Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1882-08-26
MARRIAGE KENO.
A Few Figures Upon the Workings OF
the Countless Matrimonial
Associations.
A First-CIass Opportunity to Get Left
Only the First TO Come in
Get Served.

The growth OF matrimonial and self
endowment associations hss been 50 rapid
that il calls for some caution from the AF-
PEAL. OF course there are great number of
young men who are contemplating matri-
mony and to whom a snug little sum on til e
consummation OF their engagement would
not be Objectionable. The ordinary young
man in love is not very rational being.
Tne idea of impossible riches easily takes
possession Of his fancy, and 10 impose upon
him is consequently not difficult. The AP-
PEAL proposes 10 deal with this question in
business like way. II is
A sELF-EvIDENT FACT
that no man can take 100 silver dollars and
make 200 silver dollars out OF them. II is
true he might risk that much money in 8
speculation and come out ahead; but there Ia
no element of uncertainty ia a matrimonial
association as there is in an insurance conn
pany. Every young man who goes into
one of the matrimonial aid associations
expects 10 get married at certain
time. Suppose We take the most favor
able showing that the association can
make. Let us start out with 100 members
the first month, the association guaranteeing
to pay every man 500 when ne gets mar
ried, any time after six months. We will
suppose that
THE ASSOCIATION INCREASES
every month in membership twenty-five per
cent. over the preceding month, very lib
eral allowance; indeed far above the in
crease in the marriage rate. We will say
that every man pays SO to become a mem
Der. The increase of membership stands
thus;
First month ...-... aldo
second month...-....-..-...--. 70
IhlIu month i29
Fourth 10
rlln Aonln.....'-' w
SAAtn
Total..,...,,..
A. I'll of the money advanced Tor menu
bership goes 10 the agents and officers OF the
concern, the members would have
TO DRAW THEIR MONEY
from assessments made upon the total men,
bership. To pay them their 800 it would be
necessary to ID axe an assessment of $40 900 on
the 975 members. That would amount TO
SO IS per member. So the first men who got
GU would pay $50 % and would get 500.
A calculation will show that subsequent
members will pay $3l So for 300; S42 so
for the same sum; and respectively $55, S6S,
$S1, 500. From these figures we see that
even on this most favorable basis the
man who goes in eight months after the con-
Germ started will come out just about even,
and every man subsequent will lose. So
gun.the concern
WOULD HAVE TO WIND UP,
even il the percentage OF increase continued.
But these associations do not usually follow
this career The membership is large al
the beginning and follows at the same rate,
or dwindles away. Let US suppose an asso-
cia,ion started with 100 members, and got
100 new members every month. Those who
went in the first month would pay S26 &c
for 500; the second month, S43 50; the
third month, $50; the ferr,h month, $76 Sc;
the fifth month, S93, and the sixth month,
$llO. So six months from the date of pay
ment would close this out
WITH LOSS
of $40 apiece for each of the beneficiaries,
and a total loss of $4,000 to the other 500
members, who have paid up to date. II will
thus be seen that when the association close
out, those who have been guileless enough TO
pay up to date will be left TO that extent.
Any man can sit down and figure the matter
out, and he will see that these associations
can only live short and eventful career,
and tn at 10 the end somebody will be very
badly bitten, and it won't be the association.
TOO SWEET TO LIVE.
II is customary for the agents 10 absorb all /;
OF the initiation fees and more. A
members year would accordingly
take $4,000 out of the pockets of some per-
sons. 1t is simply folly TO think that these
concerns can last. The principle upon which
they are founded are too ethereal to hold
them up. There will be a crash, and the
smart young men who run them will claim
hat the members would not pay their assess
ments, and will thus relieve themselves.
There Is also large amount of speculation
going on in them. Outside parties take out
policies for a youug man who intends getting
and then share with him any profits.
There is one Young man in Memphis who
holds policies for Sl50,000. The cases taken
BY the APPEAL to show the fraud Inherent in
he associations are favorable ones for them.
II the results are 20 disastrous when the
benefit is only 500 what will they be when
$1,000 or $4,000 is held out?