The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1889-06-13

The whims and vagaries of testators
seem to be of an endless variety. They
have become proverbial. Almost daily
we may notice paragraphs detailing be-
quests of more or less extraordinary
nature, and latterly the United States
would appear to have been more pro-
life than other regions of singular
wills. Quite recently, the late Lord
Marlborough made the following Curl
Gus provision in his will. He gave
most explicit directions. that after a
certain period elapses, his body is to
be exhumed and reinterred in Bardsey
Island. This island, it will be remem-
berered, lies to the of north Cardigan
Bay, and is reputed to have no fewer
than 10000 saints buried in its soil.
Only the other day, too, Henry
Eberle, of Frankfort, left an estate val
ued at $4,000 to be expended in the
erection Of monument over his grave.
HE will was executed in 1869, and
gives minute instructions as to the mon
ument. Three shares of the cemetery
stock are bequeathed to the Cemetery
Company, the income upon which is to
maintain the monument in good repair.
A far more extraordinary will than
either of the above was. however, made
by Solomon Sanborn, of Medford,
Mass. who was halter by trade. He
left his body to the late Prof. Agassiz
and DR.. 0. w. Holmes, to be by them
prepared in the most skillful and sci
entitie manner known to anatomical
art, and placed in the anatomical
museum of Harvard College. Two
drumheads were to be made of the skin,
Upon one was to be inscribed Alexan-
der Pope's Universal Prayer on the
other, the Declaration of Independ-
ence;" and then they were to be pre-
sented to the testator's distinguished
friend, the drummer of Cohasset.
This presentation was subject to the
condition that on the 18th of June, at
sunrise, every year, the drummer
should beat upon the drumheads at the
foot of Bunkers Hill, the spirit-stirring
strains of yankee Doodle"
Another American, who died within
the last few months. reflects in his will
that he was Stunned by his relatives,
who can not, now that am dying, do
too much for my comfort" But DR..
Wagner takes on these relations a
CHASTITY revenge. To his brother, Ma
poleon Bonaparte, he bequeaths his
left arm and hand; and to another
brother, George Washington, his right
arm and hand; and to others his legs,
nose, ears, etc. Further, the testator
leaves $1,000 for the dismembering of
bis body.
Among other testators who have dis
played this remarkable tendency to
leave legacies in the form of portions
Of their bodily frames, or the frame in
It's entire condition, may be instanced
Dr Ellerby and Jeremy Bentham.
The viii of DR.. Ellerby, who died in
London in 1927, contained the follow
ing bequests: II bequeath my heart
soMr W., anatomist; my lungs to Mr..
x, and my brain to Mr.. F., in order
mat they may preserve them from de-
composition; and I further declare that
I these gentlemen shall fail faithfully
% execute these my last wishes in this
respect will come and torment them
until they shall comply"
IN spite of this threat however, the
oeneheiaries declined their legacies.
Jeremy Beutham, again, bequeathed
MS body to a hospital, with instructions
snat his skeleton should be prepared
ana cleaned, and his head preserved
entire, and that he should-when thus
1eated-preside at the meetings of the
hospital directors. Whether he was
ever made TO actually preside is doubt
iuli but it is certain that the skeleton
was preserved, and may now be seen
"a the hospital museum. The preser-
sauon of the head was, however.
numbered, and one of wax had to be
substituted.
many wills have reference to the do
ussslc felicity. or the reverse, expert
suoeo oy thosewho executed them. AS
Il example Of the former. we may give
sne following passage from the settle
lsas q Lady Palmerston. an ancestress
sae celebrated Premier. Referring to