One of the strangest wills ever made was that of George Brown,
Jr., the noted gambler and race-horse man, which was filed in
the Probate Court at Kansas City, Mo., recently. “It is my
desire, as far as possible,” a clause of the will reads, “to
repay every person, man, woman and child, any money which I may
have won from him by gambling during my lifetime; and I direct
my executor to make efforts to learn their names and reimburse
them to the full amount, with interest from the day the money
was won.” This penitent gambler has set an example here which it
would be well for those to follow who make larger pretensions to
integrity. There are some wrongs to fellow men which never can
be repaired, but there are others that can and should be made
right. (Text.)
(2745)
* * * * *
General John Gibson, of Ohio, in old age was asked what he was
doing. Said he: “Well, I am a very old man, and I suppose that
most people would think I am not doing much of anything. But,
to tell the truth, I am trying to hunt up every person whom
I have wronged in life, and if I can find them, to ask their
forgiveness and make atonement for all the wrongs I have done.
And I am trying to be as good and kind and loving to all my
neighbors as I know how. And I am becoming one of the biggest
beggars for mercy at the Bank of Grace you ever saw. In short,
during the little time that is left me on earth, I am fixing up
for a mighty big funeral.”
It is no small duty to make amends for all the wrong-doing of a life
whether long or short.
(2746)