Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1866-08-09
Selett&b Miistellang.
Merit of Life Insurance.

The ease with which fortunes are gained
and lost, renders ogr people ssnguine, i'm
provident and extravagant. Especially is
this improvidence manifested in reference
to the contingency of early death. Persons
I of fixed incomes, including those who de.
pend upon salaries and wages, as we'll as
those who subsiss upon the revenue of in
vested property in which they have only a
life interest, still think that they are sufi-
ciently economical, if their expenditures do
not exceed their receipts. Hence the sud.
den and cruel alterations of fortune which
we are all so frequently obliged to witness.
A whole family, who have been delicately
nurtured, unaccustomed to labor, and inex.
perienced in privation, find that the same
stroke which deprives them Of parent, hus.
band, Or only son, also reduces them to ex.
treme poverty. The widow must take
boarders; the daughters must seek employ
ment as teachers; and SONS must beg for
subordinate positions in stores or workshops,
or emigrate to the Far West Too often,
even these resources cannot be obtained, or
prove unfruitful; generally, the want Of
experience is fatal, at least for a time, to
success in either of them. Debt soon comes
to aggravate destitution; and it is we'll even
if good principles and good habits are not
soon worn away in the depressing struggle.
Self respect is seldom preserved the desti-
tute must solicit aid from friends, and this
is but euphemism for beggary. The mis-
cry thus caused is incalculable Poverty is
not so great hardship to those who have
always been poor; the hand indurated by
constant work does not blister. But the
poverty which comes suddenly after ease
and aHauence, not only blisters, but eats
deeply into the flesh. 1t is q chronic smart,
which too often gradually wears away the
health of both body and mind.
Common observation will satisfy any one
that this picture is not overdrawn, and that
it does not represent an uufrequeut occur.
renee If it were the only merit of Life
Insurance that it furnishes means, the only
sure means, of obviating these'distressing
calarities, the institution might we'll be re.
gartled as one of the most efficient "chari.
ties" which human bsnovolence has ever
devised But this is only its direct result !;
tho indirect influence upon the habits of the
people is matter of at least equal moment.
It not only encourages frugality, bat makes
frugality habit, and removes from it the
taint of sel6shness it not only renders men
provident, but it shares, though in hum.
Bile degree, with religion in extending this
providence to period beyond the life of
the individual We claim for the institu-
ton, therefore, high place in the regards
of the truly benevolent-of those who are
the most anxious to try all feasible means of
diminishing the amount of sin and misery
in the community. We claim for it even
higher place there than is universally &C.
corded to Savings Banks, Model Lodging
Houses, Provident Associations, Ragged
Schools, or any other of the thousand and
one pbilantbropic institutions of this most
philanthropic age. 1t is an additional con.
sideration, though of comparatively slight
importance, that the large funds accumula-
ted for Life Insurance are, in great part, a
positive addition, which would not other
wise be made, to the available capital of the
couutry-to the stock which keeps in ,Do.
tion and renders efficient our national In.
dustry.-North american Reuieo.