Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-06-03
Through a
Woman's Eyes
By JEAN MENTION
Who Is Sane?


destitute" in an insane asylum left
behind him this last will and testa-
ment which has become famous among
beautiful documents as the "Madman's s
will':
81, Charles Lounsbury, being Of
| sound aud disposing mind and memory
do herewith make and publish this, my
last will and testament, in order, as
justly as may be, to distribute my in
tcrests 10 the world among succeeding
men.
THAT part Of my interests which is
known in law and recognized in the
sheep bound volume as my property
being inconsiderable and of no ac-
count, l make no disposal Of 1t in this
my will. MY right to live, being but
q life estate. is not at my disposal; but
those things excepted. all else in the
world l now proceed to devise and be.
queath.
Item-I leave to children e1clu-
sively, but only for the terms of their
childhood, all and every, the flowers and
fields and the blossoms of the woods.
with the right to play among them
freely, according to the customs of chill
dren, warning them Mt the same time
against thistles and the thorns. Ard
l devise to children the banks of the
brooks and the golden sands beneath
the waters thereof. and the odors Of
the viii lows that dip therein, and the
white clouds that float high above the
giant trees. And leave the children
the long, long days to be merry In a
thousand ways. and the night. and the
moon. and the train Of the Milky Way.
to wonder Mt, but subject. nevertheless.
to the rights hereinafter given to lovers.
ltem-I give to good fathers and
good little words Of praise and en-
couragement and all quaint pet names
and endearments, and charge said par.
cnts to use them justly. but generously
as the needs Of their children shnll re.
uuire.
''ltem-I devise to boys Jointly all
the useless idle field and common,
where ball may be played, all pleasan.
waters where one may swim, II snow.
clad hills where one may goact, an
oil stieams and ponds where one ma
fish, or where, when the grim winter
comes. one may skate, to have and 10
hold the same for the period Of their
bnyhood. and all meadows With the
clover blossoms and butterflies thereof,
the woods with their appurtenances. the
squirrels ani birds. and tho echoes and
strange noises, and all distant places
which may be visited together witn
the adventure there found. And give
to said boys each his own place ut the
fircside. at night. with all pictures that
ln In, th> I,p
enjoy without let or hindrance and
without any incumhrance or care.
"lten--To lovers ! devise their i'm.
aginnry world. with whatever they may
need. as the stars Of the sky, the red
roses by all the walls the bloom Of the
hawthorn. III" sweet strains Of music.
and aught else that may he desired to
figure t" each other the lastingness Of
beauty of their love.
"ltom--To the young men jointly I
devise and hequcath all hoistcrous. in.
spring sports "f revalry, and ] give
t" them the Aiisdain Of weakness. and
undauntcd confidence in their own
strength. Though they are rude. I
leave I" them the power to make last
ing friendships and Of possessing com.
pani"ns. and to them exclusively ! give
all merry songs and brave choruses to
sing with lusty voices.
.'Item--And to those who nre no
longer children or youths or lovers I
leave memVry, and bequcath to them
volumes Of the poems of Burns and
Shakcsp"a and Of other poets. II there
be others. 70 the end that they may
1.-Two the old days over again, freely and
fully without 1.-THE or diminution.
"Item--To our loved ones with snowy
crowns ] he'lmenfh the happiness Of old
age, tn" low" and gratitude "f their chill.
dr"n until they fall asleep
] wonder who was more sane-sinre
by sanity IL assumed n true sense ~
valucs--this penniless nan who realized
huw much he had still t" be1ueath. or
the world that called him destitute -