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

sure their lives in his company OF course il |
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 q man was
down whom he had spoken with, evel If it
were months or years before, he claimed him
as his man, showed his entries, and pocketed
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 she bus
iness. So far did he carry his system that he
would staRs. in the street, near the Office, and
whenever he saw man entering he would
address him, Going to insure, sir :" and then
taking his name and address, would book him
as one of his 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 handsome policy
on bis own life. With this sum he has now
bought a splendid farm, and is living like
Nabob on the previous profits he had made
out Of this very profitable business.
Many very cute stories are told Of his OPP
erations 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.
Mr.. Lively had a dry-goods store above
Chambers street, and moreover, had an inter
est in a 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, l believe, sir"
That is my name," said the gentleman ad-
dressed.
All yes, sir; you have brother, have
you not p
Eyes" said Mr.. Lively, II have twin
brother"
"Oh, yes, know him." said Borem; he
is q merchant up town, He is about insuring
his life in our company, and l called to ask
| if you would not like to insure at the same
! time ?"
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, siri"
"That is my name," said the merchant
"Ahi yes, sir you have brother, have
you not p
"Yes,' said Mr. L., 81 have twin broth
err
"Oh, yes, / know him. said Borem che
is a broker in Wall street He is about in
suring 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 il 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 policy
at the same time. - 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 Of
your nose"
So saying, he hurried over to Mr.. Wright
to arrange for the meeting of the brothers
Lively.
"The brothers |" said Mr. Wright; "what
brothers |"
"Why, the merchant over here, and the
broker in Wall street"
It's the same man, Borem; you've been
sold"
Il have-I see it ALI it's fact. I'm
done for" And rushing back 70 Mr.. Liyely's
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.
tiication of his trickery exposed. and it prob
! ably helped to bring him to terms in his set
, tla.,ant NTH ha eompany