The republic., 1851-10-28


sonably prudent man into the wretched miser
But assurance, by guaranteeing, as it We're, the
individual against the consequences Of early
death, at once secures to his family an amount
which long life might fail to realize; while
properly understood, it prevents that haste tC
be rich which forms the rock on which millions
are at this moment in danger of wrecking theiI
health, character, and happiness.
Assuming that the head of family has be-
come satisfied that it is his duty and interest to
assure his life, three points arise to arrest his
attention: First, That he shall effect the assu-
rance in good office; second, that he shall act
with promptitude; third, that in the whole trans
action he shall act with a scrupulous regard to
truth.
We have already touched upon some matters
connected with the choice of an office. 'Sub-
scrbed capitals" and bonuses will long con-
tinue to exercise potent influence; but the as
surer may at least know the real value of either
or both. One other point remains for him to
inquire into. and that is the character Of the of
flee. He must not be msled by the appearance
ofpompous names as patrons or directors. These
may help to save ricketty concern from fall
ing, but as criterion good management they
are infinitely below the names of reputable men
of business. Besides, if the office be estab-
lished, there can be no difficulty in ascertaining
how it has acted towards its members-if con-
sderation has been shown to them when strug-
CLING with difficulties, and if in the settle
tcc,. ,.la;r IL =
the spirit of the contract than to its precise
letter.
Promptitude in completing an assurance is
obviously advisable. In this, more speedily
than in most other affairs, action should follow
thought. Numerous instances are on record in
which persons assured have died within very
brief period after the payment of the first pre-
MUM; and we have known cases in which de-
lay on the part of intending assurers has result
ed in their unfitness for ordinary rates, in con-
sequence of colds or other ailments at first APP
parently slight. Procrastination, proverbially
perilous, is peculiarly so here.
The mention of the third consideration-the
| necessity of being thoroughly honest-is by nc
means superluous If corporations are, by
common consent, devoid of every thing like a
moral sense, so, on the other hand, men are
prone, in their dealings with these bodies, to
exhibit disregard Of fair play, from which,
under ordinary circumstances, they would
shrink. We do not allude TO any thing akin
to those diabolical deeds which BULwER LYT-
TON has described in his ''Lucretia," and
which are noticed by TALFoURD in his ''Me-
MORALS of Charles Lamb" nor to such whole
sale swindling as was perpetrated some years
ago in Ireland by gang formed to defraud as
suranee companies. These are occurrences so
rare that they have no direct bearing on the
point we are enforcing; but not so rare
are those cases in which mere falsehood
serves the purposes of fraud. Every one
who has had experience in the working of
an assurance agency, knows full well that men
sustaining high character in the world have
not hesitated to sanction an untruth to promote
the interests of some old friend who is anxious
to effect an assurance. We have known cases in
which parties tainted with consumption, and
others habtually drunken, have managed TO
obtain entrance into societies through the
agency OF men who bore good reputatlons; we
have known sufferer from hernia passed as a
sound life, and the transaction has been connived
at by men who would repel with anger the
slightest imputation on their piety or honor.
The fact that the discovery of frauds of this
nature would release the society from all obl-
cation, and SO defeat the object of the. assu-
rance, should of itself suffice to induce assurers
to act with candor in their proposals, declara-
tons, and references.