Dodge City times. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1876-1892, 1878-06-22
A TEMPERANCE LECTURE.


From the Memphis Avalanchel
"Here's Murphy argument" called
fat man on Main Street to passing
reporter yesterday.
SCOT plenty"
None like this, though" The re-
porter took the papers extended, and
noticing therein a somewhat new de-
parture in the life-insurance business,
he asked permission to publish them.
"But the charges don't apply, you
know" said the fat man.
"Of course not"
"Well, take EN-"
THE COMMUNICATION.
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT MUTUAL BEN
EFT LEE INSURANCE COMPANY, NEWARK,
n. j., May IL, 1S1S.-JOsEPH FARRELL
Dear Sir: The policy Of insurance which
this Company has upon your life compels us
TO write 10 you upon subject which 9TH
erwise would be no affair of ours, but which,
as it concerns our Interest as mutual com.
pany, makes it our duty to communicate
with you thereon. The subject TO which we
allude is your alleged habits Of intemper-
ance, which we are informed are so confirm
ed as to very materially affect your expect
ancy Of life. You are aware Of the condi-
tions Of your policy and of your application
for insurance, which is part Of the con-
tract, that il you die by reason of intemper-
ance, or If you practice ga habit which tends
to shorten life," your policy is void. II you
should die now we should, on the evidence
furnished us, decline payment, on the
ground Of violation of said condition, and
our object is to notify you of the fact. We
will pay now the equitable value Of the poll
cy on full surrender of it. We write the
above in all kindness and to avoid trouble
or litigation hereafter. We refer to policy
No. ., 2l1, your life. Yours truly,
LEWIS c. GROVER, President.
THE REPLY.
MEMPHIS, Tenn, May II, 1s7s.-MR.
LEWIS C. GROVER, President Mutual Bene-
J.-SIR: Your communication Of May II il
received, and contents noted. In answer,
will say that have not joined the Murphys
vet, and, at this writing, ] don't think ever
will rs long as l can write plain without
my hand wiggling. From your commune
cation should Judge your Company to be
the fountain head of Murphyism, and it may
be that you will get them all to Join you,
and insure in your Company. As for my
habits, indulgence in drink, etc., feel con-
fident that no change has taken place in the
past 20 years. My custom has been invari-
ably to eat when 1 am hungry, and drink
when am dry, and as 1t don't suit your
Sompahs 70 Iish VI Il Will Ash YOU "
send me your proposition of equitable value
Of my policy on my life, No. 23,2l7; and if
your statement suits me will surrender my
policy to your Company while / live, as l
don't want to be tangled up in law suits with
you after l am dead. Commencing July, 3
1862, paid you in premiums up to July,
1870, near 81 800. At 6 per cent. on what 1
have paid, think my policy ought to be
worth y 800, and the sooner die the more
l shall consider it worth. | don't take the
same view that you do Of my right to re-
cover, because 1 partake Of my regular ra-
tons, which deem healthy. Our whistles
are generally pure, If we find the right place.
and we don't go much on Jersey cider. /
will be 80 next month. weigh 30 pounds.
l have gained about 100 pounds since took
q policy in your Company. l think am
full grown, and my time to die Is near at
hand. / would like to settle my own affairs
while live. Again invoke you to make
your equitable, full, fair, and best offer cash
for the surrender of my life policy, No.
s5,2l7. Respectfully,
JOSEPH FARRELL.