The semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1882-1886, 1885-12-16
LUCKY OR c

The proverb which says that sit is bette
to be born lucky thans rich, " may be som
consolation to those who envy such a
have inherited wealth. Those, however
who are %envious of riches cannot hav
much praise to bestow upon Others VIII.
! have been more fortunate than themselves
because luck, in the sense it is used in tn
nroyerb, means something which has led te
wealth. Generally luck and riches 70 hand
in hand together. Success in business. mol
itics. speculation, gambling, war, or any.
thing else, is said to be luck. Luck, there.
fore, generally brings riches or fame, and
~excites the Feasibility OF the e%nvious.
Those who are lucky or rich care very little
for the opinions OF others, especially of the
c%ovetous.
The legatees named in the will of the late
William H. Vanderbilt may be said to be
both lucky and rich, for they have been so
fortunate as to fall heirs to immense wealth,
and at the same time were BORN rich, be-
cause Cornelius Vanderbilt, the father Of
William, was ranked as a millionaire before
the present generation was born. The elder
Vanderbilt was ambitious to be the anccs-
tor Of a long line of m%illionaires; hence he
bequeathed, to his eldest son ninety mil
lions. This immense sum his fortunate
legatee, in the short space of six years, in
creased to the fabulous fortune OF two
hundred millions of dollars, and HAD
scarcely time to calculate his wealth When
he, without warning, was called away from
life, leaving behind him a limited number OF
lucky heirs.
The widow, she who doubtless contributed
much by her advice and counsel, and the
proper management OF the household, to
increase her husbands wealth, does not
appear to have been one of the lucky ones. |
for she has been cut off with an allowance !
Of only two hundred thousand per annnln
her life, together with the use CT the
mansion appurtenances, and the right to
will, to whom she pleases. $4,000 600 out OF
the estate. This bequest is subject to the
payment of taxes and other expenses Incl
lent to the management OF the real estate
eft her. At the same time the children re-
five millions each and the income OF
$1,000, 600 to be divided equally among
there being eight OF them. After
eaving 81, OOO, 900 to a grandson, the tes-
ator bequeathes 81, 100000 to public in
titutions, and gives the balance OF his
state to two sons, Cornelius and William
(. Vanderbilt.
The two last mentioned are more lucky
han the Others, for they received equal
he res in the provisions made for all the
and one-half of the residue,
amounts to nearly fifty millions
ach. This is an unfair distribution, no
natter how it may be considered. The
'idow, although she may be well provided
ought to have had the income of one
bird OF the whole estate during her life
ime, to dispose OF as she might deem
In some States, the Legislatures i
ave been wise and considerable enough to {
quitably protect the widow in her rights s
y providing that she shall enjoy one +
bird part OF the rents, issues and profits
fthe real estate during life, and one-third of
he personal property absolutely where F;
here arc children and Il much larger share t
here there are none. This is the better rule i
NeSuO OIC Al oAOuJA (tlNdyS UC SOH- I
a partner with the husband in the
ccumulation OF money or other valuable
roperty, hence, when death dissolves the .
artnership, she should have her share in :
he assets. !
In Pennsylvania, the widows one-third, =
r dover, as it is known in the common
wv. cannot be destroyed by a testamentarv
isposition of the %testator's property. Ii
lis rule prevailed in New York, Mrs. Van .
erbilt could claim and enjoy that which "
le is justly and equitably entitled to. :,
There is no instance on record OF 4 COM :
OF luck and riches leading to the
cquisition Of such an immense fortune as
willed by the late William H. Wander g
lit. He was born rich, and afterwards $
as lucky enough to inherit from his father a
nety million dollars, and in the short I
'ace OF six years to increase that fabulous '
I'M more than double. He is reputed to
I'VE been the richest man in the world.
his distinction, no doubt, was the only a
OF his life. The millions he d
were derived from specula- CT
0ns; and as the hundreds. or even thou n
nds, OF dollars, wrung from Others to 81
AXE up his great wealth, passed into his o
.nds, the losers were compelled to endure
told mental and physical sufferings. The
nitentiaries groan with his victims, who, o.
order to extricate themselves from his OF
IN grasp, were tempted to use trust is
oneys, in their charge, and thus become b.
and criminals. r
much better it would have been for %,
: communities from which the millions III
the wealth of Mr.. Vanderbilt were
avn, had he, after amply providing
his family, bequeathed the immense tr
plus to relieve the impoverished and dis W;
ssed. Such an act would have partially m,
med for the misery the accumulation of wi
immense fortune caused those who were sc1
npelled to contribute toward it. IN
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HE raid against ~polygamy in Utah is e