Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1881-02-23
THE INSURED HUSBAND.

In some parts OF India it is unpleas
ant for an elderly person to have tC
die. Along the Ganges, when a mar
is given up as past medical power tc
cure, his relatives drag him to the bank
OF the sacred river and plaster holy
mud into his ears, his nose and his
mouth. 1t is the correct thing for him
to submit TO this, for the mud is sup
posed to have sanctiiying power
which, while helping him out OF this
world, gives him prospective lift for
the world to come. Having half smoth.
cred the dying man his pious relatives
carry him to.a place where vultures
are lowering around and awaiting his
demise and that Of such other persons
as may be left there under similar cir.
cumstances. These birds of prey main
tain dignifed and silent composure
until the invalid has breathed his last
gasp. But the moment life has fled
they pounce on the remains of the de.
ceased and begin their meal, which
they continue until nothing is left but
bones. The Hindoo who thus places
his grandfather in the way of being
disposed Of considers that he has done
for the old man the very best thing in
the world, and that this course of treat.
ment will land the patient in the
seventh heaven, or very near it.
This sort of funeral rite does not OK.
tensively prevail in this country, for
public sentiment is against it, and we
are short of vullures. A very near ap.
proach however, is chronicled as oc.
curing in Indiana, where man lies
sNk with consumption. Despite all
the advertised nostrums and all the
attentions ot.the regular faculty this
emaciated invalid is given over to
death 1t would be a kind and Chris.
tian deed to let him die in peace But, |
unfortunately the consumptive is in.
sured, and as the company nsuring
him has not gone into bankruptcy he |
is, to the extent of the policy on him,
a valuable piece of property. There.
fore he has not been carted OF to the |
banks Of the Wabash to die lonely
death, but instead OF that he has been
stolen and taken away from bis wife
TO the home OF his own bood relations.
These bloodthirsty persons claim to
have an insurable interest in his life, or
rather in his death. They know that
in all human probability he must die
very soon, and they want to make out
Of the poor fellow whatever they can
-as much, indeed, as there is in him.
Of course there is fight between them
and the mans wife. She too, has an
nsurable interest in the remains, and
to have her rights if she can.
She has no idea Of being swindled out
)i such a valuable piece OF goods as an
insured husband. She has therefore,
n order to secure justice to herself
brought an action at law against her
husbands relations TO compel them to
'estore the stolen properly. This is
'toutly resisted by the relations who
lave possession. They say they will
zee the wife in a certain very hot place :
before they restore the body of the I
Ilmost dead Invalid They consider
hat they have right to the insured
property by reason of having in other !
ways brought him in debt to them.
The wife struggles to get possession of ,
lim on habeas corpus, but they allege a
hat be is now 80 far gone that to cart /
Ilm over TO where the wife lives would a
My be to turn corpus into corpse. q
The battle RACES and the poor fellow is I
nade nervous over the apprehension e
1 being made foot ball of and taken a
aek and forth Ms opposing cousel may II
ave luck in obtaining decisions, orders I
nd lnjunctiOns from various courts.
le realizes that he is person of con r
Iderable importance, yet he wishes he q
ad never seen that lite insurance 2
ollcy which is the cause of his present Il
nsettled situation. 1t is sometimes h
aid of man whose position is poorly 3
etined that he does not know whether I,
r not bis soul is his own. Whatever n
lay be the extent OF this mans knowl. ,l
1ge regarding the spiritua! entity, it is n
lain that be cannot know to whom !,
is body belongs. ,
Such'a contest like this over the .
ody OF an almost expiring man is a
uito as dlsgraceful as anything prac. .
ced on the dying by the nnregenerate a
Iindoos. 1t would be pleasant thing n n
hear about the time this man dies a,
lat the company insuring him had Il
so departed this life.-Phladelphia u