Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1891-06-28

| prevalence, shows the necessity for a
| thorough investigation of the case of each
| applicant with history of this treacherous
| malady A popularity of its operation APP
pears to be its tendency to attack the
weakest organ. Important questions,
therefore, are what part of the system was
| most affected by Ia grippe, and how serious
was the affections If pneumonia ensued,
have the mobid conditions entirely disap-
peared. If heart symptoms developed, was
there, or is there, any sign of organic
changer AS intimated above, it is not the
disease itself which is so much to be feared,
as its tendency to tear away the defenses
from the vital organs. As a searcher for
weak spots and occult disturbances, the
grip is an immense success. Its periodical
advent introduces into medical examine
tons for life insurance distinct and con-
sequential element which it will not do to
ignore.
Some of the life assurance companies are
in the habit of giving great publicity to ex
ceptional cases where life assurance poll
cies have brought forth wonderful results
for the owner thereof. Enterprising agents
use these freely in soliciting new business,
holding out the idea that what has been
done in an exceptional case is likely to
prove the rule, and so persuade persons to
take policies in the companies they repre-
sent. This is not a fair way of soliciting
business. All that the average policy
holder can expect, or has a right to expect,
is average results and not exceptional ones
Occasionally some fortunate individual has
made large fortune very rapidly, but this
is by no means the rule, for the majority of
persons have to plod along steadily, and be
content with making fair living as a rec
ompenSe for their labor. The average IN
this respect is all that any man has right
to anticipate. This is precisely the case in
life assurance, and to represent that the
exceptional cases are to become the rule is
to mislead policyholders, to miSrepreSent
the system of life assurance, and to belle
its science. 1T the companies and agents
would be content to present the actual
facts as they exist, and cease parading
special cases where under exceptional con-
ditions policy has turned out better than
was expected, the better it will be for the
business in general. Life assurance can
stand on its merits and needs no putting up
or distortion of facts to commend it to the.
public. On the contrary, for every mis-
representation that is made policyholder
is disappointed and becomes an opponent of
the system and likely to injure it to the full
extent of his power. man who has been
once deceived by miscellaneous may be
counted upon to make his grievance known
from the housetops.
Admitting all the advantages which may
accrue from speculative life assurance,
there can be no question after all that the
real basis, the trpest justification for this
great business, is to be sought in the pro-
lection of the home. Around this gathers
the grandest motive for action-the power,
the lever and the fulcrum. There is no rea-
son why the investor should not invest--no
reason why the Spectator should not spec
ulate legitimately in life insurance if he has
the occasion and the desire. But the main
object Of life assurance, that which reaches
down Tor up, touches man on the coat
sleeve of his conscience and says, ''This is
your duty is the necessity which arises
from the possession of ties of affection and
relationship Insurance Age.
Apropos of the foregoing is the following
little history: Mr.. L. was an excellent
mankind, considerable and honorable in
every relation of life. He was a member of
a mercantile firm in which, he had in
formed his wife, his interest was worth
S35 900.
This was all she knew of her husbands
affairs. Living well and happily, she
sought to know nothing further. Mr.. 7.
died suddenly of heart disease, when the
widow as suddenly found herself without
an income. The remaining members of
the firm declined to make any advances I'M
til the administrator to the estate
ldu Tie VI ueF
husbands interest in the firm. She was
under the impression that her husband had |
carried life assurance policy for s., 200, |
but an inquiry at the Office of the company |
was met by the reply that this was so, but |
that the amount had already been claimed |
by the administrator, the policy having |
been made out payable to her husbands !
heirs, etc, and not in the name of his wife. |
The widow thus left penniless is compelled |
to become sort of 'lady help'' in the fam
lily of a rich acquaintance. After two |
years of semi-servile work in this capacity |
she was one day called upon by represen-
tative of her late husbands firm, who in
formed her that he had been directed and |
by the firm to make her an offer
Of $3.50, which amount would cover the full |
balance of her late husbands account in |
the partnership, as the firm had met with
serious losses in Liverpool, and so forth.
Upon consulting with her lawyer she set
lied for that sum.
This is not an isolated case, but typical
one. Are there not hundreds and thou
sands of widows left in precisely the same |
condition of Mrs. To
The family, therefore, should have first |
consideration. Protect it under all circum- |
stances.
This should be the rule of every man
With family; and. with with the facili-
les afforded by life assurance, there can be
~ kdllu GACuSe IUE uOU pellg dSSuTeu. /
Where Mr.. T. erred was in not having his
policy made payable to his wife. Every
nan in business-particula those in
Moderate way-should have his life assur-
ince, as far as possible, for the exclusive
'enefit of his wife and family. The laws
# this and many other states enable pol
ty holder to do this securely by protecting
he proceeds of such policies from the
laims of the husbands creditors