Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1910-08-11
VanderbiH's Last Problem

dore, in all his active life, tried to
keep well informed and thoroughly
abreast of the important movements
OF the day not only In business, but
in all lines of human~endeavor This
habit chung to him all the while that
he lay on what proved to be his death
bed, though, as | look back on it now.
he was less interested In railroad
news than in any other kind | sup
pose this was because he felt he knew
enough already about railroads. Any
way, no sooner would | greet him
than he would ask: Sammy, what has
happened today? Skim over the eve
ming papers for me-
Well, one evening, In 1876, |
brought him the news that the will Of
the first of Americas great merchant
princes, A. T. Stewart, had been Of
fered for probate, and It's details made
public. OF course, | told him that
Mr.. Stewart had bequeathed the great
er part of his large fortune to Judge
Henry Hilton, who had been for many
years Mr.. Stewards leading counsel.
What's that?' exclaimed the COM
modore, Gave his money to Judge
Hilton? What for? Are you sure
you're right
"Thereupon, to confirm what l had
said, read all that was printed In the
evening papers concerning the details
Of the remarkable will that was filing
a continent with establishment.
For perhaps minute the commo-
dore silently digested what | had read.
Sammy he said, finally, when you go
home tonight. | want you to leave
those newspapers with me. Tomorrow
I will have somebody read once more
what they say about Alexander Stew
arts will want to think about It.
Next day, when | went to see the
commodore and tell him the latest
news, noticed that the papers of the
evening before lay on the bed beside
him. They were each turned to the
page which told about Mr.. Stewards
will. AS was his custom, the commo-
dore asked me what had happened
during the day, and then talked lit
tie business, but all the time | could
see what was uppermost In his mind.
At last he came out with it.
Sammy he said, I've been think
ing all day about Alexander Stewards
will l can't explain it. l don't know
what he was thinking of when he
made it. The only thing that has fixed
itself In my mind Is this: How was
1t possible for a man who was the
greatest merchant In the country,
who began with nothing and made a
fortune of millions, who was always
clear-headed In business matters-how
was it possible for a man Of that kind
to make such an utter damn fool of
himself when he came to write his
will?'
"'Well, uncle said, 4 don't know.
I'm sure. And from what | hear. a
great many other people evidently are
wondering the same thing
"'They are, eh?' exclaimed the COM
modore. Then why don't they find out
what made him do it that way? l bet
I'd find out if l could get out of here
"And maybe he would have found
out" concluded Mr.. Barton; but he
never got out. yet TO the last ne
was clearly puzzled about the form Of
Mr.. Stewards will. 1t was probably
the last earthly event in which he
took a deep and abiding interest. Time
after time he would musfngly say to
me: Sammy, l can't understand how
Alexander Stewart came to write that
fool will of his; can't understand
it,"
Copyright. 1910. by E. ]. Edwards)