The Vinita daily chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1902-1913, 1904-06-27
TAKE CURIOUS RISKS
SPECIAL INSURANCE FOR SOME
FAMOUS STAGE PERFORMERS.
Fingers Of Pianists and VioInists and
Voices of Singers Insured
Against Disablement
or Loss.

Some peculiar insurance risks have
become so common that they cease to
be curious. All celebrated artists now
avail themselves Of a special form OF
underwriting, which is carried on IN
their interests either by themselves or
their agents. and the figures concerned
are usually large ones This is not 50
strange, for If, for instance, Paderewski
lost one Of his fingers or a great sing
ers inlmitabl. voice were TO fail her,
the financial loss would be enormous and
would not be covered by any ordinary
proviso or form OF insurance, says the
Chicago Chronicle.
None Of these performers is more
largely underwritten in this respect than
Kubelik, who pays 81 800 annually as in
surance OF his bow hand alone, so that
II he were at any time injured SO as to
prevent him from fulfilling an engage
ment he would receive $4,000 as COM
pensation If his hand we're totally dis
abled, so that be could never play again,
be would get $4,000. which would en-
able him to live IN comfort apart from
all the money he has already saved.
Paderewski. the famous pianist, says
that his fingers are as precious TO him
as his life, for he could never play if
he lost any Of them He makes insur-
ances from time to time to cover spe-
cial risks, as when he is going on a
long Journey by land or sea, but, apart
from these, his two hands are regularly
nnderwritten from year to year. He
pays the huge sum OF $4,000 annually In
this way, with the result that If any
thing went wrong with one Of his pre-
cious hands at any time, so that he could
no longer earn an income by his play
ing, he would be paid $4,000 cash down
by the underwriters.
Besides tlis, be Is insured against
temporary disablement Of the fingers
either by disease or accident. and in case
oI anything happening 70 prevent his
playing for a single week he draws as a
rule sum Of $500 as compensation. He
has done 80 on more than one occasion.
The organizers Of his concerts, who
often stand to lose more than the artist
through any unfortunate happening Of
this kind, likewise take the precaution
10 cover all such risks. and, accordingto to
one such agent. the amount they insure
for IA usually about $1,000 TO $500
Nine. Patti has always been heavily
Insured when singing The usual
amount which she has had underwritten
for her has been 5000. for which 1925
a night had 10 be paid. and her voice has
also been permanently insured for s40,-
600 against total loss. The condition
made by the Insurers Is that the loss
must be due TO accident, cold or disease,
and must not be the result OF reckless or
wilhnl conduct
In the same way as Paderewsi, Jo-
sef Hoffman is heavily insured, accord
Ire "a the special arrangements made
by some underwriters for pianists Not
only Is each hand separately insured in
his case. but every individual finger has
4 special policy made out for IT, Not
long ago he fell from his bicycle and
hurt bis hand so badly that he could not
play for several days. The underwrlt-
ers had Is q consequence. to send him
a check which ran into four figures.
Under the circumstances. and with the
risks so considerable. it is not surpris-
ing that the underwriters are very care-
tul TO see that their interests are safe
guarded in every possible way. and one
OF the things that they most insist on Is
that the strictest medical precautions
against loss OF injury shall always be
taken by the performers. This. how
ever. IS naturally done By the latter for
their own sakss. apart from any consid-
Grafton Of insurance.
When on four Nine. Patti has some
times as many IS three special doctors
in constant attendance upon her. who
understand to 2 nicely all the peculiari-
ties OF her delicate vocal chords and can
detect the slightest symptom Of any
thing going wrong with them and treat
them accordingly