The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1873-05-24
PHor1xrANA.-St. Louis physicians
arc styled "Mo. Docs"

i. Saarce-Honeat oacisls.. ss~a~
{ LORD Bacon says thatafold bachelors
ARE The best Of iriends, the best masters
and the best servants.s
II some of the would be humorists
had to pay for their stolen wit, they
would soon be bankrupted.
Something not to be cheated OF its
share-The plow.
Judge Pierrepont having declined the
mission to Russia, the President has Of.
fered the appointment to ex-Goverao,
Jewell, Of Connecticut. We need a
jewel in the crown Of American diplo-
cesey, but we are not quite sure that this
Connecticut eme:ald ia fit for the place.
FIRE INSURANCE THAT Is SURn.-The
following article is taken from an"edito-.
rial which appeared in the Commercial
-Adceriiser, Of New York. on the 18th
instant. in reference to the past and pre-
sent history aud stsnding OF the Asna
Fire Insurance Company, Of Hartford.
Connections:
It used to be considered good plan
to publish the profits of insurance com.
panies when advertising their claims
upon the public confidence. The idea
was. that company which paid large
dividends must be prosperous and we'll
managed and safe. Bnt the Chicago and
Boston fires exploded that idea. and
changed that advertising policy. Seven
eighths of the smsll-cspital, large divi-
dend-paying companies. that did bust
ness to any extent in Chicago and Bos.
ton, were wiped out by those disasters.
Only those companies withstood the
shock that had been conducted upon the
principle of fortifying their capital by
allowing their earnings, after paying fair
dividends, to accumulate into large sur
pluses, available for sudden heavy calls
upon their treasures. Now, therefore,
instead Of advertising their profits, the
best insurance companies may more ju.
dioiously publish tue amount of their
losses
These reflections arise naturally after
examining the last published statement
OF the condition OF the Etna Insurance
Company, Of Hartford. OF all the
plucky things in this plucky country, We
think this glorious old institution must
be considered as about the piuokiest.
It appears to be removed beyond the
contingency OF real disasters. It may
suffer heavy losses-it may encounter mis-
fortunes against which no human fore
sight could provide-it may be subjected
for awhile TO suspicion engendered by
the envy OF rivals-but the Etna goes
calmly on in the line Of duty laid ont by
itself, never discouraged, never Bet back,
n fo~ Anta skos~ ~
idea Of abandoning its honest liabilities.
in the resolute integrity of this noble old
company The figures by which its
losses are counted are positively start
ling. We forget the precise sum OF its
losses by the Chicago fire-butri rits swas
above 81. .009, 600. Every dollar was
paid at or before maturity. Following
hard upon that une1ampled calamity
came the Boston FIRE, bringing loss to
the Rtna which footed up to about
81. GOO. 600, sum larger than the highest
published estimate at the time. No man
had to wait an hour for his money.
Within sixteen months the Etna paid
losses amounting to s0,000,00O. Within
q period Of fifty-four years, the term OF
its honored career, its losses have
amounted to the royal sum of 839,0O0,-
600, every cent of which was paid with
out q murmur. In paying the last
So, 600, 900, which included the losses by
the Chicago and Boston Ares. many Of
which were of course difficult, if not
impossible, to establish by legal proof,
not law suit or serious dispute, not
even an unpleasant difference, occurred
between the company and the insured !
All this, we say, is very remarkable.
The figures, taken in connection with
these facts, present moro foroible testi-
mony to the Etna's past financial inte.
gritty and fidelity than any words could
give. 1t stands among insurance COM
panies like the Eddystone among light
houses, o model for all that would safely
defy tho dangers of storm and tempest
and fire.
But all this relates to the past What
OF the present condition OF the Esna2
How has the company paid the enor-
nous and exceptional losses? Why, the
stockholders have put their hands in
their pockets, and there they found the
wherewithal to meet all deficiencies! (!
Since the first day of December, 1871,
the stockholders have subscribed new
capital to the amount OF 81, 500. 900, and
to day the Etna's stock is wortk $182