The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-04-23
Points "A Moral.

A case recently before the court in this
city points a moral, whether or not 1t
adorns a tale The defendant was being
sued upon note given to insurance
agents in payment of the premium on
life policy. He had repudiated the note.
alleging lack of consideration: that the
dividends accruing from the policy were
not as large as was represented to him by
the agents would be the case. He had
endeavored TO return the policy and get
back his note. but had failed. He had
been captivated by the eloquence of the
insurance agent, and expected returns
from his Investment which were not forth
coming.
Life insurance companies are not based
upon philanthropy, but upon the coolest
of facts and figures, and a purpose to
make money. Calculations are made
upon the probabilities of the
candidate for insurance living for
a certain number of years. If the prob
abilities are good, the company lays a
lump wager that he will survive for that
length of time. and the candidate bets so
much, in annual instruments, that he
necessarily arranges it so that the odds
shall be in favor Of 1.-THE house." and that
1t shall take profits. Otherwise the insur-
ance companies would soon be out of bus
mess. Many of those who insure are well
aware of these things. but realizing that
life is uncertain they take the chances Of
dying early and beating the company at
ftc m g he
insured prefers to postpone his obsequies
as long as possible. In INDUCING that
preference. by the way, the insured helps
in small way to increase the surplus
millions of the insurance company.
Persons of this class so into insurance
schemes with their eyes wide open. The
silver tongue of a persuasive solicitor
who may picture his company as grand
aggregation of philanthropists who have
organized themselves into an insurance
company for the purpose of distributing
their money among the worthy poor has
no influence upon the man who takes a
policy as a speculative venture
There is also another class of the insur-
ed, who take out policies on their lives be-
cause that is the only way in which they
are able to lay up something for rainy
day. If they live out their periods of in
surance, they pay a big premium to the
companies for taking care of their saw
ings for them. However, on the other
hand, they would probably never have had
any savings except for the insurance
treadmiE, necessitating steady and hard
work to meet the payment of premiums.
Upon the whole, an insurance policy, in
a frst-class regular company is a mighty
good thing TO have in the family. Many
sorrowful partings are made bearable and
many bruised hearts are soothed by the
possession of squares Of parchment, filled
out with sums of four or more figures end
signed by some great and strong life insur-
ance company Furthermore, il affords
the insured satisfaction to have the as
surance that when'he shunies off this NOR
tai coil he will leave something for his
loved ones. and they will not have 20 20
into debt for his funeral expenses.
The moral OF it all. when the matter is
siftod is that 1t is not well to be seduced
by the sweet cadences OF a solicitors
voice. There is nothing like seeing the
figures set down in black and wnte in the
body OF the policy. and nailed with the sig
nature OF the company's responsible on
GERS.