The daily gazette. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1874-1883, 1881-05-14
GAMBLING I'm LIFE.

To the Editor OF the Times:
This is a small village, situated
about thirty miles north of Harris
burg, on the west side of the Sus-
quehanna river. The town boasts
OF population OF 1888, just three
more than it numbered in l870.i Un-
til last summer the town was known
as a moral place, but now the devil
seems to have taken full charge
anyhow, he possesses the controlling
interest. In the early part of last
summer the Mutual Aid Association,
of Hanover, York county, establish
ed an agency here. The agent went
to work as only life insurance
agent can work. For long time,
however, his eloquence met with
very little success. In fact, there
were only two or three persons that
took any stock in that kind of insur-
ance-in other words, in betting ON
the life and death of the aged. But
when everything looked dismal and
blue for the agent one of the old
men that he insured took sick and
died tagged S3l, and one Of the most
respectable citizens in the town held
a policy on HIM to the amount. of
three thousand dollars. Then our
moral town turned compile somer-
sault. Every able bodied man
wanted to be an insurance agent
and every person that possessed a
dollar wanted to take some insur-
ance.
The country was secured in every
direction for good subjects-that is,
for old men aud women that could
not possibly survive for any length
Of time. But soon another trouble
arose. The few companies that
were doing business at that time
were soon full; you cannot take out
In any one company more than fif-
teen thousand dollars on one person.
But the intelligence of Liverpool
soon solved the problem by starting
an aid association giving it the name
of Farmers and Mechanics Mutual
Benefit Association. The concern
was ready to do business about the
first of last November, and have ia.
ken since that time nearly two mill
lions of insurance, and ninety~nine
one-hundredths of it is on old men
and women from seventy.five to
eigthy-fve years old. There seem.
ed to be 80 much money in the filthy
business that ten more of our citizens
applied for and received char ter a
month or two ago for the purpose of
doing a similar business.
About dozen old people have died
in this vicinity. They were insured,
some as high as three hundred thou
sand, and some have been supported
by the poor authorities. The other
day an old man died with q pretty
lal ge amount of insurance on his life.
When the undertaken went to bury
him policy holder remarked that it
was very good coffin for the county
to furnish paupers. He was answered
that the county would not be called
on for payment, and as it is necessary
co have the undertaker's signature be-
fore the insurance money can be Sc
cured it may be inferred who was to
pay for the coffin. 1t used to be when
several ladies got together it was !:
"Where did you get your new bon
netW etc., etc. But now 1t is my
old fellow must be going to live for
ever; only wish he would die soon,
for l am tired paying assessments. !"
And "Oh, goodness, Mrs. So and So
will get big pull, for you know her
subject died the other day." And so
it goes. But what seems 80 strange
is that those that seem the most inter
ested are members of churches. In
fact, some ministers are engaged in
the nefarious work. 1t is common
talk that there is minister residing
at the oIher end of this county Perry
who is using his ministerial influence
to further the cause of swindhng
people. 1t is said that as an agent he
IS decided success and sends In more
applications than any other two agents
in the county. And it is understood
that he carries about twsnty-f thou.
sand himself. :.
A prominent deacon In one OF the
churches here was asked this Ques-
ton: Whether you would not wish
the subject dead every tune you received
an assessment. With a very long face.
he answered: "Ob, mol That would be
wicked; very wicked indeed" That
deacon Is known 10 carry, or did carry,
about fifteen thousand. The member
from this county Is known to be very
heavily engaged in the swlndle. He Is
agent for number of companies, re-
ceiving agent for several, and IL Is re-
ported that he carries very. nearly bali
million himself. But as an old Iady
died week or two ago on whom he had
policies TO the extent OF $4,000, aud as
she was In some OF the strongest com.
panies, he will realize quite q small for
tune. Some say he Will receive one.
third of the full amount. IT sHoh be the
case he can go In another half million.
Another case agttaing the minds of
the people here at present Is that of an
old woman whom the county has kept
for years and who has been q lunatic for
long time. She died short time ago
and Is seems was Insured very heavily
Those who had no stock In her insist
that the companies shall not pay; those
who had insist that they must pay. 1t
Is to be supposed that the companies
will pay, rs every assessment they col
lect they receive their good share OF,
So It IL policy for them to pay at everv
death and ask no questions, wbish poll.
O. they seem 10 follow to the letter.
But 1t Will be very singular II the reform
elementof our Legislature does not try
and put stop to the pefarious bust ne a.