Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1884-01-21
THE VALUEgOF A MAN.


Men are estimated largely at their |
pecuniary value these days, and the
pocket book is too often taken as the
measure of a mans worth. But there
is sense in which men are worth
much more, even pecuniarily, than
the mere amount of money they pos
sess or can command. A reference
to certain judicial cases will explain
this statement. The other day a
mans eye was put out by another,
and he sued for damages, and was
awarded $4,000. This gives us a
starting point in estimating the mans
real value. The other eye, being now
compelled to do the work of both, is
certainly worth to that man $4,000.
For the two eyes, then $13, 800 seems
to be fair valuation.
In the case of Smith VS.. the A. B.
and C. railroad company for damages
sustained by the loss of a leg at the
knee, caused by negligence on the
part of the employees of the company,
plaintiff recovered $15, 900 and costs.
In this case the remaining leg could
| not perform the work of both, and
its value can not be puts more than
$1,000 A mans two legs may,
therefore, according to the highest
legal authority, be counted worth
$31 900.
Another interesting suit was that
of Thompson VS.. the Wimposkeag
milling company. Thompson was
engaged in defendants 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 recov-
cred only $4,000. 1t was his right
arm that was taken off, but he has
since learned to shave himself, sign
his name, cut his food and do other
useful and necessary things with the
left; so that it is of more value to
him now than the right arm alone
formerly was. A fair estimate of its
worth, on the basis of the judicially
ascertained value of the other arm
would probably be about $4,000.
We have endeavored to fix the val
ue of an ear and a nose the same
way; but these members are gener
ally removed under circumstances
which make it prudent for the injured
party not to bring suit; and we cal
find no better measure of their value
than the cost of a new and improved
member of papiermache-say S10(
for the three. 1t is difficult also tt
put an appraisal on mans hair
Persons who have been scalped Cal
not carry the matter to the courts, a
the wild Indian is not citizen, no
amenable to civil law. A wig, how
ever, costs in the neighborhood o
fifty dollars.
Reckoning up, we find that man.
hair, nose, ears, eyes, arms and leg
are worth together at least STA, $50
This is calculated to give one a ney
and increasing idea of his persona
worth. If these mere appendages
every one of which man may los
and yet go on living, be worth s.
much, what must be the value of hi
entire body? Right here comes il
one of the anomalies of the law. Th
New York legislature, in the exercis
l of its supreme wisdom, has declares
; that a man is worth only $4,000
That is all the Long Island compan
had to pay for the corpses made b
their recent disaster. So that it pay
to kill man outright; for taking O.
one of his legs may cost more tina
killing him, even including coroner
fees and funeral expenses. We ca
attention to this apparent conflict G
of legal authority, not attempting t
t explain it save by the suggestion tina
perhaps, one of a mans eyes is wort
as much to himself as the whole ma
e is to his surviving friends.-Ne