The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1900-05-18

I have more than once sought to call
the attention of the state to this re-
source of natural beauty. There 1t
lies, valley 100 miles long, parallel
with the Mississippi, and not far east
of it, with mountains, not hills, guard
ing it's peaceful lowlands, threaded ali
the way by the gentle stream which
the Indians called "Kickapoo,' a
peaceful, fertile country, the land
scape a glorious blending Of grandeur
and restful simplicity, sparsely set
tied, but by a hospitable people; by far
the most beautiful and the least known
of all the districts Of this diversified
commonwealth. For a carriage drive,
a tramp wheeling tour, tenting eX-
perience, a few bracing weeks at
farm house. this hidden valley run
ming north from few miles east OF
Prairie du CHEN, is well worth con-
sidering.
Something New in Insurance.
Wisconsin has a good many frater-
nal insurance orders, and recently a
new one was added, the Equitable
Fraternal Union of Neenah. 1t in
Sures it's members for 81 ZOO, $1,000
and $4,000. 1t is an assessment COM
pany, but now that almost all assess
ment companies, including the Wood
men. are clamoring for a reserve
fund" this new company provides a
reserve but in a curious way. The
plan is to pay the widow or other heir
only $500 OF the $1,000 on the death
claim raised by assessment, the $500
going into a reserve"
Madison has lately added bright
young insurance man to it's population,
Mr.. John l.. Fate, president of the
Wisconsin Life Insurance company,
formerly the Natural Premium.O
asked Mr.. Fate what he thought Of the
new plan, and he said:
According to the Equitable Frater-
nal Union circular it would appear that
they could carry insurance cheaper
than any association or company that
was ever undertaken to insure human
fiveS | notice that at age 30 the aver
age cost is 1886 per $1,000. The plan,
as / understand it, is to pay to eacn
member at death or at the age Of 70
$7OO and return all he has paid the
association and out of each claim the
association will pay into the reserve
fund $500 (out of every 81, 900 claim)
"SuDDOSe the association were to in
sure 1000 members upon the above
basis at an average cost of $3.36 per
annum, that would bring in a total pre-
MUM of $4,000 per annum. OF course,
some will die before they reach the
age of 70 and the claims will have to
be paid. But suppose they all live
to the age Of 70 and every man pays
in $336 for thirty-fOur years; that
would make total premium Of $780,
"a. or q combined premium for the
1000 members of $10G,240, and now
the association (at the end Of thirty
four years. is obliged to pay $1,000
900 according to their contracts. OF
course, they will say the lapseS and in
terest on the money will make up the
difference To offset that they will
have to pay great many claims III
event of death before the member
reaches the age of 70 and the aSsO-
citation agrees to return all he has paid
in and cancel all unpaid instal1ments
Therefore, the association will not
have a total income of $1O624O. Be-
sides all this obligation the aSsoc1a-
ton will be at some expense in the
way Of commissions, salaries and office
rent. If they can figure this out, how
the last man will be paid i'll full as
we'll as the first one, they certainly
will be entitled to your patronage.
81 have been in the Insurance buSl-
ness for seventeen years and L have
been unable to figure out a plan where
by the total members could get 81
for anything less than 100 cents. Ii
they pay in only 70 cents on the 81
the interest must make up the other
80. or if they pay in only 30 cents on
the 81 the interest must make up the
other TO-"
The Famous Spencer Family.
An interesting figure about Wis
consin legislature is Robert G. Spen-
Ger. He is large full-bearded man
who lacks timidity and goes after what
he wants. His name suggests the
"Spencerian' handwriting and he is
one of five sons Of Plat Z. Spencer
who invented this system. Much of
the fathers work in improving and
diffusing the art of writing was I'M
der difficulties and discOuragements in
cident to pioneer life in the wildS Of
northern Ohio, in the first half of the
nineteenth century. How strikingly
do these conditions contrast with those
of the English masters who wrought
under the patronage of the crown and
the nobility to which was added the
stimulus and encouragement of an ap-
| preparation of $4,000 by parliament
for the improvement of English sys-
TENS of penmanship. Menabeau styled
writing the greatest invention OF the
human mind. Garfield in 1873 paid
tribute to the Senior Spencer, who in
1857 lectured at Hiram College. Gar
field writes that soon afterwards Spen-
Ger and his sons took charge of the
department of penmanship at the in
stitution. The father was lover of
Burns and rode hobbies among which
was the most commendable one of
anti-slavery. Garfield writes:
Il shall never forget the ardor with
which he supported the cause of the
Union against the shareholders rebel
lion. and the sadness with which he
referred to the fact that he was too
old to serve his country in the field.
He did not live to see the final triumph
of the Union, but he saw the light of
coming victory, and shared the joy OF
it's promise
College in a Log Cabin.