The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1877-08-25
New YORK, MAY 3lst, 1877.

holders who have had similar struggles with the
mysterious mathematics of this kind of insur-
anee:
New YORK, May 31st, 1877.
Mr.. Vice President, etc. Dear Sir:
1 am in receipt of postal card advising that my
next annual premium (Policy No. 43,369) is
$147 O3. Thereby l am reminded that the life
insurance business, as managed by your COM
pany, is like the providence of God, " past find
ing OUT" l began paying $50 cash and $50 note
on this policy in 1867. 1t seemed an inexpen-
sive luxury. 1t would have been if l had died.
l unhappily survived, and now for ten years have
b-~- ---ssiIDe Is .-~~l- 90 h~~r r~si-J -
myself alive. But the appetite of this policy, 1
observe, does grow by what it feeds on, and the
danger is that it will shortly exceed in its de-
mands my ability to answer, and L shall see it
die on nv hands. The steady and constant in
crease in the amount of the premium on this
policy began to excite my curiosity, not to say
my admiration, several years ago. The agent to
whom I applied for enlightenment-I have
passed through the hands of five or six, each of
whom have amassed a competence and retired
so overwhelmed me with mathematics of the
most mixed and abstruse character that l fell
back from the investigation greatly Inundated
at my own ignorance, and profoundly impressed
with the resources of-either the company or the
agent, 1 could not decide which. 1 think l rea-
lie, and l hope l appreciate gratefully, the bene-
fcent operation of this steady progression in
cost of the policy. 1t makes one contemplate
death with resignation, and to look upon that
consummation as a checkmate to the company.
Did you ever think how Booth or John McCul-
Tough might improve Hamlet's soliioquy and
thrill an ordinary audience by just holding up
one of your life insurance policies as suiting the
action to the word, at the passage There's
the respect that makes calamity of 80 long hfe."
But l fear / trespass on your time. liz 1T true
that insurance officials, Notwithstanding the mea-
gerness of their salaries, are Overworkedf L
will come at once to business. 1 need not trace
the steady, upward progress of these premiums.
Sufficient that last year / paid $1l2.75, and this
year you call for $l47.O3 upon a policy the
annual premium on which was 1882 ten years
ago. At this rate of increase, and with my dis
couragingly sound health, / cannot undertake to
compete with the company. 1 am aware of
course that a policy-holder who has paid ten
annual premiums can hardly expect the consid-
Grafton due those who, not being insured, seek
information. Being a fish in the basket, 1 do
not expect the consideration due one in the sea,
and vet [ would like to know whether policy No.
48. 1863 has any surrender value. Can you give
me any information on the subject? L am
already in possession of a considerable accumula-
ton of tracts, pamphlets, circulars, almanacs,
calendars and extracts from religious newspapers
which afford abundant knowledge as to the
facilities and methods for getting into life insur-
ance what l seek now is information how to
get out.
PARDON me, 6lr, III Il nhFe uccu IOO BiOos iom
iliarity in addressing a man whose acquaintance
with logarithms and mortality tables and the
differential calculus entities him to the name OF
benefactor and the salary of actuary. l am not
ignorant what is due the representative OF $27,-
O0O, OOO-if that's the 6gure-of assets. l
address you because your name appears on the
seductive postal card which invites me to add
Sl47. O3 to the S27, OOO, 900. 1 presume you
are no stranger to the complaints of disappointed
| policy-holders, and it is not improbable that you
dismiss them all with the remark of the Apostle
Paul upon returning a box of DIR. Ayers cele-
brated compound cathartic pills to the elders oil
the church at Ephesus. None of these thing
move me-" But there may be some one in your
employ who can show me the cheapest way out
Will you please refer me to him, that l may
present my policy and receipts and things with
the conundrum which at one time staggered the
intelligence of such a statesman as Daniel Web
ster, .. what is all this worth 2" Bot ther
Webster knew scarcely any thing about life
insurance. Yours, very respectfully.