The Chanute times., 1908-03-27
THE WILL OF CHARLES
LOUNSBURY

published in Harpers Weekly @
September 8, 1898. 1t is howeve
a beautiful conception of life, writ
ten by Mr.. Willlston Fish, a gradu
ate Of West Point, who served six
years in the army, but is now a
prominent lawyer In Chicago. II
has since appeared in many other
publications and was read by JUS
tice Waller Lloyd Smith, at New
York University Law School
Alumni dinner in an after dinner
speech about year ago. Ne pro-
nounced it the most remarkable
doaument that ever came into his
possession.
W, Charles Lounsbury, being Of
sound mind ard disposing memo,y
do hereby make and publish this,
my last will and testament, in order
as justly as may be 10 distribute my
interest in the world among succeed
ing men.
"That part of my interest which
is known in law and recognized in
the sheep bound volumes as my
property, being inconsiderable and
of no account I make no disposal
of In this, my will.
"My right to live, being but a
life estate, is not at disposal. but
these things excepted all else in the
world l now proceed to devise and
bequeath-
"liem; I give TO good fathers
and mothers, in trust for their chill
dren, all good little words of praise
and encouragement, and all quain,
pet names aud endearments, and
charge said parents to use them
justly and generously, as the needs
of their children may require.
"Item; l leave to children in.
cluslvely, but only for the term ot
their childhood, all and every, ths
flowers of the fields, aud the bios s.
SONS OF the woods, with the RICH,
to play among them freely accord
ling to the customs of children,
warning them at the same time
against thistes and thorns. And
devise to children the banks of th,
brooks, and the golden rands be
meath the waters thereof and tn,
odots of the willows that dip there
in, aEd the white clouds that foa
high over the giant trees. And
leave the children the long, Ions
days to be merry in, in a thousand
ways, and the night and the moon
aud the train of the Milky Way tc
wonder at but subject nevertheless
to the rights hereinafter given to
lovers
"1tem: l devise to boys jointly
all the Useful idle fields and commons
where eall may be played; all plea
SAINT waters where one may swim;
all snow clad hills where one NAV
coast, aud all streams and ponds
where one may fish, or where, when
grim winter comes, one may skate,
10 have and to hold the same for
the period of their boyhood. And
all meadows with the clover bios
soTs aud butterflies thereof, the
woods and their appurtenances, the
squirrels and the birds, and echoes
aad strange noises, and all distant
places which may be visited, to-
gether with the adventures there
found, And l give to said boys
each his own place at the freside at
night, with all pictures that may be
seen in the burning wood, to enjoy
without let or hindrance and with
out any incsmDrance Of care.
"Item: To lovers, devise their
imaginary world with whatever they
may need; as the stars of the sky; \
tle red roses by the wall; the bloom
# the hawthorne; the sweet strains
Of music, and aught else by which
hey may desire to figure to each
other the lastingn and beauty of
their love. II
"Item: To young meA jointly, l
devise and bequeath all bois,erous.
Inspiring sports of rivalry, and /