LEGACY TO EIRE

Grey River Argus, 18 February 1944, Page 5

LEGACY TO EIRE

From Mrs G. B. Shaw FOR SOCIAL EDUCATION 8.0.W. ' RUGBY, Feb 16. The late Mrs. Charlotte Frances Shaw,- the wife of Mr. George Bernard Shaw, who died on September 12, left a gross estate of £154,967. and a net personality of £150,967. The late Mrs. Shaw left a large portion of her estate to conquer shyness among the people of her native Ireland, and to further art and social intercourse among them. The passage in her will dealing with the conquering of shyness stated: “In the course of a long life, I have had many opportunities of observing the extent to which most highly-instruc-ted and capable persons have their efficiency defeated, and their influence limited for tihe want of any organised instruction and training for personal contacts, whether with individuals or with popular audiences, without which their knowledge is incommunicable (except through books; 1 ) and also how the authority which their abilities should', give them is made derisory by their awkward manners; and how ■ their employment in positions for which they have valuable qualifications is made socially impossible by vulgarities of speech and other defects as easily corrigible by teaching and training as simple illiteracy My experience and observation have convinced me that a lack of such training, produces, not only much social friction, but grave pathological results, which seem quite unconnected with it; and also that social intercourse is a fine art with a technique which everybody can, and should, acquire.” Mrs. Shaw then stated that. carry out objects which she had m mind, she left a large portion of hex fortune to the National City Bank Limited, Dublin, as special trustee, ’to make a grant out of the income to any foundation, institution, or fundi.having for its object,, firstly, that of bringing of masterpieces or fine art within the reach of the people of Ireland; secondly, of , the teaching, promotion, and encouragement in Ireland of self control, elocution, deportment, arts of P ers °^ a , contact, social intercourse, and other arts of public, private and professional life; thirdly, the establishment and endowment of v any . educational institution or any chair m any university, College, or educational institution for "iving instruction in. oi promoting, study by the general public of these subjects. Mrs. Shaw left letters written to her by Lawrence of Arabia to the British Museum and one thousand pounds to Lord Passfield. She left £20,000 on trust for a niece, also various small bequests. she left the residue on trust for her husband foi' life. The duty paid totalled £49,000., ATTITUDE OF G.B.S. THE MONEY HIS WHILE HE LIVES. [Aus. & N.Z. Press Assn.] (Rec 8,55.) LONDON, Feb. 16. Mr. Bernard Shaw commented on his wife’s bequest for Eire for the overcoming of shyness. He said “That part of the will does not come into operation until 1 am dead. A considerable number of people have already written me from Ireland to get hold of it. They are not going to get it.” Mr. Shaw referred also to a statement by an official of the Workers Education Association, that MrsShaw’s money should have been left to his association. Mr. Shaw said: “They want the money like every other organisation in the country. What I have I hold. Mr. Churchill s attitude is my attitude."