The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-07-11
vALUADLES FIND WAY
TO SAFE DEPOSIT BOX
HOW TRUST COMPANY WORKS
Each of Trusts Assigned to II Kept
In Separate Compartment-Wisd
and knowledge of Many Are at DIS
posai of Patrons.

Variety gives zest to life. 1t also
makes for life's responsibilities. HUI
manity's path from the cradle to the
grave is strewn with hazards and il
Is the unexpected that usually hap
pens Men and women insure their
homes. the personal property, them
selves against sickness and accident
and above all their lives. Then what
becomes of the policies? Very often
they are tucked away in some bureau
drawer. or equally insecure place. only
to he at the mercy of the laundering
thousemaid. fire, or the owners owr
gross carelessness. Infinitely more
| important are those documents which
relate to the disposition of estates
after death. How ofteA has 1t been
impossible for the prospective heirs.
even the attorneys OF the testator,
to discover a will. 1t IL not necessary
to go beyond the experience of al
most every individual to cite instances.
| 1t may be well esta blished that the
deceased left written instructions for
the disposition of his estate and 1t
may also be practically demonstrated
what the instrument contained. but
unless the will itself is forthcoming
tand is duly attested, its provisions, OF
of the dead man cannot he carried into
effect.
/ Coincident with the growing ten
dency of men of means to entrust
their prope rty TO the trusteeship Of the
modern trust company. Is the ere
lquency with which men and women
are seeking advice of the trust conn
II any officials regarding the making
of their wills and the care, with which
the willis once made in accordance
with law, are deposited in a secure
way for being produced in the probate
court at the proper time. Quite natu-
rally the trust company's safe deposit
departments are an important factor
lin instances of this sort. No safer
disposition can be made of a will or
| in fact of any document of value.
And, of course the deposits are by no
means restricted to valuable docu-
ments. Almost every conceivable ar
ticle of value, either intrinsically or
sentimentally. is finding it's way to
I the safe deposit boxes which the mod
ern trust company provides, combin
ling a minimum of safety at min
limum of expense. How often some
cherished heirloom, some keepsake.
some possession, around which the
memory of a beloved child has cast
sacred significance, is a constant source
tof worry lest it be lost or stolen. Some
old fashion daguerreotype. some ex-
lauisitely painted miniature of a loved
/ one, NAV be a keepsake, the safety
: of which is a very dear concern. Jew
elry. old silverware, bits of rare old
lace. letters of long ago period OF
ones life, faded scraps or paper.
now tied with lavender ribbons--Sotl-
venirs of a romance that VIII ne ier
fade so long as memory lasts--all
these not infrequently are made 10
seek the safety of the deposit vaules.
Turning to the more practical side OF
life, consider the protection that Ii
afforded deeds. contracts, mortgages,
leases, pension papers, partnership
agreements. bank books. certificates of
Is4aek-atfa- hahtis,-ett.-==-4zIehe- US
almost incalcula BILE. And the scope
OF the trust company care does not
END here How often do We fEd in
Wills the specific bequest of law
hundred or a few thousand dollars for
the perpetual care Of cemetery i1t.
Very frequently the executors will set
aside a bond Of two or few shares
OF stock, for this purpose, and give
the carrying ont of the trust to a
trust company. Instances are n"t
3infreuuent where in trusts of of this
sort some of the longer term bonds
some extending almost into perpetuity
are given to trust companies Tor
this most commendable purpose. To-
the Chinese the tomhs of their ances-
tors are among the most sacred eie-
tments of life, and the Occidental is
rapidly emulating the Oriental in his
ancestral reverence.
| To ~>eh of the trusts reposed In IL
the modern trust company assigns
separate compartment. The affairs
IL .nnnaCfinn
the interests OF Smith. Each trust is
a separate and distinct responsibility
on the corporation. Each mas It's own
special place and record among the
matters which are to he conserved IN
violate and intact. While the wisdom
land the knowledge OF the many are
lemployed for the general advantage
tof all the many and varied trusts, tie
component parts of these varying IN
iterests are kept separate and distinct.
No matter, therefore. how sacred the
trust, no one, except the possessor dur
ling life and the executor after death,
lean obtain knowledge OF the possess
sion which the company has In GUS
tody.
| 1t not necessary to recall here the
Intimate nature of some of the trusts
| reposed In this connection. or to more
THAN mention the confidence Wild
which all COMMISSIONS OF pei sohIi
| nature are accepted and maintained.
The work of d trust company Is prac-
ltically infinite. SO far as estates ana
! personal possessions are concerned.
From the woman. who ts mortal dread
! OF being buried alive directed that an
officer of a trust company drive
sharp instrument through her heart,
to the man, who dying abroad directed
/ that the custody of his ashes. ana
their final disposition be In charge of
his executor. which was trust COM
pany, these Argus-eyed and many
tentacled corporations each day dis
charge obligations with an accuracy
and fidelity in keeping with the record
/ of more than century during which
not a dollar of trust funds has been
ilost through the dishonesty OF trust
official
Government Contract