The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1885-09-24
i GIVE AND BEQUEATH.
Interesting Facts About the
Making of Wills.
The Case Of a Wealthy New York Lady
who Died Intestate.

The death of Mrs. Charles Morgan
without will is a case in point, Mrs.
Morgan was in sense an invalid.
She had disease most generally prov
ing fatal; which obliged her to take
great care Of herself, and which limit
ed her diet to comparatively few arti-
cles This disease she did not die OF,
but the fact of its probable termina-
tion was constantly before her.
Mrs. Morgan spent her life, as 1t is
known, in collecting about her rare
plants and precious works of art. Her
orchids, which occupied the extensive
glass houses over the stables and in
the rear of the house, comprehended
the rarest examples. For one variety,
of which there is but one other known
example. she paid $1200-the king of
Holland or Belgium possessing the
other and less sums were commonly
expended. With these she was most
generous, and constantly surprised her
friends with the gift of large boxes of
strange-hued and strange formed flow
ers.
The pictures and brio brac were
known as among the choicest of the
town, and the comparative seclusion
in which Mrs. Morgan lived was usu-
ally broken by her desire to please her
friends by showing them some new
treasure of art. 70 the house in
which she lived in Madison square she
attached great deal of sentiment.
Mr.. Charles Morgan was not a man
addicted to the arts. The drawing
room of the house he himself had fur
nished in a handsome but florid style
inadmissible in these days. This
room Mrs. Morgan would never have
changed, and it remained an anachro-
nism in house in which modern dec
Grafton had in parts transformed, and
was Transforming at her death, into
one of the richest interiors in New
York. Mrs. Morgan spoke familiarly
| to those with whom she discussed
these matters. of the ultimate disposi-
tion of her things. Certain works of
art it was her intention to give tv the
Metropolitan Museum, others were to
be legacies to different people. The
residence, on account of this sentiment
for her husbands memory. would
probably have been given to Mr. Nor
gan's grandson, the son of his only
daughter, now living in New Orleans;
at least such were the intimations
given by her to different persons.
Leaving New York in as good
health as usual, Mrs. Morgan was
stricken by another swift illness at
Saratoga, and in few hours died,
without moment of consciousness.
Dying without will and without
children, the immense property, works
of art, orchids. souvenirs, house, goes
to her own family, That the bulk of
her property would have been thus
disposed of if Mrs. Morgan had made
will is inevitable, but it is as certain
that she would have made some per-
manent disposition of her works of
art and other special possessions, which
will now pass into the hands of the
law.
The making of wills with many
people is attended with all sorts of su-
perstition. There is an American now
living in Paris who has been there for
many years. and has accumulated a
large fortune in valuable and unique
works of art. This man is bachelor,
and his heir is brother whom he
hates. Moreover for years he has had
rheumatic gout. These attacks have
often brought him to the verge of the
grave. Each time his will, guarding
his fortune against this unloved broth
er, has been made. but no matter how
low he has been, it has never been
signed, and regularly, on recovery, has
been torn up. His friends all know
of the situation, and most ridiculous
scenes have been the consequence.
One time when it was surely thought
that the end was near, the supposed
dying man was held up with quill in
hand and general scurry was made
for witnesses. His walters were
brought up from the dining-room, but
an American lady happening by ven
tured the information that the laws of
the United States required two Amer
leans as witnesses. Here was one, and
messengers had to be sent right and
left to find another native. This is
only one of kindred scenes whenever
an attack comes on. 1t is question
among the mans intimates if the
brother will not inherit after all.
The making of wills abroad is full
of liabilities. Different States have
different laws touching wills made in
foreign countries. In Pennsylvania,
If we mistake not, the law demands
residents of the State as witnesses.
The difficulty of securing them would
easily invalidate any will made out
side of Pennsylvania. One of the
most methodical business men in Phil
adelphia had curious experience
When young man. some few days
before his marriage. moved by some
fear of sudden death, he wrote his
own will, leaving to his betrothed as