Curiosities Of The Search Room.*

Mr . Purstone's will is equally amusing , if eccentric . *—WILL OF MB . FURST 0 NE . A gentleman named Furstone , about to make his will , and having no family , left seven thousand pounds to any man legitimately bearing the name of Furstone , who should discover and many a female Fnrstone . If the marriage should result in children , the sum was to descend to the male offspringif anyor to any child or children of the opposite sex who

, , should , after marriage , retain the name . The following is also , if eccentric , a will which may fairl y be tried in the balances : — A MATTER OF WEIGHT .

A Scotch gentleman , having two young- daughters , bequeathed to each her weight , not in gold , hut in one-pound Bank notes . The elder seems to have been slimmer than her sister , for she only got £ 51 , 200 , AA'hile the younger received £ 57 , 344 . The following is said to be the shortest will on record : — THE SHORTEST WILL ON RECORD . ( 1878 . )

A Avill Aras proved in the Lewes Probate Court at the beginning of November , 1878 , Avhich was contained in eight words ; " Mrs . to have all AA'hen I die . " We shall all agree that many of these wills are not merel y eccentric , but childish and even profane . Take this one : — A PREMIUM ON PIGMANSHIP .

( 1878 . ) A Avealthy tradesman , M . Thomas Heviant , died at the village of Cr & ne-sur-Harne . In his Avill he made a number of singular bequests , among Avhich Avas the folloAving , which was carried out at the annual fete of the village . He ordered that among the amusements should he instituted a race Avith pigs , the animals to be ridden either by men or boys . The sum of 2 , 000 francs ( £ 80 ) AA-as set apart as the prize to the lucky rider of the winning pig . The prize Avas not to be handed overhoweverexcept on the condition that the winner wore

, , deep mourning for the deceased during- two years after the competition . The municipality accepted the eccentric bequest , and these singular races have been held agreeably to the terms of the will . When we come to puzzling wills , we remember , some of us , these words oi La Eontaine , which the writer takes as his motto .

On le Jit ; on taohe d ' entendre La A'olonte du Testatenr , Mais en vain ! Such , surely , was the will of Bosine Barrot : — WILL OF ROSINE BARROT . I give to my sister 20 I give to Gustave 6 „ Jeanne 10 „ Eugenie 7 „ Pauline 6 „ Annie ... . ... 14 „ Marie 6 — Julie 6 75

This is my last will ancl testament , made at Meude , 20 th October , 1767 . KOSINI BABKOT . Is it not an extraordinary fact that the will of Lord Westbury was not understandable , ancl Lord St . Leonard ' s will was missing . This , surely , is an Irish will : — CUTTING THE GORMAN KNOT .

( 1790 . ) A man had a legacy left him ; it Avas hampered by an unfortunate condition , Avhich he hastened to announce to a sympathising friend . The sum was £ 2 , 000 , but half of it , according to the testator's Avishes , Avas to be placed in his coffin and buried with him . The sympathiser was equal to the occasion . " Where is the money now ? " he asked , and was told " In the bank . " " All right , " be said ; " yon Avrite a cheque for £ 1 , 000 , and put it in the old gentleman's coffin , drawn to order . "