St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1884-11-15
Oddities OF VfII~.


Among the curious wills and requests that
deserve mention is that of French merch-
ant who, in 1910, left large legacy TO the
lady who Tilted him, in order 70 express his
gratitude TO her for her forbearance and his
admiration for her sagacity in leaving him 10
happy bachelor life. Jasper Mayne, who
died in 1920, left TO bibalous servant an
old portmaBteau, which he wrote, the legatee
would value when he found that il contained
something (which would enable him to
drink" The something" proved to be a
red herring. A Scotch gentleman having
two young daughters bequeathed 10 each her
weight, not in gold, but in q bank notes.
The elder seems 10 have been simmer than
her sister, for she only got $3.50, 0OO' while
the younger received S2S7, 72O. An annuity
OF $3.50 was bequeathed to the bellringers of
Bath Abbey by Lieut--Col. Nash, provided
they should muiie the clappers Of the bells
Of the said abbey, and ring them with doler-
GUS aceentuation from a. m. 70 S p. m. Oh
each anniversary Of his wedding day, and
during the same number of hours only with
merry peal, on the anniversary Of the day
which released him from domestic tyranny
and wretchedness. Bequests Of bodies for
anatomical purposes. or OF skulls as curiOsi-
ties or relics have been sufficiently numer-
GUS; but unquestiouably the most curious
will OF that sort was that made by Mr.. S. San
born in l77I, when the testator left bis re-
mains for dissection and provided that the
flesh stripped from the bones should be used
TO fertilize an American elm, and his skull
be converted into two drumheads, inscribed
with the Declaration Of Independence, aud
Pope's Universal Prayer. on which Yankee
Doodle should be played at Bunker Hill an
nualy on the 18th OF June.
A testator cannot, il need scarcely Sc said
be too careful in drawing up a viii. "My
black aud white horses" do not bear the
same meaning a. ..iay n'srs AMI my white
hosses." A near fFicna 81, Victor Cousin, the
philosopher, lest iar-e lc-acy through n
tritiing accident and delay. Cousin intend
ed 10 include his name in his will, but there
was no stamped paper In the house, and he
told his servant 10 obtain some. The serv-
ant said he would-to-m orrow-and on the
morrow Cousin died at dinner, Just as
West of England millionaire was chokod at
breakfast with U fish bone, with the unsigned
will which would have altered the disposition
OF his vast estate lying on the table. People
should initiate the example Of Lord Eidon,
who when a very rich piece OF patronage
came into his gift, having received the news
while riding with the relative upon whom be
intended to bestow it, wrote out the appoint
ment while sitting in his saddle, lest he
should be thrown from his horse before he
got home. An officer in the Indian army,
who had not much TO leave, but was on
friendly terms with two of the other officers,
made viii, leaving his property, consisting
merely of personal belongings, to be divided
between them. The testator came unexpect-
'edy into very large fortune, but nc forgot
all about his viii and never made another.
When he died the will made under such diff
erent circumstances held good, sisters and
near relatives were left out in the cold.
OF beqnests to animals few may be men
toned. In 1871 peasant of Toulouse made
his horse his universal heir. DR.. Cristiano,
Of Venice, left 5000 forms for the mainten-
anee of his three dogs, with condition that
at their death the sum should be added to the
University of Vienna. A Mrs. Elizabeth
Hunter, in 1913, left $1,000 year to her
parrot, and the Count of Mlrandola be-
queathed a considerable legacy 10 pet carp
Lord Chesterfield left sum for the support
Of his fayorte cat. SO also did one Frederick
Harper, who settled $500 year on his
''yOung black cat" the interest to be paid
to his housekeeper Mrs. Hodges, as long as
the cat should remain alive. The most sin
gular of these wills, however, was that Of
Mr.. Berkeley, of Knightsbridge, who died in
1905. He left SI25 10 four of his dogs Dur
ing journey through France and Italy this
gentleman, being attacked by brigands, had
been protected and saved by his dog; the
four animals he pensioned by bis will were
Ia1oav,Iausz ~ F.ssh II 81. u.
ing his end near Mr.. Berkeley desired that
two arm-chairs might be brought to hts bed
side and his four dogs seated on them, re-
ceived their last earesses, which be returned
with the best Of his falling strength, and
died in their paws. BY an article in his will
he ordered that the busts of his four dogs
should be carved in stone and placed at the
four corners Of his tomb.-PhilRdelphi Rec
ord.