English Estates

1895

You Will Save Time and Money by Letting Them Alone.

"It always amuses me when some poor deluded soul comes into my office and wants me to recover a vast English estate."

Thus spoke a well known attorney.

"And why does it amuse you?"

"Because," said the lawyer, "there is so much folly in such cases. I suppose there are not a dozen families in Cincinnati who have not some tradition or another about a great inheritance over the water. For generation after generation these chimerical hopes are nursed until finally some branch of the family with more money than judgment concludes to prosecute the claim. The result is nearly always the same. The victims come out of the experience with less money and more judgment.

"Of course there are rare instances in which Americans have recovered money from the estates of foreign ancestors, but in the great multitude of cases the rights of the claimants have been so long delayed or were so imaginary to begin with that it is only a waste of time and money to pursue them.

"I have handled many claims for foreign inheritances, and in just one case was there anything realized. After fighting for 12 years my client succeeded in proving his interest in some English property. The litigation, however, stirred up about 2,000 other heirs, and after the estate was divided and the costs were paid my client got precisely $4.20.

"Let me give you a piece of advice: If your family are heirs to untold millions in Europe, don't breathe it to a soul. Get all the satisfaction you can out of the reflection that you ought to be in the house of lords and the master of an old ancestral home, but keep your weekly wages in your pocket." — Cincinnati Tribune.

Women and Property – Advice for Handling Estates, 1878

1878

There can be no question that for women good registered bonds are specially desirable, being less troublesome than any other securities. But it often happens that women inherit real estate, and a few remarks on its management may be useful.

A very wise man of fifty years' experience in taking care of property, especially for women, once said to me: "If a woman is left with a house at all suited to her condition, I always advise her to keep it. A woman with a house of her own — a home — will usually get along even on a very small income; and she and her family, if she has one, will be much happier if they have a home than they could be without it. Without a home of their own, they are usually unsettled and subject to many discomforts."

And so, if a woman inherits other real estate, and it yields her a moderate income, it will scarcely be wise to part with it, especially if it is situated in a village or city that is growing. The mere retention of real estate in these circumstances has made thousands rich. Avoid incurring a debt for the improvement of such property. A lady recently called on me for advice. She inherited $50,000 of real estate, which yielded her a fair income, equal to every want. But not contented, she borrowed money to make costly improvements and to erect new buildings. Now, with the decline of property, her rent roll hardly pays her interest and taxes, and she is liable to heavy losses by foreclosure.

Of course good securities, of whatsoever sort, should be kept, that is, not exchanged for others for the sake of a little hoped-for gain. While it is not wise to carry all one's eggs in one basket, it should be remembered that eggs are liable to break in handling. It is easy to loosen up property, but not easy to re-establish it. — Bazar.

The Dream Came True – Story of George Washington

1916

But Washington Warned "Light Horse Harry" to Dream No More

The relations that existed between General Washington and his younger friend, "Light Horse Harry" Lee — the father of General Robert E. Lee — were exceedingly close and tender. It is an authentic tradition in the Lee family that Washington regarded the brilliant young cavalry officer almost in the light of a son.

Lee was inclined to be a spendthrift and his lavish use of money often brought on him the paternal reproof of his older and more discreet friend — and the reproof was often followed by affectionate assistance in extricating him from his embarrassments.

Mrs. Washington was almost equally fond of the young officer, who often made long visits at Mount Vernon. During one of his sojourns there, Harry Lee remarked to his host at the breakfast table:

"General, I had a singular dream last night, which I must tell you. I actually dreamed that you made me a present of your Westmoreland place."

The next day, at the dinner table, Harry Lee found under his plate a document — nothing less than a deed to him of the Westmoreland estate. For some moments, dazed with astonishment, he stared at his friend.

"Now, Harry," said Washington calmly, "take good care not to dream Mount Vernon away from me!"

—Stevens Point Daily Journal, Stevens Point, Wisconsin, July 29, 1916, page 3.