The Newtown bee. (Newtown, Conn.) 1877-current, 1891-02-06

said, ~ am in q very delicate position and
feel obliged to decline any and all invitations
to attend public gatherings, at least until the
present tangle is unravelled." recognized
the propriety OF his scruples and did not press
the matter. Not feeling authorized to commit
the executive committee to recognition OF
either the governor de jure, or the governor
de facto, / did not call upon Judge Morris or
Gov Buckley Connecticut lit goes without
saying) lisa great State! 1t used to have two
capitals and now it has three governors! In
any other country but this and fear in some
of the United States this state OF things would
cause rebellion. Less than 80 years ago, II
remember rightly, there was a Dorr rebellion
in Rhode Island over the election OF two gov
ernors; one under the charter and the other
u lder the new constitution. In Connecticut
three governors are not sufficient to provoke
civil war. The people OF Connecticut seem to
feel about the present middle very much as
the freshman did whose wife used to beat him.
A neighbor who was magistrate asked him
ole day, "Why do you submit to it?" "Arlah,
yer honor!" replied Pat, sit devarts Bridget
an don't hurt me'' Fifty years ago, this state
OF things would have caused a civil war in
Connecticut Now the people look calmly on
at the triangular contest which is being waged
and say, ''lt diverts the candidates and don't
hurt usH'
But, TESTING aside, why is it that the present
crisis does not disturb the public peace? The
people of Connecticut are bettor educated,
and, therefore, more intelligent than they
were 80 years ago. Then there were, perhaps,
a score of academies and no public high
schools. Now there are know not how ma
ny academies and high school in most ofthe
towns The people of Weston and Easton
(formerlp one town. are better educated, as
a ri ut a5i
Why? For several generations, there has
been, in the town of Easton, Staples acade-
my, which makes a higher education for the
masses possible. l am not here, to-day, to
glority Mr. Staples Tor his generosity in found
ing this institution. That has been done, per
haps oyerdone, on this and former occasions.
But do wish to commend him for founding
it in his lifetime. hold and shall ever main
tain that it is every mans duty to so give dur
ing his life time that it will not be his duty to
give in his will. tits an open question, wheth-
er a man has any right to say what shall be
done with his property when he is dead and
gone! l often ask myself, would it not be bet
ter if the right to make wills were abolished
altogether. The unseemly contests instituted
in the courts by dissatisfied heirs would be
avoided and men would feel constrained to
give before they die. A will does not speak
till the death of the testator. What right has
a dead man to say what shall be done with
the property when it is no longer his? There
are men in Westport Il name no names) who
have more money to leave to their heirs than
will be good for them Why not do as"Uncle
Horace" has done? Give while you are alive
Found a hospital, free library old folks
home, or endow one of these struggling
churches. Don't hold on to your money bags
till Death loosens your grasp! Give now
while you are of sound mind and memory
Thus giving, you will not be held up in open
court, after your death, as "an old TOOL" youl
viii set aside for incapacity or "undue infiu
ence;" and your good intentions frustrated
by your rapacious and ungrateful heirs. Re
member "Uncle Horace" how he gave in his
life time; the pleasure he has taken in build
ing this edifice and in running this school tc
suit his own notions under the meek and gen
tie supervision of the executive committee
Remember "Uncle Horace" and go and dc
thou likewise!
In conclusion, am not ashamed to confess
that an not sorry have no money to leave
to my children. 1t is comfort to me to fee
that they are not waiting impatiently for my
departure; that my death will not be theil
gain; that they will be sad, not glad, when
am dead