New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-05-26


now Informed Mrs. Fiske OF its invalidity' lleie-
upon, She at once drew up new VIII III heF own
handwriting. Willard F.skc NOW my huNDahu' III
stead of %3 OC0, was left S3OOoOo Oi ths lacI ITO
fessor Fiske knew nothing. That MIS-. fIshe was
moved by wifey affection Is demonstrated Oy te laco
that the residue Of her estate was not sweeplhsV
devised TO Cornell University but express PROVISIONS
were made for its expenditure. these including cont
paratively small for a students hospital ana
the bulk of the being set apart Tor what was 10
be known as the McCiraw Library Fund she being
moved 10 direct the money into that channel on ac-
count of her husband being librarian OF the university
Mr. Justicc Boardman, having thus far succeeded in
his plan had also clinched the arrangement which le
had made by presenting TO Professor fiske Tor his
signature an ante nuptial agreement, whereby tho
bridegroom waived all rights to his wifcs property.
There wasn't a mcTcenary hair III Fiskes head. lie
had absolutely conception OF the value OF money
no thought even of it. He signed the agreement
without moments hesitation. OF this, however, his
wife knew nothing, and when she afterwarN upon the
wedding journey, discovered this paper among Others
that had been given her by Mr. Boardman, she was
about TO it up, but was prevented by her nus
band who did not know that one penny had
been bcqueathed to him by his wlfe's will. The newly
married couple travelled through Europe and at every
scat of learning they were the recipients Of much
attention. In hopes that Mrs Fiske might regain her
health, they spent the winter In Egypt the Khedivc
placing at their disposal his private boat, Oh which
hard Of death upon the poor woman. She slrunk
away before her husbands eyes, until she weighed
less than eighty pounds. When all hope was gone, ana
IL was only q question of how many months she c0uid
lvc a rapid journey was made across Europe and
back to New York. where they landed september 10,
1851. Friends who met them at the Quarantine sta
ton were actually accompanied by both a ply scian
and an undertaken. not knowing which one would be
needed one friend, a lawyer, who had become IA
miliar with the inner aspects Of the romance said 70
the mourning husband Did you know that woman'S
will made before she Is married isn't worth any thing
Fske replied Il don't know anything about it,
The LAWYER friend made reiondcr: iou have
rights if Mrs. Fiske dies without Will" Fisle
calmly and almost contemptuously, waved aside all
sugees tons upon the subject.
Mr.. and Mrs. Fiske returned to Ithaca. During the
fourteen months Of their married life all spent in
Europe there had been building at the head Of Lake
Cayuga by Mrs. Flskes directions. Of the most
magnificent houses in NewYorl state. From the
promonotory which II stands it commands view Of
Lake Cayuca from head 10 outflow and in the op
poslte direction permits The eye 10 travel mp beau
fnl valley for twenty miles. l. feet above the
waters Of the lake. the time Of the return % tie
bridal couple there had already been expended upon
this residence 100000 but il not ready FOR oc
cupancy Professor Flske taking his wife 10 his
cottage the college campus and on the way drove
through the grounds surrounding her magnificent
that her money erecting, she muimurcd faintN
shall never live there but WILL have no doubt
and ! hope that YOU will pass many pleasant Gay
within those walls That the l4th OF sep
TENDER. on the Goth OF September Mrs. Fske died.
The will made fourteen months before contained no
provision for the completion Of the house nor for S
support but directed that all property forming part OF
the estate should he sold and the proceeds distributed
according TO the terms of the will Of which Mr. Jus
tice Boardmsn was made the executor NhH III
various legal documents row of record has been termed
a conspiracy" had been completed. Cornell University
was the gamer Of more than s2OOO.OOO through
scheme in which Willard Fske was an unwtinc agent
He however. had thought OF tie money involved
and had lie been treated with ordinary deceucy would
never have become famed lteant. He grleved SIN
cercly for his wife and every day while he N'naIhcl
in Ithaca with bis hand placed flowers upon
her grave and after his departure until the present
time that duty has been performed by a florist en-
poyed for the purpose After the funeral Ms distress
became so great that he determined Ia escape ior
time from the scene Of his bereavement, ana an
nounced his intention of going 10 Old Point Comfort
vr Justice Boarnan learning of this decision came
10 him and said :" am glad you are gong away
think it is the best thing you can do but BEFORE
Won 20 | will read the will. Where l. III PT"i''
sor Fiske replied. Why, thought The document wa
in your possession" to which Judge HpaInhah an
swered have the old Will. but the new one gave
to Mrs. Fskc." II IS a striking commentary Ull"
Professor Fske's lack Of mcrccnaIy traits tla' it,
had no knowledge whatever Of piece Of paper
whereby his wife had dispo-ed Of an cnornoH' prop
erty and in which he might be supposed 70 BE- in,er
c,t1d hunt for the missing document wH' al once
Organized Mrs. I,hc lad brought twenty even
trunk, from Europe and each ana an 81 NC w."
ransacbed fruitle,,ly. After this had been dor. RS
fes,or Fske said that herc wa, rle ha, ,,, M
in which his wife carried her le"el-, e'a ,tA' .
was very particular in never entrusunS II " tr ."
of servant. Perhaps he suggested tI4, n"sn ,, ~
for the satchel. professional nurse l'd ben
and after the funeral she had been paid ana d"pItc4
In her room, in closet, lyiIg among ~ ~ ~.
Iis l us sic hepc Opened d1co,ed The missing Will
| Had Il never been found. world Of trouble "olh
n%ots, e' and then mr. Justice Bo,dnan took
| the position that Cornell ihlVeiaIN wa.
PSrai9n. ,n Tcn and 'T t, f therefore, Te roo
Fiskc was entitled to ~" 100000 beq"eHh'" nun
ne S2na nay and his VIE, welding drc he wol1
have to buy them al The highest hg,fc l'h ""'tl
! command and in similar manner aud al lEc I',"
he PAID for every oanVef r ala madc proposi,i5n
he wns worth If they would LET him nv ~ Ms We
! house and he met with "a scornin rnn,n,
| Cavnca Lake was a bad Investment, ald uiai u,l
couldn't AFFORD to apply II to any QUIZ va ,r
rr~lsed IN acrmony for nearly two years before IL
resulted III litigation
| ,,,r,os p Bacon. the Cornell student had known
Professor F,kc since lsG5 and before re'a''' N"u
| lived with him for i've vcals, H.. l., hoc,,ro ,b.
| " After leaving Cornell University he became u9
oditnr M Cnycruor HIS paper. The Elmra '"'.
lm, after time I'LL advised the yod4g man ,Hi'
! rcre was little money In the pursuit Z" !g'IndIi H.
and that II he we're wise he would study ana Yi"
law Acting upon This suggestion Bacoi' "nio Su t
| welding thc pen, entered u0mlnally a. Germ III
Dnvd Is HIPS Office and began the study "i lhe al"
Al that time he was intimate with the Pf7ldci'' u
treasurer and the trustees Of Cornell lnNtraNN ala
! Professor Fskc remained his devoted ir'hl; Ia, on
| naturally learned all that was going on ABOUT ,He
Nc,;raw fortune ard siding with Mr.. ll-hc hc I'
| came an opponent Of the BOardnah parry ~ ,ur
! affairs Of t!e university. One day WINE I'M
Ioyc student he was reading the statutes of wills ana
| Icing thoroughly familiar with CoFnelfs chart" r,
when he came TO a certain paragiaph ne fnuu .,
Inc page i'm letters Of flame. The point he htd die
covered was this corporation i. an artlcal oroa
! lion II can only the things its charter permit.
and II can do nothing for which that Instrument
does expressly provide for me charter "I ,ofnel
University declare that the corporation thereby or AT
can only hold property to the amount OF <ooo2
| and afterward proved. Cornell University owned
| more than s3OOO,000 of property, and con