| Description | “…held by him should revert to the J.O.M and other trusts. Elizabeth’s education will not suffer in any way, now or in the future, by our decision, as we have (Frances and I) always made this a first charge and looked upon it as our duty to John. The members of the family need have no anxiety about the matter of Elizabeth’s education, as at whatever sacrifice may be necessary nothing will interfere with it. Memo 2. Certainly the legacies should be paid as soon as convenient after Nov… This should not be difficult as there is only Alice to pay, John’s legacy having been washed out by the Knox business. Personally I do not mind if I am paid out in Trustee stock or a share in the house property. I doubt if I shall be consulted, as it is a matter for you and Ernest Grant to settle, and in 1923, when there was an alteration in M.C. investments, I was not consulted (I mean Frances and my M.C. funds). I do not really think that the five members of the family who would be interested in the bond or the house property need have many sleepless nights, as there is very much more chance of the properties appreciating in value than the Trustee stock. The J.O.M Trust should certainly continue to administer the Bonds and the property and pay out the income amongst the beneficiaries. The date of the fixing of the valuation would have to be so arranged that the girls get the benefit of any dividends or at least that they did not suffer in any way. I was never under any misapprehension as to the girls taking away what furniture, glass, china, etc, they want. In this connection Rhoda should have what she wants in the same way as the others, the only difference is that Rhoda will not want very much to set her up, but she should have a share of the blankets, linen and some of the silver plate such as spoons, forks, etc., and some of the china, tea breakfast and dinner services. Rhoda’s not joining in with the others will make for the peace and happiness of them all. It may not be the best arrangement financially, but it will give them freedom and independence, which are really more important. I have not heard about any arrangement for the valuing of the furniture and effects, apart from that for probate. You will remember that when we were all at Fae-Me-Well it was agreed that this should be done. I think this should be done soon, so that members of the family taking over what the girls leave, may know what is the proper value to pay. The proceeds of the sale would in part be used for moving the girls and in providing any additional furniture and supplements the existing supply of household linen should that be required. In the case of Rhoda she could be given cash to replace things which she might want but which would be too big or too expensive to move to the place where she may ultimately settle. I do not think that there is any doubt that the furniture which the girls take becomes their absolute property as long as they remain unmarried and in the survivor of them would eventually get the whole of it and be at liberty to dispose of it as she thought fit. Should one of them marry, she would cease to be an unmarried daughter and would come under the same classification as the daughters who are already married and receive the same treatment, namely that her husband should furnish the house just as the sons and sons-in-law have done in the past. On the decease of the last surviving unmarried daughter, the furniture should be sold either publicly or privately, in the event of her not having made testamentary disposal of it, which of course she would be at liberty to do. The proceeds of such a sale would be divided amongst the surviving beneficiaries in the proportion of their interest in the capital of the various trusts at the time of the mother’s death. This seems to be a fair arrangement. Yours.”
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