The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1907-02-15
Leaves His Estate to Pigs.

LAKE AINsLIE, CAPE BRETON, Feb.
1O.--Just to get even with his relatives,
who, he declared, had fawned on him for
years and derided him behind his back
while waiting for him to die that they
might inherit his life savings, Robert Mac
Donald bequeathed everything he owned
to his two pigs. The estate amounts to
about $50 and every cent is to go to
the porkers and their keepers.
Macdonald had no near kin, but dozen
distant relatives kept close track of him,
and he declared shortly before his death
that their only interest was in his money.
This belief soured him against the cousins,
but they were not aware of the fact and when
the old man passed away fortnight ago
they hastened to hear the will read. They
were greatly astonished and intensely in
dignant when they learned of the DISPOSE
tion of the property.
While Macdonald had never been
known to keep swine he no sooner learned
from his doctor that he must prepare to
die than he sent to neighboring farmer
and bought two young pigs, male and a
female. These he caused to be placed and
fed in pen at the rear of the house. He
then sent for his solicitor and dictated his
will, saying that if he gave his fortune of
So, 900 to his cousins it ''would be in the
hands of pigs who denied their identities"
and that he "might as we'll giveit to pork
ers which made no pretenses. "
By the terms of this unique document
the house is to be sold at auction. The
funds accruing from the sale are then to
be banked and the interest, together with
the income from all other funds possessed
by Mr.. Macdonald at the time of his
death, is to be used to feed and care for
the two pigs The attendant is to provide
pen at his own expense and receive for
rental and care the sum of So per week,
exclusive of the amount for food. The
attendant is also to be the executor, for
which service he is to receive the regular
legal fee.
1t is stipulated that when the pigs shall
become hogs and multiply their young
shall be cared for, as shall their offspring,
the fees to the attendant being raised fifty
cents per week for every six pigs he raises.
For every pig that dies he is to forfeit ten
cents week for ten. weeks, unless death
is due to hog cholera, when the forfeit is to
be waived. In event of illness among
the hogs the best veterinary in the prov
ince is to be engaged.
As the interest on So, 900 at PEE
cent amounts to but $500 per annum
and as the attendant fees and feeding viii
exhaust this amount the first year, th'
will provides that drafts may be made OIL
the principal Immediately after the first lit
ter of pigs is born. Thereafter the prin
cipal shall be used as needed until no casl
remains in the bank. At this time tn
hogs and pigs are to be sold and the none.
devoted to such local charities as the exec
utor may elect.
In case an epidemic takes off the hog
within given time all that remains Of tn
fund is to be given to three churches to b
used in caring for cemeteries. Thus, it
for the interest of the executor to see tina
his charges live as long as possible. Ex
perts in farming are now busy trying t.
figure out how long the $500 will last
They base their computations on the prob
ability that the litters will average abou
eight. There are as many answers to tn
| riddle as there are farmers.