The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1914-02-24
NOBEL'S WILL
MlSINTERPRETED
That Is Charge Of Witness 10
BenefaCtOr'S Testament.
REAL OBJECT OF PRIZES

ny 0Vedt tuedet puS f1aVUtSdPPeu
Financially, and Not as Honorary
Awards to Those Whose Success 10
Already Assured.
| The bestowal of the world prizes Of
Alfred Nobel thus far has not carried
out the ideas inspiring the bequest Of
the famous Swedish benefactor. He
did not intend them for world famous
men and women whose success is al
ready assured, but meant them to be
an encouragement for those inspired
by great ideas. but hampered by lack
of means. This is the assertion Of
Leonard Hwass one of the witnesses
to Nobel's will, in a remarkable article
published In the German newspaper
Die Woche and translated for the New
York Post.
The editor of Die Woche makes the
following preliminary explanation:
"a report, originating in the Stock
holm Aftonbladet, which recently APP
peared in the German press. to the eff
feet that a witness to Alfred Nobels
will had declared that the disposition
of the Nobel prize hitherto made de
waited from the objects of the founder,
determined us to prevail upon him to
record his personal recollections of the
great philanthropist and give a more
definite basis to his objections"
Then follows Mr.. Hwass' statement
1t is to the effect that the great bene-
factor intended that his prizes should
encourage struggling young persons
and that he had no thought Of honr
Orary prizes for those who have sue
ceeded.
Money For Ideal Cultural Objects.
"Dr. Nobefs WILL" says Mr.. Hwass,
''was drawn up in the Swedish Ian
guage and provided that of the 36.O0O,-
600 Swedish crowns (40.000.O00 marks
which he bequeathed. only 100000
should go to collateral relations, the en-
tire remainder to be devoted to ideal
cultural objects.
my having signed this greatest of
all cultural wills makes it my bounden
duty to strive that It's provisions should
be, carried out in perfect accord with
the purposes of the testator.
"a few more decades and there win
be no contemporary of Nobel living.
But as long as man shall walk this
earth and engage in cultural pursuits,
in centuries to come-yea, In the most
distant ages-the blessings of his last
will should descend. like the bright
rays of the aurora, upon the spiritual
labors of all the peoples of the earth
This thought of being linked by my
signature with the human aims and
hopes of the remote future often thrills
me with singular force and bids me
break silence, all the more since have
but too frequently been unable to con-
prehend the cause of the awards, No
bells voice itself seeming to urge me
to protest in his name.
Intent Not Carried Out.
For the unselfish and personally
most conscientious work of the execu-
tors entertain the profoundest re.
spect, for their work is no easy one.
but feel year by year with increas-
ing sorrow that in the discharge Of
their difficult task they do not carry
out the will and real intent of the
great departed because no one goes
beyond the wording of the will to
bear testimony to his spirit-a duty
which, as a cosignatory OF his last
will, is incumbent upon me. for If the
last witnesses, too. should disappear
without breaking silence no revealing
light would ever enlighten the judg
ment of the future administrators
''The Nobel prize, therefore-and this
is my first contention, which, as a test
amentary witness, ] would lay down
for all time-should never be bestowed
as an honorary prize, but as promo
tive prize for the encouragement of
new and beneiicient work. According
to this principle more people such as
really had practical use for it would
by this time have received it than such
as, though. no doubt. amply deserving
it, We're no longer in need Of it,