Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1851-02-21
FIR tie Free Press and .SPirit Of .Je6srson.
SOUND REFLECTIONS ON LIFE AS
SURANCE,

| One OF the arguments urged with some degree oil
earnesiness and speciousness IS " that the annual
premium prevents that generous provision for do
mestic comfort and worldly appearance which re-
| spectabiIity demands AS well might parents
plead their love in apology for that unrestrained
indulgence which allows their sons hendish pas
sions 10 ripen into fitness for the Penentiary or
the GaiIoWs! The affection which merits the
name. cares NOT solely Tor the present enjoyment on
lis Objects but it would especially place them be-
yond The reach Of thar indispensable doom, the
being transformed By the event of momeni-deaih
of the father-nto desinution Without the ability Oh
contending with il.
Another reason is lcdnt Of means In answer ~
might be periinenlly said, cut of the many dollars
now wasted every yearon the merest superhutiess
without the head of the family the family really
feeling it, May it not be asked if this Is an exeHse
for this dangerous trifing with human happiness
and il might be added with human virtue, weak
enough at its best.
The remarks already made in these selections
have particularly had merchants and salaried men
in view, yet they apply with corresponding force "a
the working classes. The mechanic and day.
labourer hardly j. at all, more proYdent than
those before alluded To-, Living as most do, almost
entirely dependent day iabour little is saved after
an ecunomic provision for domestic and social
wants. So that when death comes to the head Of
the hmfly great The suffering too often felt BY the
cash they would most Of them have been able, used
astheY are to self-exeron, to adopt some business
which would have allowed them to keep their chill
dren, especially the little ones an home, and united
and they, under maternal and domestic influences
would most likely have grown up to be useful and
respectable members OF society Al least the prob
ability would have been this side while now It'll
tie short of certainty lies on the other.
Now, at 30, man may insure his life for $1,000
BY paying S2i Tor for $3.50, By the yearly pay-
msnt pf $l235. Then for corresponding rates
according 10 age and amount
What mechanic or laborer might not, by little
effort pay either OF these annual sums and that tod
without robbing their families themselves Of any
real necessary or comfort Of lifel "a
Now what an i1expressible relief, then, would i'd
be to all such--what AM immense augmentation OF
the general happiness could each man feel that by
Life Assurance those dearest to him were amply
provided for, happen what might to himself, and
happen when il might
Could every young man at iwcnty-one be peri
snaded to assure how greatly would ii conduce I'd
The stability Of his own character as ALSO 10 the
stability and order of society. For he has hen d
fixed point TO aim al and refer Ia. He il connected
TO one among the great social Institutions and has
/ yearly obligation to fulfil towards it, He is be-
ee&ne too properly holher for apolicy Is property
quite as much as bank or railway stocks or prom
iss6rY notes or bills Of exchange. He may sell i'll
may pledge it 10 the way ftraffic and thus used
It may often aid him essentially in his business
operations. i, moreover, he should even wish Ia
surrender 1.-THE policy-the company will paw
! him fair value for il Thus. as an owner Of prop
erty, he becomes unconsciousy AeaYened with con
scrvatiFe feelings natural 10 property holders and
upholds instiRctyely that order and those social
Institutions under which alone property can be SCI
cure.
In fine, so many and great are tha benefits direct
and incidental Of life Assurance, that not doubt
exists iris sacred tnty resting on our philanthrol
pists and social teachers to advocate its general
adoption, and our Influential wealthy mena Is lend
il the weight Of their example BY getting assured
even though i may to them be needless.