Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-06-24
WHAT WAS HIS BUSINESS {?
The Traveller Who Puzzled and Entertained
His Journalistic Companion.
Chicago Herald

relates the following interesting expert
ence:
Returning from New York on a limited
express train a few days ago, was at
tracted by gentleman who occupied the
section adjoining mine in the sleeping
car. An earnest and cheerful man, in the
yigor of sound mental and bodily health.
clear of thought, ready in conversation,
and attentive yet hearty in manner, he was
soon on pleasant terms with nearly every
one of his travelling companions and was
not long in becoming evidently well liked
by all. Having, almost without knowing
how, confessed myself newspaper man
to him, it occurred to me that it would
only be fair restoration of the equili-
brium of information to learn his calling.
So at the first convenient chance [ said
squarely:
''You haven't told me yet what business
you are in"
He smiled good-naturedly and replied:
II am not usually slow in making my oc-
cupation known, but this time I'll let let
you try your skill at guessing"
''Al right" said, give me clue"
Certainly" he answered, II am en-
gagged in helping people save money"
''Try me with something hard" [ ans
wered confidently; you are engaged with
a savings bank"
''Not at alI,'' said he, Savings banks
are excellent institutions, but have moth
ing to do with them. I am in a business
in which poor man, if he invests with
me- cannot pull out his earnings if the
whim seizes him to do so after a time,
and dissipate the same to his family's det-
riment. / undertake particularly to aid
his family"
"Then you are an officer of some organ
lied charity" said.
ooh, no. was his half-amused reply,
''men who do business with me are lifted
wholly above the degradation of becom-
ing objects of charity. The humblest of
my customers can, even in dying mo-
ments, know that those whom he has sup
ported in life are by his own efforts left
independent of benevolent assistance"
/. ''You seem to deal mainly with the
poor?" I questioned, while cudgeling my
brain for some further hint as to his as
ISOLATION.
"By no MEANS" he promptly replied,
II hold myself and my business to be of
the most positive value to people of mod
crate means salaried men, and others,
while the richest men in the country are
always my surest patrons"
'You are fortunate,' said, perhaps a
a little vexed at my obtusenss, ''in being
able to serve all classes to satisfactorily
You must have sound financial back
ing?"
"Wen, yes" he said, plainly enjoying
my justification. "There is wealth
enough on hand in my business to pay
the entire national debt. It is not all in
one organization, but as they are conduct
ed upon the same general principles am
justified in claiming them all to some ex-
tent. But the particular institution rep
resent has alone more money than the
capital of any bank in the country.
There are others with more and others
with less, but each has enough to spare
to fill all contracts with It's customers"
"You say that rich men are among
your best patrons" I said. "Perhaps
you are capitalist OF representative of
Il represent capital, and plenty of it,
said he, although it is money actually be-
longing to the customers themselves But
you do not yet scent my relations with
the wealthy classes. Let me be palmer.
l help rich men build up and often create
TO valuable estates.''
'You cannot be a lawyer" 1 unused
aloud. "They only help settle estates
after a man passes away, except when
they help contesting heirs to unsettle
them. But what does a rich man need
anyway of that which he already possess
es? He has an estate; why should he re-
quire you to furnish him one?"
"The possible misfortunes of business"
answered the gentleman more seriously, |
care known to every sensible man in the
world of trade. The more successful
man may be in commerce, manufacture
or finance, the more he sees and appreci- |
ates the chances OF disaster to all his
prospects. The very intelligence which
has made him a man of present ample |
means teaches him that the future is full |
of uncertainties by which part or all of |
his possessions may disappear"
"And your business is to make good the |
oss?'' asked obviously.
"Oh, no, my business is to have furn-
ished him the certainty of receiving a
good rOnnd sum of money after a term
Of years, or Of furnishing the same as an
estate to his heirs, an estate which inter
Vening business disaster cannot impair, |
and which even those lawyers you referred |
to cannot unsettle. [ give him an estate
which goes straight, and in a lump, at |
once to those for whom he intends it,
"Yours should be popular and an easy
calling" said. Il presume you all have
10 do is to sit in your Office making ar
engagements with swarms of applicants,
with policemen, perhaps, to keep the |
crowd in line, and see that the rush does
not OyerpOwer YOU"
ITO the contrary" he answered. Il have
% visit either in person or by some of
ny assistants almost every man with
whom I do business. I am obliged to seek
him at his Office, store, or home. Every .
nan with whom I have dealings admits
he value and importance of concluding
IN agreement with me, and every man |
who has accepted what I have to sell is
glad he did So while his family feels and |
5alks the same way. Yet he has almost |
invariably concluded the contract after
more or less urgent solicitation on my
part
Its an interesting phase of human
said, that you should have
what all seem to want and are pleased to
nave obtained, yet which few, if any,
aunt you up to buy. No more of your
puzzles, if you please. What is your bus
mess. anyway"
Il am life insurance agent said he,