The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-06-13
INSURING ROYAL LIVES.
English Tradesmen Have Policies on
Queen Vic.
From the New York Sun.

fTOM the New 1Ofk sun.
In these days it is possible to effect an
insurance against almost any contingency,
often for a modest premium. In England
enormous sums are being expended In va
rious ways on preparations for celebrating
the diamond jubilee of the queen, and If
death should carry her away before that
event thousands of persons would be put
to an enormous monetary loss. A fash
ionable London tradesman remarked the
other day:
1T would mean a terrible loss to the
West End If anything happened to mar
the year of the record reign. But 1 have
done my best to guard against loss: have
insured the life of the queen" This re-
mark led to further explanations by an
underwater: The death of the Prince of
Wales's eldest son, the Duke of Clarence,
first brought this class of business to us.
Many a famous firm was very seriously
affected by that event, and some houses
were almost ruined. And so, when the
news first appeared of the engagement of
the Princes other son, the Duke of York,
to Princess May, applications began to
come in for policies of insurance on their
lives extending till after their wedding
day.
THAT was the beginning of the idea,
and IL has been extending rapidly ever
since. With regard to this years celebra-
ton, the first application for an insurance
on her majestys life came from a volun-
teer regiment that proposed to hold a big
celebration ball, and this was followed by
one from the manager Of a crack band,
whose many engagements for the season
would be rendered void did the calamity
suggested come about. These risks we
took some time back, but as the season
advances applications for such insur-
ances are pouring in. Now not a day goes
by that we do not get at least one or two,
and the business promises TO become 80
large that numbers OF underwriters who
in the ordinary way touch nothing but
shipping risks are subscribing such poll
cies.
THE liability is. of course. split up
amorg several underwriters In our usual
way. and there are no preliminary formal
tiles to be gone through; you simply come
here. pay the premium, and take up your
policy. Here are two actual policies. This
one insures the lives Of the queen, the
Prince of Wales, and the Duke and
Duchess OF York until the end OF Au-
gust. If any one Of them should die be-
fore that time we would have TO pay the
total amount and the premium Is gu-
meas per cent. $50 for $500. and this one,
nsurinE the life Of her majesty
for four months, was effected
al cost Of guineas for
every 800 $50 for $500. l cannot very
well disclose the actual amounts 20 you.
many cases the sum insured for is an ex-
tremely large one.
Most Of the people who take out these
policies are high-class shopkeepers, but
there are many others. A arm that does
q great part OF the foundations Is thus
protected having had to 80 TO an enor-
Gus outlay IN gas pipes; and there are
also people who do the decoraung and
who are making thousands Of pounds
worth OF flags and banners, which stock
would be thrown upon its hands ala any
death occur IN the royal family circle
1--WE have JUST had a boom IN another
class Of rlsk-namely. assurances against
England's being plunged into war Any
number Of such have been effected since
the beginning Of this year. and every adj
verse rumor in the papers brings us fresh
applications. The premiums vary, but one
or two are. War between England and
France, Germany, or Russia, "a per cent:
with the 1ranavaal. or with any European
power. Turkey excepted. guineas. and
against war with any power whatever.
geinl-s per cent