The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1895-07-18

1
When the young man walked into the
newspaper office and timidly asked the
society editor If she would kindly insert
notice of his approaching marriage, he
little thought of the trouble I've was
bringing down upon his head
The announcement was printed Sun
day. When he reached his office Mon
day, he found stack of letters waiting
for him, every one addressed in a hand
writing he did not know. He whistled
when he opened the first, ditto the SEQ
ond, looked bit surprised at the con-
tents Of the third and swore fluently
through the balance of the pile. AT noon
there were more At night there were
others
Despite the evident curiosity Of his
fellow laborers in the Office he did not
take q soul into his confidence until the
third day. Then ne remarked to his
deskmates:
"Say, the gre,, American life insur-
ance man isn't overlooking any bets
these days, is he?"
Wherefore this outburst?"
For answer the groom to be went 10
drawer and produced stack containing
lat letters-hc said that was the exact
number, though his friend did not count
them-the accumulation since that fate
full Sunday morning
Every blamed one of them is from
some agent for some life insurance com
pany who wants to insure my life. Each
one represents the best company on the
face of the earth. Each pays the largest
dividends. Each invests the money of
its patrons to the very best advantage.
Each moralizes on the uncertainty of
life and seeks to impress upon me the
solemn duty owe to my wife that is to
be to get my life insured for million
or two Of dollars. And each blessed one
has come since the announcement of my
approaching wedding was printed.
The young man paused moment,
then he dug into the pile and after
few moments search produced docy
ment which he showed at his friend,
simply saying:
Just look at tho devilish ingenuity
displayed in tho construction of that
thing.
The thing was about the size of
theatrical poster. known rs Il three sheet,
in other words, three of them will paper
the side of a barn. Down tho center, at
regular intervals, were lot of notices
and warming cXhortation printed in type
| three times the size of the context, and
in red ink. Here is one choice extract
from the document: "In the midst of
| life we are III death. -
Let us call your attention that it is
| l,e =. l,,f. col fl,,tx-
to provide for those dependent upon
him. No one knowcth when the angel
of death may knock ut the door of howell
or mansion and how can one be prepared
[ for his coming unless time is taken by
the financial forelock? Think of the ray
| of hope which breaks through the clouds
| of bitter bereavement when the SORROW
| ing ones reflect that by the careful fore
thought of the dear departed poverty has
been prevented from adding its horrors
to those of tho grave. 1t is your duty to
provide for your loved ones. Do not put
it off until tomorrow, for III the Ian
guago of the poet, Tomorrow mover
| comes "
There was another paragraph in the
document that showed the touch of
master hand. 1t ran something like this:
"Our policies arc devised and de-
signed to meet the wants and needs of
all people desiring insurance. They are
liberal They are honest They bring
the very best returns. We have ideal
policies which we can safely recommend.
We can and will guarantee endowment
results ut much less than endowment
rates. And again we pledge ourselves to
furnish Hbid up policies at far below tho
usual cost Our dividends are often five
times as large as those of other com
panics on SINH lar policies. Wealso make
o specially of making liberal loans to
our clients OH their policies. We are in
| the field for business and we mean to get
| it. And don't you forget it. -
| do not leave your wife and babies
dependent on charity
The olocutionary effect the benedict
to be threw into the reading of these en-
tracts gained him II round of applause
from his companions. 1t also brought TO
him the knowledge that every other
man in the Office who was married--in
Chicago-had been similarly afflicted
But that brought no balm to his soul,
and he continued to kick He didn't
think it the proper thing to do and DO
announced his intention Of writing q
| circular letter 10 the various individuals
who had importuned him to take a
risk and informing them OF his feel
ings.
Don't DO it, my boy, said the head
boolikeepcr. Wait until after you are
married. You will get forty of these
things then To one now, and then you Il
have to get out another letter Wait till