New-York tribune., 1877-06-27
LIFE ASSURANCE.

LETTER FROM ONE WHO COULDN'T UNDER
STAND IT.
We are permitted to publish (Omitting nameS) the
following letter written by gentleman who was
insured on the "haf note plan IN of our lead
ing life insurance companies, in reply to the COM
pany's notification Of the amount due on the policy.
1t Will be read no Doubt, with sympathetic interest
by many pocy-holders who have had similar
struggles with the mysterious mathematics of this
kind of insurance. 1t should be stated, in fairness
to the company, that the explanation OK the actuary
was so satisfactory that, instead of insisting upon
getting out, the writer of the letter decided to keep
up the policy: ,-,-.,. ,,.-o, ,e--
Mr. --, Tfce-PresidenL dc.
DEAR SIR: am in receipt Of postal card advising that
my next annual premium Pocy No 43369l Is S147 %.
Thereby am reminded that the life insurance business,
as managed 10y your company is Ike the providence Of
God "past finding out" I hcgan paving $50 cash
and $50 note on this policy in 1867 # seemed an mex
pensivc luxury. II would have been if had died un-
happily survived and for 10 years lave been srug
glin4 as much to keep the policy as myself alive. But
tie appetite OF this policy, observe does grOT bv what
IL feeds on and the danger is that II will shortly cx-
cced in its demands my ability u answer, ANA shah
sec il die on my hands. The steady and
constant increase in the Of the premium this
policy began 10 excite ny curiosity, not 10 say my adm
ration. several years ago. The agent 10 whom applied
for cn teumeut-I have passed through tle hands of
fve or six each Of whom has anasoed competence and
retfed--so overwhelmed me with mathematics Of the
most mixed and abstsc character that fell back from
the investigation greatly Inundated al my own ieTo-
rance and profoundly impressed with the resource Of
either The company or tie agent. 1 could moi decide
which think re4liz: and hope appreciate crate
tuy the bcnciocnt operation Of this steI Progression
in cost the policy. II makes one contemplate death
with resignation, aud 10 lock upon that contamination
as "a checbuate TO tac COMPANY DID yon ever think now
Booth or John Mccullough might improve ham.ets
sooquy and thrill any ordinary audience by just hold
iug up one Of your life insurance policies sritns the
action the word az tie pasSagc There's The respect
that makes calamity Of so long life -
But I fear / trcspass your time Is It t7Ic that
insurance officials, Notwithstanding the meagcrncss OF
their salaries. are overworkcd1 viii come at once 70
business. need the steady, upward progress
Of these premiums Sufficient that last year paid
SIP 75 and this year you call for Sl47 % upon a
policy the annual premium which 1892 ten ycars
ago At this rate OF increase. and with my dscour-
al1ugly sound health. cannot undertake 90 compete
with the company. aware OF course that policy
holder who has paid ten annual Yntmiums can hardly
expect the consideration due those who, not being in
sured seek information. Being sh in The basket do
not exrect the consideration due in the and yc
,ro,ld Ike 20 know whether Policy No 43 500 has any
surrender value. Con you give me information On
The subect9 am already III possession OF c0nsdora
bic accumulation Of tracts, pamphlets, circulars, alma
uacs calendars and extracts from religious newspapers
when afford abundant knowledge To the faciItes and
methods getting t. life insurance. what seek now
is information how 10 get Oh
Pardon me, Sir II have used too great familiarity in
a1lress D z q man whose acquaintance with ogarthns
and mortality tables and the dihcrcnual calculus or-
titles him ~ the name OF benefactor and the salary Of
ac,uary am not ignorant what is due the representa-
tive Of s27 600 of that's the fgure-Of assets ad
dress yo because your name appears on the seductive
po,tal card which invites me TO add F147 % to the
S27 900 OOO presume yOu are 10 stranger ~ the COM
plants of disappointed pocyholders and II is not i'm
probable that you dismiss them all with the remark of
the Apostle Paul upon returning box of Dr. Ayers
celebrated compound cathTtic pills to the elders Of the