The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1900-06-08
SINGLE TALENT OF SOPER
ItGave Pleasant Dreams to the Life
insurance Solicitors.
nvxIHENEvER hear a young man

RIGHT kind of a chance in life," said
the general life insurance agent, Il
think of old Soppr, and his one talent,
and what he made of it. Never heard
of old Soper? Well, he's been dead
these Is years, but he gave pleasant
dreams to one whole generation OF
struggling life il surance solicitors.
at was shortly after had gone to
work as a solicitor for the Fraternity
Life, nearly IS years ago, that l met
him first. One day an elderly, we'll
dressed man came into the office and
asked if he could get few facts
about the Fraternity's policies. got
him into a retired corner and proceed
ed to fill him up. He was very intelli-
gent man, with a clear head for fig-
ures, and he made notes from time to
time with heavy gold pocket pencil
in a morocco-covered notebook.
'When l had told him all I knew,
he thanked me and said: you seem to
have an excellent policy and 1 may
wish to talk with you further If you
will kindly let ME have your card
II did so and suggested an early in
terview, and after a moments refiec-
ton he named what. was in those days
the top-notch hotel in New York, and
said 1 might look him up in the smok-
ing-room that evening between six and
seven.
II showed up in the hotel smoking
room at five minutes past six, and
about half-past he strolied in with an
evening paper. / got him into an easy
chair and went to work. / thought |
talked well and he certainly seemed
deeply impressed. Finally when the
psychological moment seemed to have
arrived l said:
"'Now, Mr.. Soper,'-he had given
me his card at the office-I want to
write you for $40, 900 at once
"'Ten thousand dollars he repeat
ed. There was that in his tone that
tod me on the instant that the sum
had named seemed insignificant.
Cor better still, $25,0O0,' 1 said as
soon as l caught my breath
"'What is your insurance limit? he
asked.
"'Fifty thousand gasped.
she nodded quietly, and seemed lost
for a time in meditation. Then sudden
ly he arose.
"'Your policy has features which at
tract me- he said-with kindly smile.
Indeed, the Infuentiars is the only
one that seems to compare with it. 1
am to see the Influential agent to-
night, and if ] do not conclude with
him 1 shall wish to have further talk
with you. Just now I must ask you
to excuse me as it is my dinner time
"'Oh Lord!' said to myself, there's
just my luck. 1 could have the thing
nailed in five minutes more, and now
that other agent, who's probably an old
hand, will practically take that $780,
600 commission out of my pocket /
made a lightning calculation of how
much money 1 had with me, $25, by an
accident, and summoning all my nerve
asked the old chap to dine with me.
He consented graciously, and it looked
as though had my opportunity by the
hair.
81 won't bother you with the details
of that dinner. After we'd finished
soup-Blue Points and soup had always
seemed to me a simple Manner re-
tired from the role of host in confu-
sion, and asked him to take charge,
which he did. I had started the wine
with a modest hook. He ordered a
claret, Latte, of vintage, he said, he
could recommend, which cost more
than champagne, and followed it up
with a Montrachet at six dollars a
quart. And at the end he introduced
me to his favorite brand of cigars, a
fat thing he called Celestiale, that
smoked like a dream of Araby the
gave up so cents apiece.
When / wandered home that night
my pocketbook was lighter by $24.75,
but what did that amount to? He was
going to drop me a line when to come
round and finish the thing up-and
$4,000 was the amount he was think
ing of.
''But, somehow, although I saw him
half dozen times during the next two
weeks, I hadn't quite landed him; al
though every time left him it seemed
as though everything was over except
drawing my commission. He lunched
with me three times during those two
weeks and dined with me again. ]
had to borrow the money, but it was
no time to look at dollar or two. And
then, sure enough, I got him over to
Delmonico's to luncheon, one day, and
did land him-for $50 ,OOO-and got him
around for his examination that same
afterno DON.
"Two hours later saw our medical
examiner. He looked sympathetic.
Sorry he said. 'Bright's disease
oh, look here replied, are you
sure?'
"'Sure as DEATH he said. Not very
far advanced, but the analysis is plain
as day. absolutely worthless risk
81 wrote Soper note the next day.
But, though it was the only decent
thing to DO, it was several weeks be-
fore I got UP courage to go round
and see him. Finally one night I did
hunt him up, but l didn't say my lit
tie speech. / found him in the main
dinina.room at dinner. One Perkins,
an aren't of the Influential was doing