A REMARKABLE BEQUEST.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XIX, Issue 6572, 9 December 1882, Page 2 (Supplement)

A REMARKABLE BEQUEST.

Tub Philadelphia correspondent of the Twrites :-A remarkable circular V M ?"** plains itself h.« been recently 3 ->nt to , i **" number of banks and bankers throiiX Unned States by an executor inCot n " - the wno » charged with the duty of most novel philanthropic bentUt '4Tk g * estate of £150,000 to carry outthe"! ? an intentions. The following i 3 th" -'£• -ade :_ln this ape of where the mint] and body receive t' lf -VT- 7, attention of philanthropists, both r.nf'f^'' uI private charities aggregate sush hard'-r*"' 1 figures annually it would seem that : avenue in which good cou i(i be f] ', L '-; --'y developed, or at least op-r.f.J i. ? heque.,t of the princely >urn of an original ;nd an unostentatious V? r is a complete innovation. A r<-tirwl ; " 1 " I ?"J r whose life was a thorough! v s-licrr-V /^ r - i:,;r but whose character was at a'll J^'? , but consistf-nt, is tho donor. ]J->~.-i-'"'. : .' :r ''"'"- early history of his life occurred a:Vexr '■■'-, '""' which bears on and explains trie mo'?? this donation, and this is not Mt'. ■.-•"'■.'-V° r

uninteresting incident. A young ma n """7paratively grown into a rc-spon-;:,;.. ,'/. ■ - in a prominent bank in the uiivr/ i'.'";; 03

fond of gay society, and possessm-a''C"'.7 tioii to enjoyment, lie becime by s^ 1 i ~'l sure degrees drawn into a rati: of t-xn-""' out of ail reason to his income, and h" o '.r» to using tlie bank's money to pro:i>V-.' temporary comfort. At last he ,-:v f • the brink of ruin, a defaulter in t"n----£17,000. The awfulness of htC v seemed for the first time to occur to i"* A crime and its dreadful results were v-v'-l in bold array before his as*oiii>h, | One who has never stood in .1 !:!.;• and experienced all the agony <m;., I comprehend the situation—a"pen p : little account to convey a matter ti A young mm torn from a liiy'ii n..- a i -„'j business position, arreste i, tried. anil sentenced to prison, areonlv sil; 11 sto warn others ; but the i!:v. suffering, and disgrace, are not v; apparent—they are impossible .1 '• \ erily the way of the ■ r ~ ; _. ; oh, the waives of sin!" A defa" - r i n *h' sum of £17,000. anil every n<im::,.for discovery, disgrace, and arrot. In tLu state of mind our young bank-r went to'i very eccentric anil wealthy friend mho had shown him some little unimportant courtv-'cs at various times, and after a coct'us-1 told liim just how he was situated, a:.il. i-'vj submitting to a series of close qui-.-; . n;, startled by receiving at the hands r.f hi-'a frien.l £17,000 in cash, to save him, as'he modestly said, to a life of usefulness." Th'ia assistance so freely given was ac-ompitn'..,! by two significant conditions. The tir'st was that a careful and accurate account should daily kept of all personal expenses, ami onethird of the young man's income I. L . save! j a cash, and the accounts balanced <ji:arterlv. The aged gentleman said lie believed thii. to be one of the best safeguards a-ainst little sins, which were so apt to grow into sn-it crimes, especially with people who held positions of trust and heavy responsibilities. X 0 interoit was to be paid, 110 evidence of debt taken. The second condition was that, in after-time, the money would be used as it had been received—to save some person from ruin and disgrace ; save them to a life of usefulness and honour ; and then, when thia had been done, and well done, the debt would be discharged, cancelled, and transferred. Observe the iirst, and if you do it faithfully the second m ill not "be at all dilHcult to perform. After years of faithful trial, this advice is known to be good. The recipient of this strange legacy grew rich and became powerful, and died without finding an opportunity to assist as he had been assisted. There seemed no way to discover persons so situated before their characters were irretrievably lost, until this confidential circular was hit upon, and a very old and tried friend was entrusted with the carrying out of the plan, and £176,000 was put "into his hands for that purpose. The circular is sent to every bank iix the United States. Persons who do not stand in need, and within the design of this assistance, will be too honourable to seek to advantage by pretending to, and will see that this circular does not fall into improper hands. No publicity is sought or desired for the donor, who is simply paying a debt. The confidences which it solicits are sought because it is necessary, and for no selfish purpose, and the most profound secrecy will be observed and expected. The executor desires to distribute and carry out the money and instructions of bis friend within the rules anil methods prescribed ; this Li bis only interest. To this end the applicant will come to my home, a personal riew being imperative, bringing this circular as an evidence of his identity, and this can be arranged promptly by addressing—Exf.cbtor, P. 0., Box Xo. IS-3, Stepney Depot, Conn.