Baton Rouge tri-weekly gazette & comet. [volume] (Baton Rouge, La.) 1865-18??, 1868-05-12
Tbe Ga3ette al,0 Gonlft.

r.
remarkable features of the age in
which we live iy the rapid growth Of
the life-insuraoce System. Since the
late war it has attained prominence
among financial institutions, which At
tracts the atteption Of every thought
ful observer Of current events The
writer Of recent article upon the sub.
ject, published in northern maya.
zine, and. afterwards republished in
the Mobile Sunday Tiines,) states
that 6ve-sixths Of the policies now
outstanding have been issued within
the last five years.
This is perhaps partly . conse-
quence of the war, but is IL not to .
certain extent attributable TO another
cause 7 Is il not an effort of labor 10
protect itself against the encroach.
lnents Of capital ? Is it not sort
of spontaneous or unconscious move
ment of skill, talent, and industry, TO
contrive some means Of equaliziDg the
inequalities Of property? We are dis.
posed to think So
The tendency Of the day is toward
the accumulation of capital and con-
centration Of property. The great
agents of civilization--as they are
generally regarded--steam, the tele-
graph, the press, &c.--all have the
effect of facilitating the power Of
wealth to multiply itself, and Of d.
miuishiDg the obstacles in the way Of
the successful competition with II, Of
hbor and industry. In other words,
it is more and more difficult for the
working man, the salaried man, the
man of labor or the man Of brains, TO
make any adequate provision for the
future ITO lay up anything for that
proverbial "rainy day Of which We
have all heard
It strikes Us that life insurance ID
device Of society to meet this Diff
Guilty. 1t enables the man without \
capital to provide against the rainy
day, and has the advantage Of ena.
bling him to make the full provision
Immediately available to his family.
in case OF his death, without requir.
ing long and tedious process Of ac.
cu'pulaton to render it 80. 1t equal
ICES, to some extent, the contingencies
of long life or short life, 30 far as sav.
tngs are concerned.
Ii is true, the device does not re-
move all the inequalities in life. II is
as oil human contrivances
are imperfect. The confirmed invalid,
the very old, and the extremely poor,
are excluded from it's benefits. II IL
not system of charity or benevolcncs. q
Ii requires quid pro quo--- small
sums to be paid regularly and repeat
ediy, in order to secure its ultimate
advantages. 1t is not perfect--ss ss no
human contrivance is perfect. Some
Thing must be risked--as the man
risks something who deposits money
10 bank, or lends it, or invests it in
houses, rrships, or merchandise. But I.
he risk is probably less than that of
my other investment whatever, ex-
,ept investment in lands, and it's ad-
are available for those who
ire unable to invest in lands.
We have said that life insurance is
,ot system Of charity, but it has
,een justly pointed out, as one Of it's
advantages 10 which all the comma.
,ity are interested, that it diminishes
he demands upon private and public
,barisy by making provision for those
Who might otherwise be left without
'tber resources. - Mo1ile Register.
PLANT A GRAPE VINE.-Every
armer, and every one who has a
,acant, spot of ground suitable for
he purpose, should consider whether
10 can do better than to set out one
r more grape vines. The varieties
.nown are now so numerous and
iverse, that it will not be difficult to
md among them one which shall be
ppropriate to the proposed situation,
nd bear fruit which shall meet the q.
aste and wishes Of the cultivator.
he care required, especially if the
lumber of vines be small, is not ex-
essive, and it will be found rather 7
leasure than toll to give the neces-
ary attention. The growth is COM
aratively rapid--in few years
My from the time of setting out,
mple reward may be expected in
le shape Of luscious fruit. Besides,
grape vine which has once attained
healthy maturity, issTno summer
over, destined to bloom awhile and
peedily die and decay; with rea-
,nable care and average good fort
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