The morning times., 1897-01-25
GIVING HIS ESTATE AWAY
Professor Alexander Melville Bell
0bYiateS Will Contest.
His Children and Other Near ReIa-
tives Put Into Possession of
Valuable Real Estate.

Prof Alexander Melville Bell, the well
known litterateur and philanthropist Of this
city, who livesin commodicus home atNo.
l $50 Thirty-fiftn street northwest, has
put into practice one of the principles OF
his philosophy and has divided among his
nearest relatives Il portion Of his large
estate.
The property thus disposed of consists
entirely of real estate in this city and
in Anacostia, and in round numbers is
worth $50 900. The recipients Of his boun-
ty are his son, Dr. Alexander Graham Bell.
Miss Elsie NJ. Bell, the eldest daughter of
DR.. Bell, Marian II Bell a graudchld, and
Miss Mary Z. SimoDs, a niece, who resides
with the professor
The house in which the professor now
resides becomes the property OF his son,
Miss Bell received valuable house at the
corner OF Thirty-fifth and O streets north
west and to the others. Marian bell and
Mary Simons, a row each, or four houses,
the first on Thrift y-fifth street, between
o and = streets northwest, and the sec
ond, or Fillmore street. Anacostia.
Prof Bell was seen last night at his
couInodious home by reporter. Here. sur.
rounded by all OF the comforts and lux
uries that money is able TO supply, the
professor spends his time. Age is creep
ing upon him. as his long snow white hair
attests, and he is rarely able, especially
during the winter months, To make any
but the briefcst jaunts from his library,
Here he has gathered about himselfa host
of treasured volumes and here he devotes
himself TO study and sCientific inveStiga
| tion, occasionally giving vent To the re-
suits of his inquiries in brief pamphlets
bearing upon topics which attract his at
tention. Phonetics in all its branches has
formed o lifelong hobby of the professor,
and as the inventor OF great system Of
visible speech he has attained world wide
eminencc for his keen insight into mat
tiers pertaining to this field Of Scicacc.
The professors motives for the recent
division are numerous, and result from his
lifelong observation. Where there's a
will, there's a lawsuit" is a paraphrase
of an old proverb, in which the professor
| places great confidence, and one purpose
| back of his action was a desire to pre-
vent any ENHANCEMENT or controversy over
! the estate after his death. The nearest
reason to the professors heart, however,
| was his desircto see those whom he wished
to benefit by the property he has accumu-
| lated during his lifetime in full enjoy
! ment of it before be was called from their
| sight by the grim reaper. BY his act, also,
| he has relieved himself OF the burden that
| the mana cement Of real estate entails, and
considers the increased leisure, to be spent
! in his snug library among his books, nc
mean consideration in return for the in.
| come from his property
Prof. Bell has not robbed himself by the
transfers. The grim wolf will not howl at
| his door for the want of the 100000 that
| has passed from his estate, While he win
! have the satisfaction of seeing the benefits
| derived from it by his legatees.
| The professor last attracted the atten-
tion OF the public by formally renouncing
| allegiance to the British sovereign and be-
coming a citizen of the United States At
that time The Times felicitated the nation
| on so valuable an addition TO its citizen
ship, and in light Of the professors latest
act of broad-minded philosophy, again well
comes the professor to the nation of ma
! tions.