The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-06-11
RorA1 LIVES IN ENGLAND
TEaaesrsan ana Decorators Protected AGaipst
Queen vtctoriaAs Death.

IrAne1rnon Nmo DNooE0t0r1 FrotoGteo Agninnt
oueen victoriaAs Death.
In these days It IL possible to effect ar In.
surance against almost any contingency, often
for a modest premium. In England enormous
sums are being expended in various ways on
preparations for celebrating the diamond jubilee
Of the Queen, and II death should carry her away
before that event thousands Of persons would
be put to an enormous monetary loss. A fash
ionable London tradcsman remarked the other
day:
ut would mean a terrible loss to tho West
End II 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 remark led
to further explanations by an underwater: Tho
death Of tho Prince of Wales's eldest son, the
Duke of Clarence, first brought this class OF bust
ness to us. Many q 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, applica.
tions began to come In for policies OF insurance
on their lives extending till after their wedding
day.
THAT was tho beginning Of the idea, and 1t has
been extending rapidly ever since. With regard
to this years celebration, the first application
for an insurance on her Majcsty's life came from
q volunteer regiment that proposed to hold q
big celebration ball. and this was followed by
ono from tho manager Of a crack band. whose
many engagements for the season would be ron
dered void did the calamity suggested come
about. These risks we took some time back,
but as the season advances applications, for such
assurances are pouring in. Now not n day goes
by that we do not get at least one or, two, and
the business promises to become 30 large that
numbers OF underwriters, who In the ordinary
way touch nothing but shipping risks are sub
scrihing such policies.
The liability is, Of course, split up among
several underwriters In our usual way, and
there are no preliminary formalities to BIO gone
through; you simply come here, pay the pre-.
MUM, and take np your policy. Here are two
t sSsG oues poii the pr In,s OF ONE w 1nisse and ,ps the eG Dsk Q,
and Duchess OF York until tho end of August.
II any one OF them should die before that time
we would have u pay the total amount, and the
premium is eight guineas per cent. $40 for
$500, and this one, insuring the life of her
Majesty for four. months, was effected at a cost
for 5000. l cannot very we'll disclose tho actual
amounts to you, but you will readily under
stand that in many cases the sum insured for is
Most OF the people who take out these policies
are high-class shopkeopers. but there are many
others. A frm that does II great part of the
Examinations Is thus protected, having had tC
go to an enormous outlay In gas pipes; and there
are also people who do the decorating, and who
are making thousands of pounds worth of flags
and banners, which stock would be thrown upon
lily circle.
Of risk-namely, assurances against England,s
being plunged into war. Any number Of such
have been effected since the beginning of thi:
year, and every adverse rumor In the paper:
brings US fresh applications. The premiums vary
but one or two are: War between England ant
FRANCE. Germany. or Russia. - per cent; with
the Transvaal, or with any European power
Turkey excepted. 5 guineas, and against wal
with any power whatever, 8 guineas per cent.