New-York tribune., 1920-07-04

THE Ward mansion in
= NeaCark, ". j., aOMch
had been the family home
for $50 gears
pathy for such hapless males as are
compelled to face the sunsets of
life without the solace of a
companion to make the waiting more
endurable? Or was it merely that
he looked over the field and decided
that the bachelor and the widower
had been the butt of the jokesmiths
long enough, and now was the time
to do something for them that would
be little more helpful and practical?
Certainly the weight of evidence
would seem to support the second
rather than the first theory, for the
late Marcus L. Ward seemingly pos
sessed all the advantages and quail
tications necessary for a happy and
prosperous married existence.
Not a Soured Life
In his youth he was as presentabl Bile
in appearance as the majority of the
young men in his circle, and so far
as known nothing occurred to turn
him against his women acquaint-
ances or women in general. In dis
position he was always genial and
good natured, and those who knew
him in his later days remarked upon
his fondness for a good story, his
amiable disposition and his hard
headed practically.
Yet, though the very nature of his
legacy proves that he recognized and
appreciated the unenviableness of a
lonely old age, he never married. 1t is
presumed that among the young
women in his set there were sew
eral who would have looked with
favor on an alliance with a member
of family as we'll known and highly
respected as his, but somehow he
never chose one Of them; or, if he
did-and this, of course, his friends
admit is possibility-the one he
chose did not favor him, and the
passing years continued to find him
a bachelor. Finally he seemed to
make it point to avoid all feminine
society entirely, and one Of the
stories told as to his reason for quit
ting the old home two and half
years ago and moving to the Essex
Club, in Newark, where he died, is
that the Y. w. C. A. built a club
house next to the family mansion
and the sight of so many young
women irritated him.
Didn't Care for Women
But whatever truth there may be
in this story it is a significant fact
that even so old and trusted friend
as John O. H. Pitney, whom he Sc
lected as one of the trustees Of his
estate without bond, was unable to
corroborate it. Mr.. Pitney and John
R. Hardin, the other trustee, served
with Mr.. Ward as directors of two
important corporations and knew
the testator intimately for many
years.
"Mr. Ward did not seem to care
for women, but that is all / know
about it," said Mr.. Pitney. "He
never impressed me as being en-
bittered against any one or any
thing. He lived the last two and a
half years at the Essex Club and
was always pleasant and agreeable
in his dealings with his friends. AS
to his recreations, he was fond of
! fishing, and the only grumbling he
did was when the fish failed to bite
we'll. AS to why he left all his
money, with the exception of other
specified bequests, to home for
bachelors and widowers any one can
guess as we'll as | can"
Mr.. Pitney, who is a brother OF
Justice Pitney of the United States
Supreme Court, admitted that many
of the friends of the late capitalist
had expressed surprise over the pro-
visions of the will, but added that ne
himself saw nothing so very strange
in it.
81 can very we'll understand that
Mr.. Ward saw need II providing
for bachelors and widowers who had