Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-11-23

The last picture of T. NJ. link.
"owN officials of lie Mars, Iowa, typ
~ ical little Middle Western town ct
10000 are faced with q problem that
would tax the Judgment of the wisest
of men.
They have been offered . $S!ooo,e 600 monu-
ment to a mans intense hatred of women.
But they have plenty of time to make de-
eision, for the gift will not be available for rs
pears.
The gift was offered the city by the win of
Townsend Murphy link, respected lawyer and
scholar, who asked that his entire eState-vari-
ously estimated at between $35, 900 and $50 600
be left in trust fund for rs years.
At the end of this time the entire amount
must be used to build and maintain woman
less library. Across the entrance of the library
must be Inscribed these words in stone:
NO WOMAN ADMITTED.
Not only this. No product Of any woman
must be contained In the library. No woman
must have anything 70 DO with the construc-
Ton, design, operation or maintenance Of this
enrique library. It is to be by men, Of men and
eor men only.
TIVE will Is even more o pwHzle 10 links fell
Low citizens than 10 the world ct large.
Elnk was known rs keen, alert attorney. He
practiced law for Al years in Northwest IOWA.
mcaading several churches. He was twice mar
cAed. And he always was gallant IN the social
e1rciss Of the town toward women.
Even his widow, q charming woman, 10 unable
% understand this strange last gesture q the
mRn she loved and lived with for FIVE years.
Under terms of the viii she must pay the trust
estate so . month TO continue residence in the
Zlnk home.
link, in the unique and carefully wOrded
document which he left behind, explains the
odd bequest in the following words:
MY intense hatred of women Il not of recent
erigin or development, or based upon any per-
sOnAl difference ever had with them, but is
the result Of my experiences with women OBJ
seryation Of them, and Study OF al literature
and philosophical works within my limited
knowledge relating therto"
This paragraph from 10 typewriter pages OF
legal terminoiogy and startling opinions and
directions, gives some insight 10 the mans per-
s0nality. His library was one Of the finest pri-
waite collections in the State Of Iowa and is
valued at more than SIS 600.
Included in this collection were more than
100 volumes and treatises On religion-Ca-
eholicism, Professionalism, Mohammedanism,
Buddhism, Theosophy-and the PHILOSOPHERS of
atheists. His friends credited him with having
oArefuIly read all these works. One man Sug-
gested the lawyers intense hatred for women
may have been q result Of frequent delving into
the works Of Schopenhauer, exponent of
pessfnism.
HOWEVER, two paragraphs IN his viii make
clear his attitude toward the sex, which
extended to his nearest relations his widow,
AIRS. Ida Bennison link Of LIE Mars, and his
daughter by his first marriage, Margretta
Becker resident OF Los Angeles Calf
The excerpts follow
'Pay to my daughter, Margretta T. Becker,
The sum of IS, provided she shall survive me.
n she shall not survive me- then this provision
shall be void
ST make no provision for my wife, Ida Benni-
wm link, owing to the prenuptial contract be-
tween us, which win be found attached to this
VIII but If she shall wish to reside in my pres
ent homestead, after my death, she shah have
option to rent it for $40 per month for such
time IS she wishes"
In an attractive bungalow the writer inter-
N1wed Mrs. link. She was dressed modestly in
gray and white dotted frock that suited her
medium height and figure. Her slightly gray
mir was arranged I'm becoming couture that
made q proper background for her regular
Features.
she was little more than middle-a aged and
seemed to fit the manner Of q gentlewoman one
would expect to preside over the household Of
3 man Of learning. There was nothing IN her
hktztude that reveals to the outsider her nus
bands animosity I'd rd women.
~You know ch O. I DO the reason tor
me terms OF the NJ she answered quietly.
II knew nothing the win until It was Med:
eA faCt. did not bw when e was made"