The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1907-06-04
LEFT A BEAUTIFUL WILL.
joys Of Childhood, Happiness of Low
".. ers and the Calm of Old
Age.

Justice Walter Lloyd Smith, who
presides over the third department
of the appellate division Of the su-
preme court, brought with him to
the dinner Of the New York Univer-
sity Law School Alumni association
Saturday night what lie said was the
most remarkable document that ever
came into his possession. Others who
read the document, the last will and
testament Of Charles Lounsbury, who
died in the Cook county asylum at
Dunning, Ill.,, were disposed to agree
:, with him. Here it is:
"I, Charles Loumsbury, being Of
sound mind and disposing memory DO
hereby made and publish this, my
last will and testament, in order as
justly as may be to distribute my i'll
terest in the world among succeeding
mem.
"That part of my interest which
| is known in law and recognized in
the sheep-bound volumes as my pro-
perty, being inconsiderable and Of no
account, make no disposal Of in this
my will.
"My right to live, being but life
estate, is not at my disposal, but
these things excepted all else in the
world 1 now proceed to devise and
bequeath-
! "Item: I give to good fathers and
4 mothers, in trust for their children,
n all good little words of praise and
h encouragement, and all acquaint pet
4 names and endearment, and I charge
4 said parents to use them justly and
[ generously, as the needs Of their chill
dren may require.
"Item: | leave to children inclu-
sively, but only for the term of their
childhood, all and every, the flowers
Of the fields, and the blossoms of
L, the woods, with the right to play
among them freely according to the
customs of children, warming them at
the same time against thistles and
thorns. And devise to children the
banks Of the brooks, and the golden
sands beneath the >Aatcrs thereof,
and the odors Of thc willows that
4 dip therein, and the white clouds that
" float high over the giant trees. And
I leave the children the long, long
: days to be merry i'll, in a thousand
ways, and the night and the moon and
the train of the Milky Way to won-
der at but subject nevertheless to
|, the rights hereinafter given to 10y
y oIs.
: "Item: devise to boys jointly all
/ the useful idle fields and commons
where ball may be played; all pleas
ant waters where one may swim; all
snow-clad hills where one may coast,
and all streams and ponds where one
may fish, or where, when grim Win
ter comes, one may skate; to have and
to hold the same for the period Of
them boyhood. And all meadows
with the clover blossoms and butter
flies thereof, the woods and their ap-
y purtenances, the squirrels and birds,
and echoes and strange noises, and
B all distant places which may be Wis
tied, together with the adventures
tHClc LollHN. 1AHu give ~ Salu uOyS
each his own place at the fireside at
night, with all pictures that may be
seen in the burning woods, to enjoy
without let on hindrance and with
out any mcumbrance or care.
"Item: To lovers, I devise their
imaginary world, with whatever they
may need; as the stars of the sky;
the red roses by the wall; the bloom
of the hawthorn; the sweet strains
Of music, and aught else by which
they may desire to figure to each
i other the lastingncss and beauty of
their love.
h "Item: To young men jointly, I
N devise and bequeath all boisterous, in
Fl spining sports or rivalry, and I give
\ to them the disdain of weakness and
a Anndaunted confidence in their own
b. Sstrength, though they are rude; I
B Qeave memory, and I bequcath to
3. Friendships, and of possessing COM
a apanions, and to them exclusively I
q give all merry songs and brave chor-
Buses, to sing with lusty voices.
FAN a"ltcm: And to those who arc no
a 1onger children or youths or lovers,
,>$R}urns and Shakespeare and of other
k4>$ooets, if there be others, to the end
sNFhat they may live over the old DAYS