The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1884-06-21

cognile it, by one who had become en-
tangled in its coils:
"-Hr. -- -, Wee President Of the
- - Life Insurance Conn
''paay:
"DEAR SIR am in receipt of a postal
card advising me that my next annual
premium (policy No. AS, 1863 is $l4104;
thereby | am reminded that the life i'll
surance business, as managed by your
company, is, like the providence of God,
past finding out. | began paying $50
cash and SOP note on this policy in 1867,
and it seemed on these terms an mex
had died. Unhappily | survived, and
now for ten years | have been struggling
as much to keep the policy as myself
alive But the appetite of this policy, |
observe, docs grow by what it feeds on,
and the danger is that it will shortly
exceed in its demands my ability To pro-
vide for it, and shall see it die on my
han DIS.
The steady aud constant increase in
the amount of the premium on this
policy began to excite my curiosity, not
to say my admiration, several years ago.
The agent to whom | applied for en-
lightenment q have passed through the
hands of five or six, each OF whom has
amaSsed a fortune and letired) so over
whelmed me with mathematics, of the
most mixed aud abStrISc character that |
fell back from the investigation greatly
Inundated at my own ignorance, and pro
foundry impressed with the reasons of
the company--or the agent: could not
tell which.
Il think l realize, and hope | appre-
ciate gratefully, the beneficent operation
of this steady progression in the cost of
the policy 1t makes one contemplate
death with resignation, and look upon
that contamination as devoutly to be
wished for-to checkmate the company.
Did you ever think how Booth or Nc
Cullough might improve Hamlet's solil-
oquy and thrill an admiring audience by
just holding up ore Of your ife-insur-
ance policies at the words '7here's the
respect that makes calamity of so Tong
lire?'
But fear trespaSs on your time.
Is it true that insurance officials, not
withstandirg the meaereness Of their
salaries, are overworked? | will come at
once to business. | need not trace the
steady increase i'll these premiums. Suifi-
cient that last year | paid Sl42 -, and
this year you call for $40 OF, upon a
policy the annual premium on which was
crease, and my Giscouragingly sound
health, cannot undertake to CONF etc
with the company. am aware, of course
that 4 policy-holder who has paid ten
annual premiums can hardly expect the
consideration due one who, not being in
sureC, seeks information. Being fish
GRAFTON due one IN tie sea- And vet |
tc0uld like to know whether policy No.
43, 500 has any surrender value. am
already in possession Of considerable ac-
emulation of tracts, pamphlets, circu
lars, a'manacs, calendars and extracts
from religious newspapers which afford
abundant knowledge as to the facilities
and methods of getting into life-insur-
ance. But what | now seek is informa-
ton as to how to get out.
Pardon me if | have used too great
familiarity in addressing \ man whose
acquaintance with logarithms, mortality
tables, and the differential calculus en-
titles him to the name of benefactor and
the salary of an actuary. | am not ig-
norant OF what is due the representative
of SGT, O00,ooO-if these be the figures
of assets. l address you because your
name appears OH seductive postal card
which invites me to add $141 Of to these
twenty. seven millions. | presume you
are no stranger to the complaints of dis
appointed poiicy-holders, and it is not
impossible that you dismiss them all
without consideration. But there may
be some one i'll your employ who can
show me the cheapest way out. Will
you please refer me to him, that may
present my policy and receipts and
things with the conrmdrum which once
staggered the Intelligence of Daniel
Webstcr-'What is all this WORTH But
then Webster knew scarcely any thing of
life Insurance.