“I BEQUEATH TO THE EDITOR"

Northland Age, Volume 4, Issue 3, 3 September 1907, Page 6

“I BEQUEATH TO THE EDITOR"

NO SUCH LUCK, BUT THSSB PEOPLE DID WORSE.

The envelope will which the Law Courts were discussing florae time ago vu certainly odd. But a will on a piece of sheet iron It still more of a curiosity, A Belgian named Devie, evidently annoyed with things as arranged on this planet, hanged himself. A search among his papers failod to disclose a will, until under a* bed was found a rusty piece of iron, on which he had scratched his last will and testament. The legality of this will was upheld* So also was the still more extraordinary will of a Mexican miser. Instead of usin£ the prosaic ink and paper, this gentleman tattooed his will over his chest with some red pigment. Soon the Mexican died, and those of his relatives who disapproved Qf the provisions of the Will hurried up and buried him. Ia the end they were compelled to dig him up again. The courts ordered the will to be copied, and pronounced it genuine. A TANTALISING WILL.

A man’s will is literally the fastdocument on earth in which one would expect him to give way to a sense of humour. A cynical anticipation of evdhts was shown by thfe old farmer who prepared this tantalising will: "I give all my things to my relations, to be divided among themselves the best way they can. "N.B.— If anybody kicks up a row or makes any fuss about it, he isn't to have any." , The making of a will is a capital opportunity for the man with a grievance. Such may take as a model the following crisp, if breathless, remarks of a certain William Hall

"I give to that vile wretch, Sam. Hall, who I admitted of the Temple many years since, but he sold his gown, and in seven years I could never get him to church but once, and twice he assaulted me, and at the time he had certainly killed me if by God's providence I had not by a maid-servant been thrown against a great fire, the sum of 10s. 1»o be paid him every Monday upon request, and I wish that the first food he takes after my death will choke him."

BUT HE MUST BE A TEETOTALLER.

Temperance reformers would do well to make a note of the will of Dean Miller. He left a fortune of £200,000 to his brother on condition that the letter did not drink intoxicating liquor of any kind for throe years.

The will of an intensely patriotic American was recently admitted to probate. The document provided that the income of the estate, which will amount to some hundreds of pounds a year, shall be devoted exclusively to the purchase of ample quantities of fireworks, flags, and bunting for the pfopor celebration of the Fourth of July. ,A wealthy Russian mine-owner, who had passed the evening of his days in quarrels with his wife, left strange directions for his son’s marriage. The ceremony, he said«? must be carried through with all the solemn ritual of a funeral ; otherwise the estate was to go to charities.

Bequests to animals are not infrequent. While an Englishman, Mr. Berkley, was travelling in Italy, he was attacked by brigands. By the aid of a dog he was able to beat them off and escape. When he died he left £25 per annum to fefur puppies of his rescuer. Perhaps the most curious animal legatee was a carp which benefited under the will of tho Count da la Mirandole.—"Chat. M