The Washington times., 1911-06-24
WILLISTON FISH AUTHOR OF
"A LAST WILL"
To the Editor Of The Times:


beg to call your attention to an error
Times of even date, entitled The Chill
dren's Heritage in Washington" AS to
the Last Will of Williston Fish" you
must mean Charles Lounsbury. For
II you will read the inclosed copy of
the Last VIII of Charles Lounsbury
Il have had said copy in my possession
for a. least ten years. you will see that
a mistake has been made, or else it's a
case OF
They copied all they could follow.
p-t ,ney couldn't copy my mind:
And I left them sweatin and stealin'
year and half behind.
-Kiplng
The incloseJ copy of WILL" together
many years ago by an old Chicago
lawyer who was at one time associated
with Charles Lounsbury. who was at
one time a wealthy and prominent
member of the Chicago bar, and who
in his later years lost his mind and
wealth and was committed to the Cook
County Asylum. at Dunning. where he
died penniless, leaving this unique will,
which-giving Lounsbury credit thereof
was copied in most of the magazines
Of that day.
Personally. I know nothing as to the
facts in the case, but l do know that
II my old Chicago lawyer friend ever
sees your article in which you give
''fit."
And I am sure. Mr.. Editor you would
not want that to happen. Not II you
know him as well as l know him, and
am sure that there are others who
- RALPH woRMELLE.
June 49,
Our correspondent is in error, and
vet we welcome the would be correc-
tion in the interest of the truth of
literary history. The Last Will" pur-
porting to be that of Charles Louns-
bury is one of the gems of the English
language. 1t deserves to be read and
treasured. The simplicity of style and
exquisite delicacy OF thought running
through it have but few parallels in
all the range of our literature.
In a new edition of the will, pub
lished in 1908, Williston Fish, a Chi
cago lawyer, explains that he wrote
this charming little composition in 1897,
and that it was published the follow
ing year in Harper's Weekly. In the
course of many reprintings it has un-
dergone what Mr.. Fish, with good
natured irony, calls constant improve
ment" at the hands of the literary pro-
fessors on newspapers. Sometimes
the head has been cut off; sometimes
beautiful wooden foot has been
spliced on" 1t is interesting to note
that in the very copy sent us by our
correspondent many of the Improve
ments" to which Mr. Fish alludes are
to be found.
Mr. Fish concludes his preface as
follows:
The name, Charles Lounsbury. Of the
devisor in the will, is a name in my
family of three generations ago-back
in York State, where the real owner Of
1t was a big, strong, all-around, good
kind of a man. l had an uncle. law
yer, in Cleveland. named after him,
Charles Lounsbury Fish, who was a
most burly and affectionate giant HIM
self and who took delight In keeping
the original Charles Lounsbury's mem
ory green. He used to tell us OF his
feats Of strength; that he would lift a
barrel by the chimes and drink from
State summer days he used to swing
his mighty cradle-undoubtedly "tur-
key-wing"-and cut swath like a bou-
levard through incredible acres of yell
low grain. His brain, my uncle always
added, was equal to his Drawn, and he
had a way of winning friends and ad-
mirers as easy and comprehensive as
taking a census. So l took the name
of Charles Lounsbury to add strength
and good will to my story.
The foregoing should set at rest all
speculation as to the history and au-
thorship of "a Last Will" 1t was
pleasant to think that it was a real
will, with a human interest story be-
hind it, but, while this is not true, it
still remains a work of consummate
beauty.
1t may be added that Williston Fish,
who is the assistant to the president
of the Chicago Railways Company, was
born at Berlin Heights, Ohio, January
Is, 1858, and was graduated from the
United States Military Academy in
1881. He was admitted to the bar in
1893. In addition to "a Last WILL" he
is the author of Short Rations," pub
lished in 1900, and has contributed
prose and verse to various magazines.
IITsl I De-. Hill