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November 18. 1916. - [[?]] Syracuse, N.Y., Saturday Morning, - RANGER ESTATE ABOUT $225,000 - Entire Property Bequeathed to National Academy of Design to Buy American Paintings. - SYRACUSE NOT MENTIONED - Pictures Purchased by Council of Beneficiary Will Be Presented to Art Institutions in North America. - Special to The Post-Standard. NEW YORK, Nov. 17. - The will of Henry W. Ranger, a native of Syracuse, but for some years a resident of New York city, and widely known as a landscape painter, was filed for probate today by Attorneys Phelps & East. The will was made January 21, 1914, and, according to Mr. Phelps, disposes of an estate of nearly a quarter of a million dollars. All of the estate was bequeathed to the executors and trustees, William Macbeth, a New York art dealer, and Charles Henry Phelps & East, to be held by them in trust for the payment of the entire net income to the widow, Helen Hudson Ranger. Mrs. Ranger died in Europe about a year ago. Provision is made for the disposition of the entire estate in the event of Mrs. Ranger's death in the following clause: To Buy American Works. "I direct that my entire residuary estate be paid over to the National Academy of Design, the principal to be kept invested and the income to be spent by the council of said academy in purchasing paintings produced by American artists; at least two-thirds of such income to be spent in the purchase of works by artists who are 45 years of age and over, it remaining optional with the council to spend the remaining one-third or any part thereof in the purchase of works by younger artists. "All pictures so purchased are to be given by the council to art institutions in North America or to any library or other institution in America maintaining a gallery open to the public. All such gifts to be upon the express condition that the National Gallery at Washington, administered by the Smithsonian Institute, shall have the option and right without cost to take, reclaim and own any picture for their collection provided they exercise such option and right at any time during the five-year period beginning ten years after the artist's death and ending fifteen years after his death. "If such option and right is not exercised during such period, the picture shall remain and be the property of the institution to which it was first given." Capable Business Man. Mr. Phelps was asked how a landscape artist was able to accumulate so large an estate. "Because," said he, "Mr. Ranger was a very capable business man as well as a very great painter. The estate is much over $200,000. I do not know whether or not he inherited any money, but I am inclined to believe that the estate represented solely Mr. Ranger's earnings and the income from his successful investments."