Life, 1917-10-25 · page 13 of 44
Life — October 25, 1917 — page 13: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This article describes Edwin Gilbert of Redding, Connecticut, who bequeathed three hundred shares of his manufacturing company to support Lirt's Fresh Air Farm—a facility serving poor children near his home. The top cartoon, titled "Bringing up the last reserves," satirizes the trustees' apparent reluctance to use Gilbert's bequest. It shows an elderly man (likely representing the deceased Gilbert or frustrated administrators) with infants, while three stern-looking men in uniform stand holding additional babies—suggesting the trustees are withholding funds despite explicit instructions to improve the farm's sanitation and safety for children. The article expresses frustration that accumulated dividends remain unused for their intended charitable purpose.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Dd realy “LIFE 661 “Bringing up the tast reserves” The Dead Man’s Wishes and the Living Children N his lifetime the late Edwin Gilbert of Redding, Con- necticut, took a great interest in the work carried on by Lire’s Fresh Air Fund. He was familiar with what was going on at the Branchville farm, which was near his home, . When he died his will was found to contain this expres- sion of his wishes in connection with a bequest of three hundred shares of the Gilbert Manufacturing Company: “The dividends and income thereof to be used for the support and maintenance of the work carried on at said farm.” The “dividends and income” he mentions have been accruing since December, 1910, and amount now to con- siderably more than ten thousand dollars, This amount is needed at Lire’s farm for improved sanitation and fire- proof construction to protect the health and safety of the children who are sent there each year. Lire’s Fresh Air Fund has requested and demanded that the accumulations of income be turned over to it for these and similar necessary expenditure. The trust funds are in the possession of Daviv H. Miter of Georgetown, Connecticut; Daniet Davenport of Bridgeport, Connecticut; Dr, R. W. Lowe of Ridgefield, Connecticut, and certain relatives and employees of Mr. Miller, acting, or failing to act, as trustees. Under the curious laws of Connecticut governing chari- table trusts, these gentlemen cannot be compelled to carry out the very simple instructions quoted above. It is a mystery to Lire that the gentlemen he trusted have failed to comply with the wishes of their dead friend in behalf of the poor children he meant to benefit. : THE NIGHT SHE DIDN'T LOOK