The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1893-12-03


shey Know nothing whatever about.
They don't know at what ages they
died or of what troubles. This is q big
point with the life insurance actuaries.
Ihey put about half their dependence in
the selection of risks upon the indications
or Incredibly. In most states the life in
surancc companies charge all colored
men higher premiums than white men.
In New York u law was passed u few
years ago IorDldding life insurance COM
panles to make this distinction, and the
result Is that not ono black man out of
twenty can get Il policy on his life in the
state of New York. The companies do
not disobey tho law, but they select their
risks with much greater care"
Here congressman from West Vir-
ginia spoke up and said:
THAT reminds me of one of the little
hobbies which our old friend Steve Elk
ms OF Elklns, w. Va, is fond of riding.
Steve IS great believer in the law Of
Incredibly He carries it to such an ex-
IRENE that he says the man whose father
and grandfather lived to an old age will
live to an old age also, and vice versa.
In his own case he thinks he leads a
charmed life. His father is still living.
l believe, at Il green old age His grand
father died at 90, and his great-grandfa-
ther lived to be nearly 100 His mother
and grandmother also enjoyed long lives.
Steve thinks this indicates long life for
him. have heard him say that he is as
sure to live to be so as he is to reach 80.
when the life insurance men talk 70
him, he only laughs at them and saws the
best policy for him is that found in the
longevity record of his family. He be-
lievcs he lives IL charmed life, and that
neither epidemic, nor railway accident,
nor steamship disaster. nor anything will
get him. If ne was about TO start on Il
Journey by train, he says, and he knew
that train WAS to be wrecked he would
step into the cars with perfect confidence
i'll coming ont unscathcd | don't be-
llcve Steve quite believes ali he saws. but
1T is certain that he has the most I'M
bounded confidence III the influence of
longevity Ill ones antecedents. for know
that when his boy was lying Ill in New
York with Il complication of diseases
and had virtually been given up by three
or four doctors Steve never wavercd in
his belief that the youngster would get
VII iA' vs." w sly, IlcS can XIII
an Elkins.' And they didn't kill that
one. for he is alive and we'll today"
Another Incident.
Then California congressman, Mr.
Hillborli, added his quota to the store of
gossip
~ man never knows when he is we'll
off i'll this world" said he. Now, there
was Page of San Francisco, used to be in
the house, you remember, and lived
some time in Washington after leaving
congress. He was always dead opposed
to life insurance; was frequently urged
| by agents and his friends to take ont
some for the protection of his family;
| wouldn't listen to it. They finally dis
| covered what the trouble was with him.
| He was afraid he had something wrong
with his kidneys, and he wouldn't sub
init to medical examination on that ac-
count. Not for $50,000,' said he, would
I know that 1 had Brights disease. Ii l
was told that had it or was liable to it,
it would kill me. l have such Il dread of
it that fear and worry would send me
into my grave
"Wcll, sharp life insurance agent got
| after him one day and finally induced
him to take out il policy or at least to
submit to an examination, if his regular,
physician would declare that Page had
nothing wrong with his kidneys. The
physician laughed al Pages theory about
the Brights diacas. ;nd declared him as
sound rs "a dollar. Page WAS delighted
to hear this, made ont his npuication for
$?O .000 policy and submitted to an en-
animation. The medical man employed
by the company made thorough tests.
and ASA result ihcreoCagrecd with PAGES
regular physician that the risk was first
class. The policy was issued. and with
in two years Page died The most GU
rlous thing about it is that he died of the
very disease which he had feared and
which the doctors said he was free Of"
Denmark's First Joke.
AT this luncture the Danish minister,
Count L. de Reventlow, passed through
the room after finishing an elegant
luncheon. This reminded some one of n
gE-<ss~-s story concerning
- Clark Carr, who
4 ~ was minister to
ID @>. @ Copenhagen nm
~ der the Harrison
kHsiNSN. So admi II istration.
l$&FTSssS2Sks \. nX8 ;. The man who
II SSS;fIIsS;sf NV !. - told the story had
dsssssy ;t ~ NJ been in Copen
GyRSS,<E sSE},Ylt\ /S&T hagen recently
IT5iN9JTt)ll ,, 2 and found every
w a. u All