Volcano weekly ledger., 1855-12-29
The Soliciting Agent.

sure their lives in his company OF course it
was good thing for them, better thing for
the company, and the best thing for Borem.
Because, according to Borem's bargain with
the company, he was entitled to ten per cent.
on every policy taken out by any man whom
he solicited, and five per cent on every years
renewal. No sooner was this agreement made
than Borem commenced and carried out n sys-
TEN of visitation and solicitation so extended
and thorough that, in the course of two or
three years, there was not live man in the
community whom Borem had not bored al
most to death to induce him to insure his pre-
cious life. Every day he compared his own
book OF memoranda with the records of the
company, and when he found that man was
down whom he had spoken with, even if it
were months or years before, he claimed him
as his man, showed his entries, and pocketcd
his premiums. In this way it was fast coming
to pass that all parties insuring in the compa-
ny was yielding profit to Borem, whose per
centage was eating up the profits of ,he bus
iness. SO far did he carry his system that he
would stand in the street, near the Office, and
whenever he saw man entering he would
address him, "Going to insure, sir !" and then
as one Of has men, and demand his per cent.
on the score Of having solicited him. The
company were finally obliged to compromise
with Boram, and buy him of. by paying him
$50, 900, and giving him a handsome policy
OH his own life. With this sum he has now
bought splendid farm, and is living like a
Nabob on the previous profits he had made
out Of this very profitable business.
Many very cute stories are told Of his op-
eratons to scduce the careless into an insu-
rance against the ravages of the destroyer,
by securing provision for their families in
case of death. One of these instances is
worth relating.
MIR. Lively hada dry-goods store above
Chambers street, and moreover, had an inter
est in brokers store in Wall street. Now
Borem had often seen the merchant uptown
and the broker downtown, for Mr.. Lively
was part of the day in one place and part of
the day in the other 1t had not occurred to
Borem that the Lively of one latitude was
the Lively of the other; and so, calling in at
the Wall street Office. he says -
Mr.. Lively, believe, sir"
That is my name,' said the gentleman ad-
dressed.
"Ah! yes, sir; you have brother, have
you not ?"
Eyes" said Mr.. Lively, 81 have twin
brother"
Oh, yes, know him." said Borem; he
is merchant up town, He is about nsuring
his life in our company, and l called to ask
if you would not like to insure at the same
time p
Mr.. Lively knew the tricks that Borem was
up to; and saying that he would think of it,,
turned away. Borem left the Office Mr..
Lively followed him out, passed on the other
side Of the street, and reached his store few
minutes before Borem, who was on his way
up. Mr. Lively was reading the newspaper
when Borem entered, and coming up to him,
said
"Mr. Lively, believe, sir?"
THAT is my name," said the merchant
"Ahl yes, sir you have brother, have
you not p
Yes said Mr.. L., IL have twin broth
err"
"Oh, yes, know him. said Borem; she
is broker in Wall street. He is about in
surfing his life in our company, and called to
see if you would like to insure at the same
time"
Mr. Lively said he would think of it; and
Borem took his leave, after pressing the sub
ject with his customary volubility and impu-
dence The next day he called on Mr. Live
ly the broker, and the day following on Mr.
Lively the merchant /; and this visitation he
continued for two weeks, making six calls at
each place of business, in all twelve times that
he bored poor Mr. Lively, without suspecting
that the two brothers were one and the same
man. At last the Mr.. Lively uptown agreed
that if his brother would meet him the next
day at Mr.. Wright's-a mutual friends, who,
Borem said, was going to insure--he would
apply, and all three would take out a policy
at the same time Il have just discovered y
said Borem to Mr.. Lively, chow to distin.
guish you from your brother-there is little
bit more of protuberance on the bridge oi
your nose"
So saying, he hurried over to Mr.. Wright
to arrange for the meeting of the brothers
Lively.
"The brothers u said Mr. Wright; "what
brothers y
"Why, the merchant over here, and the
broker in Wall street"
It's the same man, Borem; you've been
sold"
/ have-I see it ALL it's fact. I'm
done for" And rushing back 70 Mr.. Livelys
store, he looked in. and putting his finger on
the handle of his face, he said, laughingly,
Come to think of it, Mr.. Lively, your nose
is Just about the same size as your brothers,
But Borem never recovered from the NOR.
tifcation of his trickery exposed. and it prob
ably helped to bring him to terms in his set