MR CARNEGIE'S WILL.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XLV, Issue 11930, 25 October 1919, Page 7

MR CARNEGIE'S WILL.

PUBLIC BEQUESTS AND GIFTS TO INDI VIDUALS.

The will of Andrew Carnegie, filed here yesterday, says fche New York Times of August 29th, and admitted to probate immediately by Surrogate Fowler, disposes of an estate estimated at between 25,000,000 and 30,000,000 dollars. The residuary estate of about 20,000,000 dollars goes to the Carnegie Corporation. Direct public bequests of 960,000 dollalrs are left to institutions, and annuities, which will take 268,000 dollars a year, go to friends, associates, relatives and persons of public prominence. » Mrs Carnegie receives all her husband's real estate with his personal effects of overs' bind, believed to be worth between 5,000,000 and 10,000, - 000 dollars. In explaining why he made no further provision for his wife (Mrs Louise Whitfield Carnegie) and no bequest to his daughter Margaret (now Mrs Roswell Miller), i the testator said:

"Having years ago made provision for mv wife beyond her desires and ample" to enable her to provide for our beloved daughter Margaret, and being unable to judge at present what provision for our daughter will best promote her happiness. I leave to her mother the duty of providing for hei as her mother deems best. A mother's love will be the best guide.'' The public bequests were 300,000 dollars to Hampton Institute, 200,000 dollars each to Pittsburg University and the Relief Fund of the Author's Club of New York; 100,000 dollars to Stevens Institute "to improve my original gift" ; 100,000 dollars to St. Andrew's Society, in addition to a lifelong gift of 100,000 dollars and 60,000 dollars to Cooper Union, making his total of gifts to that institution 750,000 dollars.

Annuities to well known persons include the i'ollowing:—William H. Taft, 10,000 dollars; John Burns, ex-M.P. for Battersea, 5000 dollars; Mrs Grover Cleveland, now Mrs Thomas J. Preston, 5000 dollars; Mrs Theodore Roosevelt, 5000 dollars David Lloyd George, British Prime Minister, 10,000 dollars; John Morley, "lifelong friend," 10,000 dollars; Walter Damrosoh, 3000 dollars; Thomas Burt and John Wilson, member of British Parliament and lifelong friend, 5000 dollars.

A notation in the handwriting of Mr Carnegie on the margin of the will, opposite the bequest to exPresident Taft, says that "the annuity has been transferred to the Presidential annuities of the Carnegie Corporation.'' It was recalled that Mr Carnegie ca lied a meeting of the directors of the Carnegie Corporation at his home in November, 1912, at which time it was stated that the corporation would offer 25,000 dollars to all ex-Presi-dents or their widows, which accounts also for the gifts to the former Mrs Cleveland and to Mrs Roosevelt.

ANNUITIES FOE ASSOCIATES. Men and women associated in the organisation established by Mr Carnegie for the distribution of his wealth for the benafit of mankind also received annuities. They include Robert A. Franks, Financial Secretary, and President of the Home Trust Company, founded by Mr Carnegie for the conduct of his private business, and named by him as executor under his will, 20,000 dollars; Dr Henry S. Prichett, President of the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teach» ing, 10,000 dollars; James Bertram, for.xnany years private secretary, 10, - 0U0" dollars; President Kobert S. Woodward, of the Carnegie Institute at Washington, 10,000 dollars, and John A. Poynton. secretary, 5000 dollars.

Mr Carnegie gave 10,000 dollars a year to each of his married nephews and nieces, and 5000 dollars to each nephew unmarried. To his sister-in-law, Stella, he gives 10,000 dollars a year, "with love." His brother-in-la w, Harry Whitfield, and his wife after him, get 10,000 dollars. Anna and Maggie Lauder, and Mrs George, of Dunfcrmiino, cousins, get 5000 dollars each. Claude S. Carnegie, of Devonshire, received 10,000 dollars a year. Whenever an annuitant shall die leaving surviving a widow or husband who was living at the time of

Mr Carnegie s death, the annuity is to be continued to such widow or husband so long as he or she shall survive and remain unmarried. MADE VOID BY CONTEST.

The will provides that the bequest of any persou who attempts to contest it in any way is to go to the residuary estate. It was made February 13th, 1912, with codicil dated March 31st last. Mr Elilm Root, jun., who witnessed both the will and codicil and led them for probate, in estimating the estate between 25, - 000,000 dollars aiid 30,000,000 dollars, said: "He really did divest himself of his great fortune for the benefit of mankind, as he long ago said he would." Mr Carnegie wrote personally the fourth and fifth articles of the will, and the remainder of the will and all of the codicil was prepared by Mr Root. Mr Carnegie gave pensions equal to half a j year's salary to Geocge Irvine, who i resigned as butler after 25 years "faithful service," and to Mrs Nicol, : housekeeper for 27 years, when the will was made in 1912. A similar pension went to Nannie Lockerbie, "our nurse," and Maggie Anderson, our "oldest servant." All household servants employed 15 years or more got 2000 doll ars outright, those employed or more 1200 dollars, and all others more than four years 600 dollars. Mr Carnegie gave to all heads of departments at Skibo including gamekeeper, forester, chauffeur, yacht captain, superintendent of the golf course, piper, gardener, etc., 2000 dollars for each employed more than 15 years; 1500 dollars to those 10 years or more, and 1000 dollars if lefts. Each labourer employed more than five years gets 100 dollars, and those two years or more receive 50 dollars. Two years' rent is to be remitted to each "crofter," or tenant farmer, "who is in good standing among lvis neighbours." Concerning them Mr Carnegie said: "We are blessed with fine people upon Skibo estate, and our factor is directed to grant a third year's rent to the crofters provided it is spent upon their homes to their improvement to the satisfaction of the factor." ' Concerning two tenants who had removed elsewhere and owed Mr Carnegie he gave credit for 1000 dollars upon their debt, "with my congratulations upon their success as farmers.'' TOTAL BENEFACTIONS 371,065,653 DOLLARS. Mr Carnegie's bequest of the residue of about 20,000,000 dollars to the Carnegie Foundation, makes his and absurdity, and the following are good examples of this class : "In the United States people are put to death by elocution." "Hydrogen is colourless, odourless, and insolvent." "Henry VIII. was succeeded on the throne by his grandmother, the beautiful Mary Queen of Scots, sometimes known as The Lady of the Lake or the Lay of the Last Minstrel." "Kangaroos are pouched animals which when there is danger put their young into their opossums." As might be expected, the wisdom of the housewife creeps into the howlers perpetrated by little girls. "A pipe is a weoden thing a man sticks in his mouth to keep him from wearying." A definition hard to beat. Again, we can almost catch the tone of her exasperated parent from the daughter who missed the sarcasm of the advice, "To keep milk from turning sour you should leave it in the cow.'' Which is the best howler ever produced? In the somewhat extensive collection from which a selection has b'een given, there is an easy first. By a miracle of spelling, a whole sermon, with a solemn warning and a sound moral, ifc elivered in a gem of nine words : '*A graven image is an idle maid with hands."