The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1886-07-09

lent use of ones money. Here he wai
firmly fixed on a rock foundation o
the various equitables, mutuals, ton
tines, and benefits qualified by tn,
main States of the Union, and fairly
boxing the compass, whose names ar,
rendered amply familiar to every on,
of us by the frequent visits of tn,
agents with their tabular statements oI
unique advantages. "There can be
no drawback TO this," I SAID. at i,
setting up a dead certain thing on the
future fancied | must have beer
deceived by appearances while aboard
the boat. There vas nothing more
harmless than an ambition of this sort
"You are mistaken exclaimed h.
with warmth. "Any excess implies q
penalty. What became a devouriug
passion with me has brought its bur
dens, and as | yield more completely
to the passion, 50 the burdens have be
come more heavy aud grievous to be
borne. feel tempted day by day to
throw them off, only that | cannot bring
my mind to sacrifice my favoritt
schemes now 80 long nurtured.'
begged for an explanation.
'Do You not see, responded he, Sin
sured, as | am, for a million dollars OF
more, that my life is too valuable tc
the insurance companies to be lost il
there De a possible way to preserve it
Every day that live is money in theil
pockets, or rather in their safety vaults
| first became aware that other people
were taking lively interest in my ex
istence when nathing one day at Long
Branch. | had been carried far beyond
my depth by the undertow and l hac
no idea how my strength was wasted
until | headed for the shore. | thought
! was gone for good. but Unexpectedly
bold swimmer came TO my relief and
brought me safe to shore. was pro.
fuse in my thanks aud offered to re
ward him handsomely, but his manner
persuaded me that it was his duty rath
er than any philanthropic motive that
prompted the rescue. Shortly after
ward, while travelling in the West,
think in Texas, the stage was halted
by road agents and our lives imperill
ed. Two of the passengers, however,
Immediately transformed themselves
into thoroughly armed guards, and the
attack was repulsed at the enemy's cost
But l hardly realized the extent &c
which | was cared for until one day
choking at the table, my neighbor or
the left sprang to my assistance and
extracted an offending fish bone. My
independence had gone forever. l was
not permitted to ascend the Alps with
out the now indispensable companion
If wanted to see Life in the Metrop
oils as the play-bills put it, and take
in the characteristic quarters Of ole
London or Paris, there must needs &C
with me slugger, who might give
odds to John Sullivan and you have
no idea how dark the shadow of {
shield over ones head till you hav,
walked beneath it for years. Insur
ance companies by mutual agreement
simply paid the expenses OF these life
preservers in human form. 1t is sus
ceptable of simple arithmetical demon
stration. The interest on million dol
lars at the legal rate is about Sl6i
per day, to say nothing of the accumu
lating interest upon it unpaid. Thi.
would procure fair talent in the way
of swimmer, slugger and surgeon ant
pay their travelling expenses as well az
when they were called upon to move
When on the water | am in the care
of the first, on shJre he turns me ovel
to the second as the Captain turns owe
to the mate his vessel in port. And
might multiply instances of where my
appointed guardians have stepped be
tween me and harm until you woulC
fancy | was reciting afresh the Trans
migrations of Indur. that story of Mr.
Barbauld which entranced us when W.
were children.
"But this he continued, is only on,
| phase of the interest | excite. Nj
I health has become a matter of far too
much concern 10 those for whose ben
eft it is supposed to be insured. TIL
institutions which have been apprise,
of their position as beneficiares at m
death seem to exist in an unpleasant
expectant attitude, and the prayers O
the managers are rather for my pros
perity, l fancy, than for my long life
They have actually gone so far when
might be indisposed to incur extra eX
penses and be sorely put to il to NEE
the same on my recovery. My relf
tives, too, whom | visited, alway
seemed to me to be engaged in wonde
ing why some lucky circumstance di
not carry me off, Plenty of peopl
were dying 1aily who could not hal
so we'll be spared. 1t may be fame.
but the unhappy idea pursues me De'
ertheless. Alas, they have no concel
ton how hard at work the companiC
are to save me. Here you see are tw
opposing, not to say contending infl
ences-one desiring aud insisting c
the maintenance of my life, the oth'
secretly, if not openly, craving il
end. The poor doctor, whose practi,
cannot he limited to surgery, is wit
me always. There he is now, watchir
lest / burn another strong cigar ere
90 to bed.
| saw that he was tired, and v
parted. In the morning early W
, off, and we met TO more. 20
Holmes, the burden he spoke of
feelingly was too much for him. Dea
came soon despite all precautions, al
last May / read his simple obituai
y He had provided against publicity
. his career or his diosyncrasy, viii
8 became an extremely distasteful ST
. ject to him at the last. The labor
guardians ceased, and the only no
worthy reminder of his history turn
. up when voluble and most persistt
4 lightning calculator dropped in on
!. few days ago. Taking him for
likely customer, lent him the clos
= attention during the skirmishiug Il
usually precedes business, when he
veloped into an insurance agent, wi
n out the one redeeming feature of b
70 tiers. From him | secured the pa
a which | here submit, with the expla
10 tion that Sarah d. Holmes was
a. vorte cousin of the deceased, |
n that ten other checks of equal amou
i were distributed among his heirs