The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1894-12-20

and Vermont, / celebrated the fact by
having new sign painted: STANLEY
iWeyman, General Agent Phoenix Re-
lief Life Insurance Co." wherein the
l.-General," as betokening my recent
promotion, was made to stand out in
all the prominence of brilliant gold
letters on Eght-blue ground. But
decided that my extravaganza should
not be limited to new sign. would
also hire secretary. Fifty letters
Gay necess:tated considera bic labor in
reading and answering, and of sud
den it seemed very ridiculous for me,
general agent for the states OF New
York and Vermont, 70 pin myself down
to the drudgery of attending to SO
large a correspondence. The dignity
of nv new office demanded a secre-
tary; and not only would he tighten
my labor considerably, but he would
always be very busy whenever any
prospective policy takers entered the
Office, and between us, il we remem-
bered to assume very hurried man.
ner when a step was heard upon the
threshold, we could doubtless make
deep impression upon the chance
caller.
Ny secretary came highly recon-
mended, and / was charmed. He
seemed to possess natural aptitude
for the insurance business, and always
gave the closest attention whenever |
tried to explain the complicated ma
chinery of agents and sub-agents,
whereby any man with merely a ghost
of an idea OF insuring his life is in
etantly made the object of labor no
less persistent than that brought to
bear upon the one unconverted sinner
i'm Methodist prayer meeting. But
Notwithstanding bis evident interest,
The never asked questions; in fact. taci-
turnity was his most prominent char
hctsristic. Monosyllables, and those
of the simplest sort, implying affirma-
tion and negation. were apparently
the measure Of his voca bulary. When
one, of my friends suggested that he
be nicknamed "Sphinxy." the appella-
kion seemed SO ittiug that it was i'm
rnedistely adopted by a laughing vote.
although, to be sure, some one raised
pbjec lions based upon the sex of the
Egyptian prototype, which. however,
were quickly overruled. Sphin1y
then he was by name, and Sphinxy
also by nature
Six months had passed-nonths dur
ing which the bank teller showed each
day growing Difference to my weather
DEMONSTRATIONS, while my satisfac-
zion in Stanley Weyman steauily in
creased-'when one Saturday morning
saw Sphinxy and me completing our
monthly report which we had to for
ward that afternoon to the home
office. We had received from all the
field men statements of what policies
hhey had secured and what premiums
they had collected during this month,
and we wer now engaged in balsno-
ing up the books My secretary was
seated on my left, between me and
the Office door, noting in the big
ledger with a red lead pencil the vari-
ious preraiuma the checks for payment
iof which held in NY hand. had just
read off the name and amount of the
last check-Eay M. Gordon, fifty dol
hars-and was preparing to place the
pile of half hundred checks in the
large envelope preparatory to sealing
and mailing it TO the Hartford, when
there came the most piteous whining
from the direction of the door. 1t
sounded as though some dog were
scratching and 'whimpering for adj
snittauce
Now l am great lover of dogs;
own several myself, and take pride In
the fact that no dogs in the city are
better fed and cared for than mine.
Noa may call me sentimental, but'I re-
spect my dogs a great deal more than
u do many men. There is more hon
esty and integrity In respecta BILE dog
than in large part of the plautigrade
bipeds that occupy space on this globe.
accordingly when the whining was
repeated. l dropped the pile of checks
and ran to the door. Upon opening it,
however, i was disappointed. for no
broken-legged and bedraggled cur
pushed by my legs into the room. and
proceeded to lay his muddy and bloody
carcass upon my new Turkish rug.
looked up and down the dark hall,
mhistled. and even made use OF that
missing sound that inspires valor in the
canine breast, and terror in the feline
heart-but no dog. AS / returned to
my desk, Sphinxy looked up inquiring-
iy, and / remarked that probably /
frightened the beast away. for it had
disappeared. Then having finished
my task of inclosing the checks IN the
envelope, sealed the letter and slipped
ut into my pocket to mail on my way
home 20 lunch.
In the insurance business everything
goes as by clockwork. ANY premiums
due on q certain day? They must be
paid on that day. Agents and en-
iployes must perform their duties to
the letter; the report must appear
when expected, or heaven itself IS
moved to know the reason. Accord
tngly when we mailed our monthly re-
port at Saturday noon, we knew that
the mail of Tuesday morning would
bring us an acknowledgment of the
Same from the home Office. I made .
practice OF reading these monthly let
ters from Hartford myself-not that /
had forbidden Sphinxy to open them.
but generally mansged to be IN the
pf1ce and look over the mail as il ar
rived. picking out the red enveloue
with the big seal OF the Phoenix In
purance company, and handing over
She rest OF the letters 20 Sphinxy. Our
monthly letters from the home Office
consisted of circular page. such rs
Has sent TO all general agents. and
when need be, n separate sheet 10 con-
Aain apv matter OF particular business