The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1896-09-23
WHERE MEN ARE CARELESS.
Thoughtless as to the Future of Wife
and Family

and Family
1t is singular fact that the Ameri-
can man, who is the best and most
thoughtful husband in the world,
should yet be peculiarly thoughtlcss as
to the future of his wife and children in
the event of his death. low often this
fact is brought home to all CT us when a
man dies and leaves his widow In pow
erty and his affairs in absolute confus-
ion, whereas little forethought might
easily have prevented either or both.
The most loving of husbands is often the
one most careless in the making of his
will Either he forgets altogether to
make one, or he leaves document
which he had planned to change, but for
some reason or other failed to alter.
Again, he neglects to take out an in
surance policy where his income easily
justified his doing so. Or, perhaps,
he took out certain policy for the
benefit of his mother, sister, father or
brother, and the beneficiary having
passed away it was his intention TO al
ter the policy to the name OF his wife.
He intended to do it, but death found 1T
undone, and trouble ensued for the
widow. Particularly, in cases where
man marries for the second time, should
the strictest punctuality and care be ex
ercised in altering mis- will, insurance
policy or such other documents as he
may leave behind him tending to benefit
his heirs or successors.
But men are optimistic about death.
Friends may drop at their very sides
and for a time the lesson is brought
home to them. 81 must make my will,
and see about my own affairs in case
die" says the man to himself, and he
honestly intends to give the matter at
tention. But within a few days he has
plunged into business again and forgot
ten his good resolution. Suddenly he
dies, or becomes so seriously ill as to
make suitable arrangements impossi-
BILE. Then trouble ensues for those he
leaves behind. Such cases are not iso-
lated ones. Again and again during the
past year have such instances come di-
rectly under my attention or [ have
heard of them. And yet, in each case, L
venture to say, there existed an jnten-
ton on the part of the dead man to ''set
his house in order" 1t was simply
thoughtlessness; it was ''put off" as Il
matter which could be attended to at
any time. Naturally, the wife shrinks
from discussing the subject of provis-
ion being made for her and her children
in the event of the death of her hus-
bands passing away. Death is never Il
pleasant topic even at it's best, and it is
topic which we avoid if we can. The
wife fears. too, having Interior motives
attributed to her if she mentions the
subject And so the matter of pro-
vision for the wife after the husbands
death is allowed to go undiscussed.
There is some, reason why woman
should refrain from speaking of sucli
a topic to her husband-and yet | can
not help thinking that it would often be
better if she would. But there is no
excuse for the mans neglect of so inn
| portant a matter. No man should be-
come so engrossed in affairs that he
cannot take time to see SO far as he is
able, that no trouble that he can provide
against shall come to his wife and chill
Gren after his death. If he has any
| thing to leave to them he should make q
will and distinctly provide for the dis
tribution of his effects. Nor can such 4
document be safely made except in the
shape of will legally drawn by law
yer "Memorandums" are worthless
things in the eyes of the law, and fire.
quently have exactly the opposite eff
| feet to that which was intended. The
| same care should be exercised IN the
case of insurance policies. firmly be
l;eve that it is the duty of every mar
to be insured With insurance poll
cies to be had at such low rates as is
at present the case, there is scarcely :
man who cannot afford some sort OF
policy, no matter how small the
amount it may call for. What seems tt
the man himself in good health as {
small amount for an insurance policy
often turns out to be q modest FORTUNE
TO the woman or children who surviv,
him. I wish, sometimes, that the tax
ing Ont of an insurance policy, on TIT
part of the husband, for an amount &C
cording to his means, might be made
an obligatory part of every marriage
ceremony.
know whereof / speak when L sa.
that there are hundreds of women In TIT
homes of this land who are daily carry
ing with them the fear that their nus
bands or fathers are neglecting or for
getting to make suitable provision TO
them as widows or orphans. The.
shrink from speaking to the men of thei
homes about the matter. And is it espe
cially for the benefit of these women tina
l write these words. Perhaps, ,vher
the occasion makes it necessary. the.