of coin, which dying testator had
mentioned. and would quietly apprO-
pirate the same to their own use. He
enjoins upon all true believers who felt
death approaching to select two wit
nesses. just men, and, after the after
noon prayer. make them swear not to
sell their evidence for bride, nor con-
ceal their knowledge of his effects.
All readers remember the impressive
scenes delineated in the Old Testament.
wherein the dying patriarchs made
known ty word of mouth their last will
to their sons gathered about their bed.
Next to these the Oldest will of which
We have any mention is that of Telem-
achus, son of Ulysses, given by Homer
in the Odyssey. The Young hero. being
about to go into battle, gave TO friend
the precious objects which he pos
sessed, but with the proviso that if he
survived the battle his friend was to
return them all to him. Almost every
soldier does the same at the present
day; a custom of which we had thou
sands of instances in the late war.
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 flourished about
200 b. G. 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 re-
corded as his. and a copy was found in
one of the ancient cities OF Asia Ages
before the institution 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 religious edifice under
the guardianship of priests.
The most interesting will that has
come to us from antiquity is that of the
Corinthian philosopher. Eudamidas.
who had no property to leave. and who
died about 100 B. C. This will. proba-
bly, Dictated on his death-bed and taken
down by bystander, was rs follows:
Il bequeath 10 Arethrus my mother 10 sup
port; aud pray him to have tender care of
her declining years
. be iueatD to Charxenes my daughter to
settle in marriage. and 10 give her to that end
the best dowry he can afford
should either happen to die. beg the
other To undertake bolh charges"
1t 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 win was read. it ex-
cited m ore laughter than admiration