The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-12-25

'Ip the name of God, amenW wrote
Peter Magee; for this was to be holo-
graphic will, and he was proud to think
that he knew as much as the ablest lawyer
in the land when it came to drawing tes-
lament devising a vast estate. an the
name OF God, amen!" he read, generously,
after he had written it. 'That sounds
rich and round and holy" he unused. at
means to say that the making of will is a
formal acceptance of the inevitabllty OF
death, and that as to die is to come face to
face With God will is addressed as much
to heaven as to earth.
Let me impress upon myself the vast
and awful sublimity of the thought. For
the shadows are drawing about me and 1t
is comfortable to feel that old age and
completed life do not lay laggard hand
on the latch when Death knocks at the
door, and that the possessor of great wealth,
gathered by his own true hand, may face
the last summons without fear"
Mr.. Magee paused and reflected, and
then added this to what he had already
written: 81, Peter Magee, being of sound
and disposng mind
"Ha, hap he softly chuckled. "See how
glibly dying man can say that he is in
full possession of his faculties! And is it
any different when the testator is not in
the article of death? Such of my heirs as
will be inspired with discomfort by the
| provisions OF this testament will bring
| overwhelming proof of my inability TO
express my wishes with that justice which
wisdom inspires"
| He looked about the shabby room of
which he was the lonely occupant, smiled
grizzly at the cheap candle which cast its
wavering glow upon his writing paper,
and which filled the room with shifting.
shambling and ragged shadows, drawn
thither from every corner of the broad
demesne which human suffering claims
for its own. He glanced down over his
writing-pad at the tattered crazy-quiIt
which covered his emac1ated frame.
"They will prove" he ruminated, ethat
the mere fact of my selecting this
squalid cham Der in which to make my will
and die, away from doctors grotesquely
solemn under reflections upon the fee
which my estate will yield them. away
from long jawed heirs who prowl through
the big house noiselessly, like unsubstan-
tial ghouls-all this will be employed as
convincing proof that [ was not of sound
and disposing mind; that is, if the will
should not happen to suit them.
"Now, it will not suit them if it gives
them less than they think they ought to
have or might secure by fighting it in the
courts. Mind you, it is not ma will that
they respect. And oh, that is the wretch
edness of DEATH While we live and our
money makes law of our word we are
mighty, but the moment the poor rotting
clay turns cold it is not even useful as car
rion for their beaks! And so all the power
and all the brains and cunning and con-
irving, all the soul and essence, all that
accumulated wealth stands for as the his
tory of its gatherer and as the imperish-
able part of him that goes swinging and
surging down the ages for good or ill-all
the spirit and meaning of it are forgotten,
and only the meaner and grosser and
wholly degrading part of it lures with its
glitter and challenges bitterness and I'M
rest with its sordid influence.
at is sweet and wholesome for million
aire to die in the aspect of poverty.
Gin the name of God, amenp Ave.
mark that. We may not call in God as a
partner in devise unless he has earned
share in the estate, and this right can have
accrued only through his cooperation in
the acquisition of the property
"Mercy! In how many cases does that
fact exist?
But this assumption of Gods conniv-
ance in the making of will is only a
matter of form! Had l time, and were a
will the proper medium for expressing nv
views on this phase of the case 1 might
put into this precious document some very
interesting observations on the subject of
form. They would concern in general
matters that have form without substance.
IL | should do that it would be merely
adding to the evidences of my mental
incapacity, and as will is very
important affair it's maker must
conceal the truth with wise assiduitv
even though in so doing he deceive him
self. wonder how many rich will-makers
would die content if, while they were max
ing it. they should suddenly develop the
ability to bring themselves face to face
with truth and justice, that unailing def
milton of God!
"The strangest coincidence in all the
combinations of circumstances that have
brought me to this extremity is that 7
should happen to be dying and making
my will on the eve of Christmas. I can
explain to my own satisfaction the peculiar
thoughts that are filling my mind to- night
by considering the influences which gen.
eral preparation for this day have exer
cised upon my understanding, upon which
the tenderness of death has already had