Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1906-10-27
The Duty of Making a Will.

Washington Star.
The Duty of Making a Will.
We brought nothing into this world.
and il is certain we can carry nothing
out, is an old saying of the prophet
which is verified every day in human ex-
perience, and ! take pleasure in answer
ing this letter from woman reader of
The Examiner;
will you not kindly give us women
some Information on the making of
wills! This subject is of vital import
ance to the home. Some of US and our
children have suffered cruelty through
the neglect of those to whom we were
dear to make a will. If you will take
the matter up know YOU will be able to
impress upon husbands and fathers the
importance of this matter?'
All that we have we somehow accumu-
late ON the road-by Inheritance if the
people before us had anything to be-
queath; by our own eXertions, or by
sheer good fortune.
Luck and pluck march together and
help some of US to honorable independ-
ence as we journey through life. But we
take no luggage. no houses, nor stocks,
nor jewels, nor gold with us at the jour
ney's end.
1t is wise while in perfect poise Of
mind and body, while health is unbroken
and the days are full of cheerful activity.
to decide what shall be done with ones
property when one leaves it to other
hands.
Men and women have a superstitious
shrinking from this manifest duty-in
many eases as if they heard the tolliug
of a funeral knell in the soiemnity of
making a will. Yet no one will die an
hour sooner for having thus set his
hD1ISp pf lifn in npIap Il, a..
easy for his heirs.
Husbands who love their wives de-
votedly. and realize with a shudder that
these objects of their love would be ex-
posed to suffering if left without pro-
vision, should not trust to the arbitra-
ment OF chance. They should make a
VIII. Generous provision should be made
TOR a wife during her entire life
As rule, it is churlish to direct that
a wife shall lose her husbands fortune
II she marres again. Yet man may
nave kindred or children who in Justice
should inherit what is his and if his
WIDOW marrleS 1t may not he Just that
she should carry his wealth and tack it
on to the house of another
trouble comes from neglect to make
Will of any sort
The other day in MARYLAND n he
reaved woman found herself suddenly
almost penniless, the little fortune of her
husband-enough to make a comfortable
provision for her old age going to other
relatives and only pittanee coming to
her.
Yer the man had always intended to
make Il will. leaving his wife his sole
legatee.
Good intentions. evaporating in thin
air. are the deepest disappointments
known TO morials.
People often say: why should we
bother about a last will and testament?
We are not rich"
Every home has its little store of
treasures, heirloOms from the past. Old
furniture, curiOs brought from east and
west, spOlls of travel, books, pictures,
rugS-tiiings that make the home at
tractive.
In complex relationships. where there
are children Of successive marriages, and
possibly some irritation between the sons
and daughters of the older and the
younger branch. a viii should be made
with extreme care. Few men should
trust themselves TO do n thing so import
ant and far-reaching in its consequences
without legal advice.
Choose a competent attorney and have
your will made with reference To the eX
listing statutes of your state is the course
of true wisdom.
\ bed of pain or illness is no place for
the making of Il will.
Racked with fever vague with deliri-
un. burdened with weakness, man is
in no condition to execute such an in
strument.
1t belongs to the duties incumbent on
us when we are il, Il state of normal
health. and when our powers are vigor-
Gus and the outlook is for years Of cheer
and prosperity una bated.-M. t. Sang
ster, in Exchange.