The Clarksburg telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1874-1926, 1912-08-29
Word PICTURE
IS BEAUTIFUL
A PAINTING OF INDRsCRIBABLE
LONELINESS IN WORDS.
SAID TO HAVE EMANATED FROM
A CRAZY MAN.

Justice Walter Lloyd Smith, who
preaides over the third department of
the appellate division of the supreme
COURT. brought with him to the dinner
Of the New York University Law
School Alumni Association, held in
the city of New York ON the night of
April 20, what he said was the most
remarkable document that ever came
into HIS possession. Others who read
the document. the last will and tesla
ment of Charles Lounsbury who died
insane in the Cook County Asylum. at
Dunning, Ill, were disposed to agree
with him. Here IT Is:
Il, Charles Lounsbury, being of
sound mind and dlsposing memory, do
hereby make and publish this, my last
will and testament, in order as justly
as may be to distribute my interest
in the world among succeeding men.
1 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 ac-
count, make disposal of in this, my
will. IN
my right to live. being but life
estate, is not at my disposal. but
these things excepted all else in the
world / now proceed to devise and be-
queath:
"Item-1 give to good fathers and
mothers, in trust for their children
all and every. the flowers OF the fields,
and the blossoms OF the woods, with
the right to play among them freely,
according to the customs of children.
warning them at the same time
against thistles and thorns. And /
devise to children the banks OF the
brooks and the golden sands beneath
the waves thereof, and the odors Of the
willows that dip therein, and the
whit clouds that float high over the
Il giant trees. And / leave the chill
dren of the long, long days TO be mer-
ry in, in thousand ways, and the
night and the moon and train of the
Milky Way to wonder at but subject
nevertheless to the right hereinafter
given to lovers.
"Item.-I devise Jointly all the
useful ideal fields and commons
where ball may be played; all the
pleasant waters, where one may
swim; AZ snow-clad hills where one
may coast, and all streams and ponds
where one may fish, or where, when
grim winter comes, one may skate;
to have and to hold the same for the
period Of their boyhood. And all
meadows with the clover blossoms
and butterflies thereof, the woods and
their appurtenances, the squirrels
and birds and echoes and strange
noises, and all distant places which
may be visited, together with the
adventures there found. And l give
to said boys each his own place al
the Preside at night, with all pictures
that may be seen in the burning
wood, TO enjoy without let or hind
rance and without any incumbrance
of care.
"Item-To lovers, devise their i'm
aginary world, with whatever they
may need; as the stars of the sky;
the red roses by the wall; the bloom
of the hawthorn; the sweet strains OF
music, and aught else by which they
may need: as the stars of the sky;
the lastlngness and beauty OF their
love.
'Item.-To young men jointly, 1 de-
wise and bequeath all boisterous, in
spring sports of rivalry, and I give
to them the dlsdain of weakness and
undaunted confidence in their own
strength, though they are rude. l
give them the power to make last
ing friendships, and OF possessing
companions, and to them exclusively
1 give all merry songs and brave
chorusses, to sing with lusty voices.
"Item.-And to those who are no
longer children or youths or lovers, l
leave memory, and bequeath to them
the volumes of the poems of Burns
and Shakespeare and of other poets,
If there be others, 30 the end that
they may live over the old days again
freely and fully, without 1.-THE or
diminution,
"Item.-To our loved ones with
snow crowns l bequeath the happl-
ness OF old age, the love and gratitude
of their childrn until they fall asleep"
MINES TO RESUME.