New-York tribune., 1910-12-28
JOHN LA FARGE'S WILL
It's Bearing Upon the Probable
Disposition of His Paintings
His Executrix Authorized
to Treat with Four
Museums.

As IS shown by the dispatch printed De-
low the will Of the late John La Fargo.
who died at Providence last month, has
lust been opened in the Probate Court at
NeWnort II is described as an unusual
document but Mr.. La Farge's disposition
of his estate is in line with the ideas al
ways shown by him in connection with his
works of art. FIe liked 70 know just Where
these were going, and 1t was characteristic
of him TO make his will an instrument
toward the depositlng of his productions IN
galleries selected by himself His plan, IL
supported by the institutions in question:
will distribute his paintings and drawings
among the Metropolitan Museum In New
York the Carnegie Museum at F1ttspurg
and the public museums a Worcester and
Seattle.
In naming Miss Grace E. Barnes as his
execu+rix Mr.. La Fargo chose for the ad-
rainistration of his estate the person most
familiar with his purposes. His private
secretary for the last ten or twelve years
of mis- life and closely associated with him
in the transactions of his studio as well
a. in his business affairs generally. MISS
Barnes has naturally been assigned TO the
closing I'D Of all those matters.
Neunort. r /, Dec 27-The viii OF the
late John La Fargo was opened in the Pro-
hate Court here to-day and proved TO be
a,, unusual document. The will was sent 70
the Probate Court three weeks ago, under
seal and with Instructions that il be opened
and offered for probate on December q 1t
Was drawn bv the testatOr himself and was
dated at New York City, April %. 1871"
None of the members OF Mr.. La Fargo
family is mentioned in the will nor is there
sny fntination whatever OF the size or ms
estate. nor does he leave any specific De
quest in terms OF cash.
Grace T. Barnes, of Larchmont, \. y,
is named as executrix, with the request
that she be not required to furnish bonds
Practically the entire distribution OF the
estate is left to the judgment OF the execu-
triE
The will provides that ali drawings OF the
testator be offered to the Metropolitan
carnegie. Worcester and Seattle museums
for a sum TO be determined by Ihe eH-
ecutrix. and if tie offers are not accepteu
nv the muse ums named the drawings are
20 he sold at public auction. The paint
fnes of the artist are to be disposed OF III
+he same manner. with the exception that
private sale is provided instead OF pubic
auc-ion In the event that the museums do
not care to purchase the paintings al the
prices named by the executrix-
The books. studio effects and all other
articles of personal property belonging 10
the testator are TO be disposed of by the
sxacutrix in the most advantageous man
ner. and the proceeds from such sales are
IN be distributed by her among certain per
sons named in q separate paper. Provision
is made that the royalties from the books
81 the testator shall be paid 10 the ex-
ecu-rix. who is to continue their publica-
ton
All letters are 10 be looked over by the
execI,trix, who is empowered 10 destroy
them or dispose of them in any way she
secs fit The testator expressed the wish
that all expenses of his interrnent. the
building OF a tomb and his debts, be paid
from the proceeds of the sale of his vari-
aus effects. and that the remainder be dis
tributed among such museums and other
nublio institutions as his executrix may
designate One paragraph of the VIII says:
IT wish to be buried in Woodiawn Gene
tery, IN the manner described and known 70
my, exacutrix and Awoki." Awoki was MIR.
Ia Farge's japanese servant