Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1882-09-22
star routing. even in the light of its al.
legged heavy gains. cannot be said to
have proved good business.
AN EN6LISHWOMAN'S WILL.
Escentrfc Proyisions


Escentric Provisions.
One of the most eccentric wills Of
modern times has just been quietly set
aside by Vice Chancellor Bacon in the
chsncery division of the high court of
justice. The document in question
WAS executed in May, 1865, by a Mrs.
Anne Burdette, of Gilmerton, in Lie
cestershire, and her leading testament
tsry dispositions were made in codi-
cll, which directed certain appointed
trustees, Immediately after her funeral
10 cause the windows and doors of
| every room in her dwelling house to
. be bricked up in solid manner. and
TO continue the bricking-u up for twenty
years.
The kitchen only was to remain un-
sealed, and in this apartment some
respectable married couple were to be
installed at peppercorn rent of half
penny per week, their duty being 10
take care of the premises, and, in par
ucuiar, TO see that no attempts were
made TO raise the brick blockade of the
doors and windows. In order that her
directions should be carried out to the
letter, certain benefits under the will
were given TO the trustees, which bene-
nts they were to forfeit if the house
ceased 70 be in strictly bricked.up and
barricaded state.
BY another codieil the texatrix
directed that the windows shonld no
boarded up and nailed With good long
naiis, bent down on the inside, and
tnen covered up with sheet-iron and tin.
u the property thus hermetically
sealed up no etfectusl devise was made.
ms extraordinary will was disputed in
'he probate court, but probate was
eventually granted.
Then the parties who were dissatisfi-
ed took the case into chancery, and no
fewer than eight counsel learned IN the
law appeared before the vice chancellor
on Wednesday Aug. ,, those who sup
ported the validity of the devise quot
Ing Pope's well. known lines, in which
the poet says that testator may "en-
dow college or cat" and seeking to
draw therefrom the inference that Mrs.
bardette was entitled to dispose of her
own precisely as she liked, even though
her testamentary injnnctions were of
the most caprlciously grotesque nature.
Sir James Baker, however, very cogent-
ly pointed out that, i'll the case before
HIM, the testator had endowed neither
a cat nor college; and he directed the
trustees TO unseal and release all this
hitherto use ess property, which must
be distributed rs the undisposed residue
OF real and personal estate.-London
Telegraph.
Shoulder capes OF black material
studded in the greatest profusion with
steel beads and having steel fringe
are new. They are best appreciated
IN the sun or gaslight.
1t is not probable that the crusade
against the waltz will cause that dance
to be abolished in society next winter,
except probably among the Philadel-
phia Pride family.
Searchers after wedding presents are
now out in increased force every day,
and give "boom" to silversmiths
and jewelers. The novelties OF the
season are innumerable.
Eggs within eggs, says an exchange,
and rings within rings will be more
III Vic new duIu tHHn
the polka dots and moon spots that
ire worn at present.
The recent decision of the supreme
court of Florida, making all railroad
property in the state liable to taxation,
will add about $5,000,000 to the taxa
ble property of the state.
One of the hardest woods in exist
ence is that of the desert ironwood tree
which grows in the dry wastes along
the line of the southern Pacific Rail
road. Its specific gravity is nearly the
same as that of hgnum vitae, and it has
a black heart, SO hard, when seasoned,
that it will turn the edge of an AK and
can scarcely be cut with well-temper-
cd saw. In burning it gives out an in
tense heat.
The Sutro tunnel, now completed,
discharges 30,000,000 gallons hot water
daily from Comstock mines. This
water has temperature of 1876 deg,
and is conveyed through closed pine
fiume to prevent the escape of vapor.
After a passage of four miles through
the first tunnel it loses 20 deg. Of heat.
A second tunnel, LOO feet long and
an open waterway mile and n half
long, conduct the water TO Carson
river. Along its course are hot-water
baths and laundries, ard plan is on
foot TO conduct the hot water through
pipes under ground, to be made avail
able for purposes of irrigation and for
supplying artificial heat to lighthouses.
Rome is about to add to her long list
of houses bearing tablets that com
memorate the residence within their
walls of distinguished foreigners, the
houses at No. II Via del Piefetti, in
which lived during his stay at Rome
Prof. S. F. B. Morse. Upon the tablet
will be placed the following inscription:
IS. 7. q r. In his house lived Sam
uel Finley Breese Morse from The Goth
of February, 1880, to 9th January,
1881. He was the inventor Of the
electric magnetic telegraph. Born in
Charlestown on the 22i of April, 1871.
Died in New York on the "a Of April,
1872"