Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1886-10-23
SOCRATES LIFE INSURANCE.

The Real Conversation That Took Place
When the Grand Old Greek Died.
The friends of Socrates we're assembled
sround the venerable Athenian as he was
about to die. The poison had been
brewed, and uncommon strong it was,
too, for Socrates had expressed wish
that as he had been condemned to death
the manner OF his departure might be
arranged to be as speedy az possible.
"It's rather q delicate subject, old fell
low" said Plato, shut how are you go
ing to les,e your family fixed? You
haven't saved up much of any thing, you
know"
"That's all right" replied Socrates.
sI've got considerable life insurance,
and they will get enough to keep them
perhaps better than I have always done.
Sometimes when nagged little extra
by Xantippe. I have thought of letting
the policies lapse, but didn't do it.
She is woman Of spirit, to be sure, but
to have husband who is an out-and-ou
philosopher is enough to irritate almost
any wife, and as look back at things I
can not blame her for having been lit
tie animated in conversation. Then
there are the boys, too. OF course /
couldn't think Of leaving them nothing,
80 I'm very glad I kept up my insur-
ance."
Here rather fresh young disciple
who had only recently contrived to get
himself enrolled among Socrates follow
ers, and who had been free with his
"opinions" on every subject discussed,
said: "That's right. It's good thing
to keep ones assessment paid"
II do not quite understand YOU"
said Socrates. II was speaking of life
insurance, not of taxes or mining stock,
which nre subject to assessment till you
can't rest. There are regular prerni-
ums but no assessments in life insur-
ance."
10 yes, there are," answered the ne.
opyte. 1--WE are assecsed in my associa-
tion every time q member dies. I've
been in it q year. We only had two
deaths that year, SO you see there will be
just eighty deaths in forty years, and I
can figure out exactly what it will cost
me if I live as long as that"
"That ought to be cheap enough" re-
piled the sage" "What's the name of
the company?'
'It's the Mutual Preserve Fund.-" an
swered the young man; land there are
lots of others just as good. Oh! you be:
your life I'm up on insurance. go in
for it at cost. I'm down on the high.
priced old. liners"
Il do not just get the diff of your re.
Marks" said Socrates. II have been in
sured in standard companies ever since
was young man, younger in fact, than
yourself. The companies insured me at
a rate exactly proportionate to my age
They have continued to grow in rnagni-
tude and the power to do good all this
time. Meanwhile my premiums have
grown smaller continually by reason of
dividends applied in payment, until of
late years they have been almost nomi-
nal"
Plato here remarked: II know the
kind of associations our young friend re-
fers to. I was roped into one some time
ago. We beat his record the first year,
for nobody died. I suppose he would
have figured on that basis that there
would never be any deaths. But there
we're, just the same, and in few years,
as the members grew older, assessments
came in so lively as to drive me out.
The concern went up some time ago,
just as learned thousands of others
like it had DONE"
"Oh you are all wrong" chirped in
the vealy exponent of the new-fangled
theory. "You see we are going to keep
getting in new blood" That's the way
to make the assessment plan last. Well
managed associations will secure enough
fresh members to more than make up for
those who die or drop out"
ut would seem as though each ne
brought new responsibility
somebody must meet his death claim in
due time" said Socrates. ut appears
TO me that in life insurance, as in all
things else, every man must provide for
himself. By the way" he continued,
what are the assets of these associa-
;ions?"
"They don't have assets" was the re-
ply. '!Their assets are in the pockets of
he members"
"And you think that is as good as hav-
ng them in the keering OF company of
trustees to meet with certainty all claims
ls they mature" asked the philosopher"
"Why not?" said the innocent.
"And you think that the way to con-
luct the life insurance business is to take
he chances Of members paying when
yer assessed? You think that after you
re dead these men are sure to chip in
nd make the loss good to your family?"
''Of course" WIS the answer.
"And you think that the experience of
'ears as to the correct principles of life
insurance are at fault" continued the
age; "that knowledge, ability, and
honorable management are Of no account;
hat reserves are unnecessary, and assets
useless piling up of Wealth. |,
The unabashed young man nodded
sfiant assent.
my dear Crito," said Socrates, tnr1
ng to one of his oldest friends, twill You
indy hand me that mug of hemlock? :
have lived to sec and hear the biggest !
Ia fool on earth, and am now quite :
eady to die" So saying, he blithely !
ossed down the potion and, with smile
good natured contempt at the believer
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