Ancient, Curious, and Famous WillsHarris, Virgil M. (Virgil McClure)
History
Ancient, Curious, and Famous Wills
Harris, Virgil M. (Virgil McClure)
Wills
“Nor can it be said that while man is a _soul_ (or intelligent being)
beasts are without this soul-quality or intelligence, thought, feeling.
On the contrary, both man and beast have soul-quality or intelligent,
conscious being. Not only is this the statement of Scripture, but it is
readily discernible as a fact, as soon as the real meaning of the word
‘soul’ is comprehended, as shown in the foregoing. To illustrate:
Suppose the creation of a perfect dog; and suppose that creation had
been particularly described, as was Adam’s, what difference of detail
could be imagined? The body of a dog created would not be a dog until
the breath of life would be caused to energize that body; then it would
be a _living creature_ with sensibilities and powers all its own--a
living soul of the lower order, called dog, as Adam, when he received
life, became a _living creature_ with sensibilities and powers all his
own--a living soul of the highest order of flesh beings, called man.”
A HEAVEN FOR BEASTS
Bishop Butler and Theodore Parker offered the suggestion that there is a
future for beasts, and a poem has been dedicated “To my Pony in Heaven,”
by Mr. Sewell of Exeter College.
GOLDFISH AND FLOWERS
A certain lady left seventy pounds a year for the maintenance of three
goldfish, which were to be identified as follows: “one is bigger than
the other two, and these latter are to be easily recognized, as one is
fat and the other lean.” She also made provision for flowers to be
placed upon the graves of the gold fish.
BEQUEST TO A FISH
We have heard of lucky dogs often enough--instances of lucky fish are
more rare, yet we can tell of two carps who have been testamentarily
benefited. One is, or rather was, too well known to the tourist who has
seen Fontainebleau, to need more than a passing mention, as he only paid
the debt of nature a few years ago, having occupied the royal pond, it
is said, more than a century, probably in order to bear out the proverb
which gives long lives to annuitants; the other was the mute but valued
friend of the Count of Mirandola, who had been in his intimacy since
1805, dwelling in an elegant antique piscina, shaded by tropical plants,
in an oriel of his _salon_ at Lucca, where he was still living as late
as 1835, and may be there still. The count, dying in 1825, left him a
handsome annuity, with special directions for his treatment.
BEQUEST TO A PARROT
A rich and eccentric widow, whose will was proved in London some years
ago, left at her death a parrot, whom, “having been her faithful
companion for 24 years,” she left in charge of an appointee, with an
annuity of one hundred guineas, the existence and identity of the bird
to be proved twice a year, and all payments to be withheld from the
moment the feathered pensioner ceased to be produced.
POLLY WANTS A CONTEST
In July last, at Washington, D.C., a will contest was commenced, which
involves the life or death of a parrot.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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