St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1881-05-13
why Make n Will!

The law of the land gives careful and
cOnsiderate directions how the proper
ty of those who die without wills shall
be distributed. They are very iudicious
and provide for every case which can
occur. There is, therefore, some reason
for the feeling, often expressed, that Il
man need not make il will if he is salts
fled with distribution by law. Il think
the law makes Il good enough will tOI
me-" is sometimes said.
Are there reasons why one should
make a will We think there are and,
without now saying anything as to adj
visibility of making special gifts, we
shall speak briefly of some advantages
and some objections, showing that, on
the whole, to make Il will is desirable.
ADVANTAGES ,oiH toiH grGtity and
comfort yOur .tdmiLY.-DO you rear a
Christmas-tree i'll your household
Would You not rather hang the doll,
the Noah's Ark, the tishing-rod on the
tree yourself than have the children
find the same valuables in the street
And do you not, on reflection, prefer
that they shall receive their share OF
your property us gifts from You, rather
than that the law shall ''distribute'
your property among them, because it
was found Lying about loose" You
have, let us say, only two children,
twins, of equally good health and char
acter, and only ten government bonds
and are convinced that nothing is wiser
than to give five bonds to each child
Just what the law would do. Give the
bonds by will, with some kindly, pa
rental words, to be read and remem-
bered when you are gone. The bond,
will then he valued us your gift, anC
the words will he legacy besides
And, generally, Il family acting under {
will are permitted to have the satiSfac
tion of feeling that they are carrying
forward the definite wishes of the de
parted head, Il comfort of which those
who administer an intestate estate are
deprived.
4 lUiH secures an executor Of yOur OlCI
chOOsing.- law will name an ad-
ministrator but he may, in some con
tingencies, be IL creditor or IL stranger
Grant that the legal distribution suits
you. Do You not wish it faithfully anC
honestly made ? Can YOU not serV,
your heirs by naming the person To b,
trusted to make it
4 pW may greatly facilitate settle
ment As the law has no regard tC
considerations of personal cOntidenc,
in appointing an administrator, so i
necessarily cXacts from him II bond
and requires him to commence his du
| ties by making, with aid of appraisers
II minute inventory and valuation %
the property, article by article. Th,
necessity of giving bond is sometimes
il great Embarrassment. Cases have
been known in which an estate per
frctly simple, but large (valme say ;
million dollars), has been long delayed
in distribution, because the probate
| Judge has called for il bond in the sun
of say two millions and no one could b,
found to give it, Likewise. it is offer
Il grievance to Il family that, in the frs
weeks of bereavement, four townsmeI
must go through the homestead, cata
loguing everything, inquiring what i
cost, and discussing what it is worth
| BY will. one may direct that his cXccu
| tor shall not bc required to give bond
or that he need not find surctieS OF th
| like. And he may give those thing
which the wife and children have il
use, specifically: the household furni
ture to the wife; the paintings an,
piano to the daughter; the clothing
| the books, the horse and the gun to tn
son. BY such forcthought. suited t.
the circumstances of the particula
case, the task may be greatly aided.
OBJECTIONS. do not irish to tai
orer my affairs rih LGwyer. This i
not required. You are at liberty T.
draw your own will and, if the dispO
sitions you propose are anywhere nea
as direct and simple as those the lay
would make and you have averag
ability for writing your wishes, you ga
safely do so.
hare not time This objection
better than it appears. When men sa
they have not time to make will, the
object not to the mere task of writin
the three or four pages of letter-papc
nccdful, but to the difficulty of framin
any comprehensive scheme for the dis
posal of their interests interests whic
are not only complicated and perpleX
ing aS they stand, but are subject
, constant change as business proceed,
; The difficulty of doing this is Ofte
great Toward the close of life man
matters settle themselves affairs natu
rally become more simple. Even /
sudden. fatal sickness tcstatOr Ina
not to consider and provide for cOntiI
uimg prosecution and development {
his interests. He makes his will dis
posing of matters as they stand. TIL
attempt by one in active life and fu
r employment to delincatc a disposal {
. affairs which will change material
, month by month through many yeal
to come is far more difficult. If one eI
; deavOrs to embrace everything, I'll
task becomes nigh impossible. But on
need not embrace everything. Som
of your affairs are simple and, relative
= ", permanent. Make will as to thes
The law will dispose of what you b'
r queath according to your will and wi
distribute what yOu do not begueat
: according to the fixed routine.
| But hare nothing to IedUe.-This
!. a good objection, when it really exist
7 A pauper need not make "A will. Bl
4, is it certain you will not have som'
: thing to leave Small savings are Il
4 foundation of most estates One wi