Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-11-08

the grave. The will was written the year In
which Mr. Knill died in 1924, and the ceremony
has been carried out faithfully ever fifth year
since.
It Is when dealing with former spouses.
however that some wills become excruciatingly
funny. Witness. for instance, the one of an
individual who died in London in 1871 and
who referred to his wife as follows: Seeing
that have had the misfortune to be married
to the aforesaid Elizabeth who ever since our
union. has tormented me in every possible
way; that, not content with making game of
all my circumstances, she has done all she
could to render my life miserable. Heaven
seems to have sent her into the world solely
to drive me out Of It. The strength of Samson,
the genius Of Homer the prudence Of Augustus,
the skill of Pyrrhus. the patience Of Job, the
philosophy Of Socrates the subtlety of Hanni-
bal, the vigilance of Hermogens, would not
suffice to subdue the perversity of her charac-
ter. No power on earth can change her."
pounds to the husband in case his widow
should remarry. adding significantly, "but him
rs gets her II deserve it,.
But different spirit has also been shown,
as witness, for instance, the win Of Chief
Justice John Marshall who spoke Of his wife
as one. whose sainted spirit has fed from
the sufferings inflicted on her in this lne,"
p requesting his daughter to remember that her
mother twas the most afectionate Of mothers"
Gouverneur Morris the celebrated orator and
statesman Of Revolutionary days was another
man who had great affection for his wife.
Indeed, so much so, that after beQueathing her
q very handsome income he also provided that
In case she ever remarked the income should
be doubled.
When wit appears in wills it usually has q
sting in 1t. One of the best known illustrations
Of this was the will of Edward w. Montague,
the son Of Lady Marie Montague, Of literary
renown. After some requests, the win con-
tinues thus: 81 do not give his lordship any
further part of my property because the best
part of that he has contrived to take already.
To Sir Francis-I give word of mine be-
cause he has never had the good fortune to
keep his own. To Lord MI give nothing
because know he will bestow 1t on the poor.
To Mr.. K the author, for putting me in his
Travels give five shillings for his wit, Unde-
TERED by the charge of extravaganza To Sir
Robert VI leave my political opinions, never
doubling he can well turn them into cash. as
( he has always found such an excellent market
in which to change his own
Similarly, few wills have been more
annoying to near relatives than that Of q certain
DR.. Dunlop, from Scotland In 1t he said, II
leave all property I may be possessed Of to my
sisters, Maggie and Betsy: the former because
she Is married to a minister whom-may God
help him-she henpecks: the latter because
she Is married to nobody, nor Is likely TO be,
for she Is an old maid and not marketable.
leave my silver decanter to the oldest son OF
Old John, rs the representative Of the family.
I would have left it to old John himself but
ne would have melted 1t down to make tenn
perance medals and that would have been
sacrtlege. leave to Parson Chavassie my big
silver snuff box as a small token Of gratitude
TO him for taking my sister Maggie, who no
man OF taste would have taken"
And, too. there Is the viii Of Scotchman
containing the following significant item: Il
bequeath my two worst watches to my son,
because know he Is sure to dissect Them