The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1891-03-11
SOME SINGULAR WILLS.
Extraordinary Requests Made
IN Testamontary Docu
ments.


elften quoted is the rsnarkable will Of
Soiomaa sanbnrn sf Aeds0rs, Msss.
whosiied aoeaf hfseen years ago San-
born eass great patriot, and especially
gloried in the part Massachusetts took in
the Revolutisnary struggle n bis viii
he len his boiy to Dr. Oiiser Nsodel
Holmes and Professor azassiz, not bow
eTer, siffsout imposing some Of the most
unheard-of provisions and conditions
His skeleton be desired prepared n the
most artistic manner known to the pro-
fession, and placed with the many others
in the anatomical department Of Havard
College. While preliminary preparations
were being made in carrying out This ex-
traordinary request, he desired the sur
geon to be very careful with the skin, So
that it could be tanned in pieces of sutd-
cient size to make pair Of drumheacs-
Upoa one Of these drumheads the Dec
laration of Independence was 10 be
written, and upon the other Pope's Uni
versal Prayer. Fitted in its proper
wooden frame, this ghas,ly relic was 20
be presented to a local drummer whom
the testator desiznate- q distinguished
friend, upon condition that he would
promise to carry it to the foot Of Buaker
Hill monument on each succeeding an
niversary Of the battle, at sunrise, and
beat upon it the invigorating strains of
s. Yankee Doodle.
The skeleton Of Jeremy Bentham in
the Hospital Museum, London, is there
at the request Of its owner, who made a
special provision in his will % have it
presented to the hospital, which, upon
accepting the giit, was 10 have the skel-
sten mounted and put in the presiden-
tial chair at each meeting Of the hospital
directors.
DR.. Wagner, an American. IS uP to, or
even ahead Of the English precedent in
the disembernent idea During his life
his relatives had given him enly little
thought. When it came time for hun 20
die-he had little money, about $1,000
his brothers became very kind. After
his death. when the will was read, the
following remarkable clause was disclos-
ed
Tony brother, Napolean Bonaparte,
bequeath my left arm and hand to
George Washington, my second brother,
NV right arm and hand to my other
relatives my legs, nose and ears. Ny
money, 81, coo cash, now in the bank,
beaueaih to the physicians and surgeons
who carry out MY request BY dismember-
ing my body, and giving to each Of my
relatives the portion allotted 10 him or
her.
Horatio G.. Onderdonk, q brother Of
the Bishop Of New York, made provis-
ions in his will which would have turned
old Draeo green with envy Draeo was
strict. and well understood the meaning
of the expression ruling with rod Of
ir,n - but had Mr.. Onderlonk lived al
the time the old man was preparing his
famous code. he could have helped %
make il more binding. The last para
graph in the Onder,lonk will read as fol-
lows: "No heir must be an idler, slug
gard. profigzte, drunkard, gambler use
LIQUORS OF tobacco; 90 hunting or fishing
on sundays attend races enter BAR
room OF. porter house, neglect &c rise, Tor
breakfast and be ready for business by
nine o'clock, or get married before he or
she arrives at the age Of twenty i've
years. ~. ]. Sar.