For when the day came for the long-expected will to be
opened, it was found that the old gentleman had bequeathed to the
College only his Mather Safe, with certain papers carefully let into the
wood-work in one corner of the same,--which papers were not to be
removed or opened for a hundred years.
It may be conceived that this bulky benefaction was not accepted with
the best grace, particularly as the testator made no provision for
considerable expense necessarily incurred in moving and setting it up in
the library. Yet, not satisfied with this culpable negligence, Mr.
Farrel had affixed still other conditions to the acceptance of his gift.
He had caused two massive locks to be put upon the Mather Safe, of which
he enjoined that the respective keys should be forever held by the
President and Treasurer of the College, to the end that neither could
have access to its contents except in the presence of the other.
Moreover, he required that the Safe should be used only as a receptacle
for packages which the depositors desired to keep from the world for at
least fifty years.
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