Martinsburg statesman. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1869-1906, 1906-07-13
CHARACTER IN WILLS.
Odd Requests Made allowing Feel
Ing Toward Certain
People.

~~f'~s
Much Of mans character may be
known from the kind Of win he
leaves behind him. Very few men,
therefore. are really known till they
are dead. for some presumably sane
people have LEFT most eccentric docu-
ments which disposed Of their worldly
goods.
A man named Sanhorn. who lived
and died In Massachusetts,, made will
which bequeathed his body to Har-
ward University. and especially to the
manipulation OF oliver Wendell Holmes
and Louis Agassiz." He requested
that his skin should be made into
drumheads. to become the property
OF his lifelong friend, leader OF Co
hasset drum corps, on condition that
on Bunker Hin at sunrise, June IL,
each year. he should beat the drum to
the tune of Yankee Doodle" On
one drumhead was to be inscribed
Pope's Universal Prayer" and on the
other the Declaration of lndepend-
ence." THE remainder OF my body"
he continues. unless used for anatom.-
cal purposes, to he composted for
fertilizer to contribute 10 the growth et
an American elm TO he planted IN
some rural thoroughfare, that the
weary wayfarer NAV rest and the in
noeent children may play beneath
Its outrageous shade. rendered lux
uriant by my ren..ias''
Jeremy Bentham. who was the
founder Of the school OF utilitarianism.
beqneathed his hedy to nr, South
wood Smith for dissection, desiring
that lecture be delivered over X to
medical students and the public ger
orally. He had made many expert
ments with embalm'sg fluids. and 81
the day Of his death declared himself
satisfied with the preparation aub;ait-
ted 10 him As he examined the tlni1
his last words we're. THAT viii do
and In few minutes he was dead e.
had desired that after his death his
body should be dissected and then enl-
balmed and dressed In his accustomed
clothes. 70 appear as natural as pos
sible, Seated In his old arm char.
he wished to be placed al the banquet
table Of his friends when they mnt on
any great occasion 10 discuss PHI
osophy or philaathropy These So
es we're carefully carried out by tge
favorite disciple to whom the body
was bequeathed.
A certain DIR. Ellery, Of London. who
was a distinguished member Of the
Society Of Friends, inserted this clause
in his will.--'Item--T bequeath my
heart TO Mr.. W.. anatomist: my lungs
to Mr.. r., In order that they may pre-
serve them from decomposition; and
declare that II these gentlemen shall
fail to execute these my last wishes
will come-if 1t be by any means pos
sible--- and torment them till they com
ply"
A quaint bequest was made by q
man in Staffordshire, England, who
asked that the sum Of twenty shil-
lings be paid yearly to some poor man,
TO 20 about through the church dur
Ing the sermon to keep the people
awake and the dogs out Of the church.
In the will OF MIR. Parker. probated
In London In 17s5. there was this
clause:--1 Will and beq1eath the sum
Of fifty pounds to Elizabeth, whom.
through my foolish fondness. made
my wife. without regard to fame, fam
ily. or fortune, and who in return has
not spared, most uninstly. to accuse
me OF every crime regarding human
nature save highway robbery.
An old WeIshman who. in his nlne-
ty-cighth year. saw At to make
new will, came to the point briefly and
speciically:--T give to my old faith
ful servant. Esther Jones, the whole
that am possessed Of. either In per-
sonal property. land or otherwise
She Is q toierable good woman. but
would be much better II she had not 50
clamorous tongue. she has, however
one great virtue. which is . veil to her
foibles-strict honesty"