Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1886-10-13
@listellaueuns &eadiug.
, SOMETHING TO LEAVE.
[New York Journal Of Commerce.

tion the other day between two gentle
men who were discussing the controversy
before the Surrogate about the probate
of will. One declared that the best
method after all was to make no testa-
ment and let the estate of a decedent be
settled and divided according to the stat
ute. The other asked how then any pro-
vision could be made for bequests of
charitable nature? The discussion turn
ed at once upon various testamentary
projects which had collapsed owing to the
vagueness and insufficiency of the terms
in which the bequests were made. In
conclusion one of them said: 81 know
what 1 would do if l had anything to
leave, but l have nothing worth bequeath
ing to anybody"
The reference was undoubtedly to such
material estates as have financial value.
And it is true that there is a growing un-
certainty in regard to the disposition OF
these estates by last will and testament.
If the document is carefully drawn, and
the provision inserted without legal flaw
in the language or execution, there is al
ways the question of mental soundness,
and beyond this of "undue influence" on
the part of some one who is benefited by
it at the expense of the greedy kinsman.
The temptation to contest the probate is
always very great if the estate is large,
since if the will can be broken the gain
to the contestants is likely to be consider
able, and if it is so constructed as to stand
on the last appeal, they hope for a COM
promise in the course of the struggle that
will add something to their Golfers.
The absolute right of one who has ac-
cumulated an estate to dispose of it as he
will, which was once wholly unquestiOn-
ed, even when he is fully competent to
express his wishes in such testament,
has been restricted in various ways by
statute for many years, and the tenden-
cy both in law and public opinion is in
favor of still further interference with ar
bitrary bequests. If man really has his
heart set on doing some particular work
of benevolence with his earnings, he cam
not be sure that his purpose will prove
effectual unless he appropriates it in his
lifetime. The common feeling seems to
be that after the owner Of an estate has
no further use for it himself, he has no
right to follow it to the next generation
with any directions concerning it. When
his hands are forced to drop the wealth he
has held with so tight grasp, his natural
heirs are ready to clutch it for themselves,
and believe that nothing should come be-
tween them and its enjoyment.
We are not justifying this sentiment,
but describing it as something which ac-
tualy exists and which has great intiu-
ence in unsettling any provisions made
by the owner of property for the uses to
which it shall lie applied after they have
left it. Instead Of any Improvement in
the stability of wills, especially Of such AS
divert a large portion of the estate from
the natural channels Of descent, this ten
dency to render void such bequosts is
likely to increase, and we shall not be
surprised in the near future to see further
restrictions on these acts of testamentary
bounty.
But we intended to say something in re-
gard to that which all men may leave be-
hind them for the benefit of survivors.
There are, alas, too many like the one we
have quoted who have literally nothing
Wortha bequest. It's not especially sad to
leave meagre bank account and empty
pockets, where it is not the result of thrift
jessness and dissipation. The Model of the
race left no material property save the raj
ment he wore to his death, which was di-
vided at the seams into four pieces by his
executioners and his vesture woven
whole, for which they cast lots. But He
left a name, a character, an influence,
which is the worlds greatest treasure to-
day, and will be increasingly valuable as
the centuries come and 60 to the end of
time.
We see from this that he who is poorest
in the worlds goods may still have some
thing to leave of inestimable value to
those who follow him. Elijah's mantle
dropping from his shoulders as he entered
the celestial chariot, became in the hands
of his successor a mighty instrument for
working wonders, although it seemed but
worn piece of cloth. This is parable
to US Of the value of a noble life that has
gone before, in its influence on successive
generations. The frail casket in which
it rendered such loving service to God
and humanity is all that to sensual eyes
remains Of the departed, and even this is
soon to be buried out OF sight. But the
unseen presence is mighty power for
good, renewing itself in the building up
of character transmitted from one to anoth-
er, and multiplying without any loss IN
such division, until the progeny of one
able host bound by an invisible but COM
mon tie, here and beyond the grave.
The poorest man who has not where to
lay his head may leave such legacy to
those who come after him. The true heirs
cannot be kept out of the estate. Nor can
there Le strife over the multiplying
shares, as each, drawing from the same
pattern, may take in the whole OF the
canvas, and reproduce in his own life the
completed picture. 1t is a noble ambition
to make such bequest to the ages. They
who are disappointed in their efforts to
accumulate the millions of cash assets
which comprise the whole of some mems
wealth, may make their own lives so
radiant with whatever blesses and bright
ems the world, that they shall be copied in
all the succeeding years. Their names
may soon be forgotten in earthly annals,
perhaps before their bodies shall crumble
to the final dust. But the halo that sur
rounded them while intent on this loving
service is part of the great volume OF light
that enriches the world, and is reklndled
for all who come under the same sweet
influence and follow their bright example
None of the millions divided by authority
of the snrrOgate's Court can he wrought
into a memorial so enduring as the lesson
of right living, embodied in an illustrious
example, and thus perpetually transmit
ted until the last Of the race shall de sum-
mOned from the earth.
TRAINING SCHOOLS IN THE SOUTH.
A recent letter from the late Governor
of South Carolina, Hon. Hugh S. Thomp..
son, beyond question the best informed
public man of the South on educational
matters, declares that the need of trained
teachers is now perhaps the most imme-
diate pressure on school affairs in that
section. While in a general way the
Southern people have great need of ma
tional aid for establishing schools, the
quality of these schools depends, ever!
more than in the North, on the outfit OF
the teacher. Especially in the rural
realm, where nine-tenths of the South
ern people live, the new school is often
the most important agency of progress,
and the teacher has an opportunity supe-
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