St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1896-04-10

like reduction, that the company in 1884
restored the old rates. The dividend
having been anticipated and deducted in
advance from each premium charged,
the dividends subsequently paid on such
policies were simply the after profits
earned on the reduced premiums. Such
policies did not contribute to the same
contingent extent as full-paid premium
policies, and are therefore not in fair con-
trast with such in any respect. And yet
Mr.. Bumblebee Hastings unbushingly
presents to the public the after-dividends
on such policies, as examples OF the Mu-
tual Lies earnings.
Totakc upand answer all his buncombe
would be a waste oftime. The Mutual
Life needs no defence. None but unscru-
pulous agents will assail company
which, judged by the past, the present or
the future, stands pre-eminent. To fully
appreciate the grand old company, read
the subjoined article headed Cock Logic
which the general agents of this district
promulgated last year to meet the at
tacks OF untruthiul agents and which in
charity, l have Withheld from the press
until now.
Judged by the test there outlined, there
is difference of nearly SIS in every 500
of premiums in favor Of the Mutual Life
over Bumblebee's company, and the SIM
pie, yet stupendous fact is, that had the
Mutual Lilereturned to its policy holders
twenty-seven millions less than it has,
it could still show down with his COM
pany, and mark you, all who are inter-
ested, this test disposes Of all his prattle
about low dividends and high expenses.
We Meet Our Expenses.
He asserts that our expenses are high.
Quite likely, but they bear fruit We are
not half-cent people and we do some
business. All the money his company
has got wouldn't pay our taxes for the
next two years. But whatever our ex-
penses have been, they have been met,
haven't they? After meeting them we
have done nearly 5 per cent better for
our policy holders from first to last. In
answer to some Of his slippery elm talk
gave him this nut to crack, and also
the dividend history ola policy which had
run forty-six years with an invitation to
match it or shut up.
Ofcourse he couldn't match the policy.
1t has no parallel in the history of any
company; and of course, too, he didn't
know enough to shut up He sulkily adj
mitted thatthe Mutual Life had "a no.
BILE record-no one questions that" but
the past is nothing to 60 by. He was
quite ready to let by-gones be by-9ones,
but he allowed that his folks were cut
ting the biggest watermelous now, and
seems to think all in6nity wouldn't hold
what they are going to do.
No "Back Numbers" or "Has Beens."
Raising his voice an octave he began
calling the Mutual Life Back Num-
ber," Has Been" pointed to our divi'
dends of 1878, a year in which we paid
an extra dividend, dividing between the
policy holders in addition to the regular
dividend about five millions, the percent
age being in some cases between six and
seven hundred per cent of the premium,
and called on people to witness the fall
ing off since then. That extra FIVE mil
lions in itself is more than his company
has paid in dividends since it began doing
business SO years ago. Manly, wasn't