The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1894-06-06
TEMPERANCE AND r.oNnrrrrr.

The Insurance Observer, devoted TO IN
surance interests In Great Britain, in
recent article discusses the subject OF
Temperance and Longevity" from the point
OF view OF the actuary 1t says:
1T must be regarded, We think, as a fact
beyond dispute that intemperance is one OF
the most prominent evils from which this
country suffers. 1t is crying evil, in its
individual as well as its collective sense, so.
eially as well as commercially ;and, while no
doubt the last decade has witnessed consid-
cradle improvement in this respect amongst
the population at large, and perhaps amongst
the middle classes in particular, still the
veriest optimist will hardly deny that much
remains to be accomplished Every influence
which tends to help forward the progress Ct
so desirable a reformation is therefore to be
welcomed. The moralist may impress his
generation with the Nervousness OF intem-
perance as an offense against the happiness
OF families. The social reformer may show
and he will hardly experience much din.
Guilty in doing so-that this vice, beyond all
other causes, fills our jails aud find occupa-
tion for the hangman. The economist may
prove to demonstration that expenditure on
intoxican's is mere waste tending to bank
ruptcy and ruin, and that il applied In more
rational directions it would lead to comfort
If not opulence. These, II must be con,
fessed, are potent If not onanswerable argu.
ments, wich ought TO carry conviction to all
who are not past praying for. Still, nothing
is TO the average man so precious as the
sometimes questionable boon OF life itself,
and, IL he can once be convinced that as the
inevitable result of habitual excess, his
tenure of the existence which he prizes will
be considerably curtailed, the argument will
appeal to his seltishness with an effect which
more generous considerations will probably
fail 10 produce
The Observer calls attention to an inter
linz altt,N lon,
Lie Association, prepared by the able well.
known actuary, II. w. Manly, Esq, and Il
quotes MIR. Manly us saying in reference 10
this report
''In order to determine how much of this
divisible surplus should be allowed to each
section, have, as on the previous occasion,
made a comparison between the actual
claims in both sections during the duin.
quennium with the claims that might have
been expected according to the Institute OF
Actuaries' HIM Table. The results. which
are here thrown into tabular form, are very
interesting, confirming, us they undoubtedly
do, the superiority of the lives in the
temperance section from an insurance point
OF view. Part OF the difference on the pres
ent occasion may arise from the temperance
section containing a larger proportion OF
new entrants who have recently passed
under medical examination, and for that
reason they mnst, as whole, be considered
more Select class at the time OF Observa-
tion but, making due allowance for that
fact, there is still large margin in favor OF
the temperance lives"
The Observer then adds
mo functionary is less likely to be swayed
by Imagination or sentiment than the
actuary, the man of figures and we cannot
but regard the testimony presented in this
report to the superiority of temperance lives
as OF signal value. Nor is it merely the ex-
preston OF 'pious opinion on the part OF
Mr.. Manly but the facts an figures are so
Irresistible that he feels compelled to give
practical effect TO them in the shape of a re-
versionary bonus of 80s. per cent. TO partici-
patlng assurants in the temperance section,
while those in the general section receive no
more than 25s. per cent. We shall hardly
be suspected of fanatlcism on the subject
but the question as thus authoritatively
illustrated appears to us OF such importance
as to claim the attentive and anxious con-
sideration Of all who are interested in the
business of life assurance"
The advocate Of total abstinence can
hardly have more significant and effective
confirmation of its wisdom as pertaining to
longevity than is thus furnished by the
painstaking, unanswerable economic records
OF life insurance. Temperance Ad-
Yocate.