The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1883-12-22

Men IRE estimated largely at their PEI
cuniarN value in these days, and the
pocketbook is too often taken as the
measule Of mans worth. But there
is a sense 10 which men are worth much
more, even pecuniarily, than the mere
amoun1 of money they possess or can
commabd. A reference 70 certain judi
cial caIes viii explain this statement.
The other day mans eye was put out
by another, and he sued gor damages,
and VETS awarded $4 800. This gives us
a staring point in estimating the mans
real value. The other eye, being now
compaIIed to do the work of both, is
certaifk worth to that man $1,000.
For the eyes, then, $13, 800 seems to
be a Il valuation.
In Ae case Of Smith VS.. the A., B.
and q Railroad Company for damages
SUSTAINED BY the loss of leg at the
knee, tAused by negligence on the part
of the Employees Of the company, plain
tiff recovered $4,000 and costs. In this
case Tie remaining leg could not per-
form tie work Of both, and its value can
not beput at more than $4,000. A
man stwo legs may, therefore, accord
ing tolthe highest legal authority, be
counta worth $31, 900.
Anoher interesting suit was that OF
THOMPSON VS.. the. Wimposkeag Milling
Comp5siv. Thompson was engaged in
defendt1t's mill, and, through no fault
of his own, one Of his arms was caught
in the Machinery and made into cotton
goods. He brought suit for $4,000
but recovered only $4,000. 1t was his
right Arh that was taken off, but he ha:
since learned to shave himself, sign hii
name, CHI his food and do other usefu
and NECESSARY things with the left; 81
that it il Of more value to him now thai
the right arm alone formerly was. 4
fair estimate OF Its worth, on the basi
of the iudicially ascertained value 0
the otha arm, would probably be abou
$18, 200.
We h9ge endeavored to fix the valu
OF an car and nose in the same way
but these members are generally re
moved under circumstances which max
prudent for the injured party not {
ring suit; and we can find no bette
1easure OF their value than the cost G
anew and improved member of papier
nlche-say 800 for the three. It
diicult also to put an appraisal on
MATS hair. Persons who have bee
seal led can not carry the matter to th
eour, as the wild Indian is not cit
zen. or amenable to civil law. A wig
howeer, costs in the neighborhood {
fifty dllars.
Kecpping up, we find that & man
hair, Dse, ears, eyes, arms and leg
are With together at least $74,65(
ibis \ lalculated TO give one new an
lncreaRa idea OF his personal worth.
these here appendages, every 0ns- Z
which Anan may loose and yet go o
living, hworth so much, what must /
the yalu0of his entire bodyP Rigl
here come in one OF the anomalies {
the law. The New York Les
islature, n the exercise Of i
supreme Wisdom, has declared tn,
man Ii worth only $500
Ahat Is all TIE Long Island Compar
mad to pay folthe corpses made by the
recent disaster. So that it pays to ki
man outright; for taking off one
us legs may cost more than il linsnlAiffn
even including Coroner's fees and Fl
neral expenses. We call attention
this apparent contlictof legal authorit
not attempting to explain it save by Il
suggestion that, perhaps, one of man
eyes is worth as much to himself as Il
whole man is to his surviving friends
NJ Y. Mail.