New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-12-12
LEGACIES 10 CITIES

The will Of retired drug merchant Of Bos-
ton, which was filed in the probate office q few
days ago. includes some unusual municipal be-
quests. The list of general benehcences of from
$4,000 to $4,000 is SO long as to make the in
suument notable one; but more notable than
these because more unusual in this country
are the requests to municipalities
To the city of Boston there Is given q total
Of $4,000, divided into various funds. of which
the income alone may be used. The income Of
$4,000 is TO 80 for the purchase of gold med
ais for the pupils who have attained the best
general scholarship in the graduating classes of
the public high, Latin and normal schools: the
income of another $4,000 is for the purchase
OF silver medals for the pupils in the grammar
schools. The income of q fund of $4,000
(Which must be invested in city of Boston
bonds is to be expended in the care of the
four famous old cemeteries: that of $1,000 is
to be devoted to repairs (but not improvements
on the old State House: and that of $4,000 to
the preservation Of the oldest and largest trees
on Boston Common To the city of Bangor
Me-, there is bequeathed $1,000. the income of
which shall be spent for the purchase of silver
medals, as in Boston. To the city of Quincy
and to the town of Braintree $4,000 each is
given. the income OF which is to be used in the
care Of old cemeteries
| In so far as these requests relate to the lat
| total Of some 100000 remarkable in a conn
| try where. not many weeks ago. n fund of \
| quarter OF million dollars was found to ba va
| Deen Dequeathed TO the little city Of New-Red-
| ford. But the Boston requests reveal individ-
ualIty at once in their number and their char
acter, while the will itself is one more indica-
| ton Of the beginning Of n movement in this
country to leave money to cities and towns
This movement follows naturally the develop
] 1araf . Iy~ia lava
| upon the growth of a confidence in honest mu-,
nicipal administration. When once it becomes
the fashion-and legacies follow fashion as
surely as fashion follows often upon legacies-
it may be expected to assume great proper
lions.
In Europe It has long been a common occur
renee and some odd as we'll as excellent re-
suits have followed from It. PERHAPS the
budget of Paris is as good an Illustration as
any. It includes disbursements on account of
legacies for the workman or workwoman
living in Belleville or MOntmartre and having
the greatest number Of children; for rewards TO
the guardians of the peace of the city of
Paris" who have distinguished themselves bv
their services and their acts of courage and
duty, or to their orphans or agents: for widows
Of workmen Of the Eleventh Ward (arrondisse-
ment) who have died in defence of their coun-
try: for marriage portions for poor and good
young girls; for a needy woman, having chill
dren, whose husband has been killed either In
an accident or in the performance of a duty;
for unfortunate drummers and national guards
men. for the poor workman who shall most dis
tinguish himself by his work or his conduct; for
n good father of family; for the employe
born In Paris who has had the largest num-
Der of children. and so on, through long list
With us municipal benefcences seem more
likely TO take the form OF requests for public
works than for individuals, though. once the
custom of leaving money to the city becomes
established, there is no telling where it will