New-York tribune., 1909-09-25

United States. where II Is preferred as q form
of investment and security more than In any
other country.
Comparative figures show that the total OK LIE
insurance In effect In the United States. inelu-
sive OF assessment insurance. Is more than S-os-
OOOOOOOON while In Great Britain it Is St,aOO.-
100000 Germany $t.J0oOO0OoO. France 500
OOOOOO Austria Sss7JO0oOo0. Scandinavia SlJO.-
OOOOOO Switzerland S1i4O00coO and RUSSIA
SG3. G3.O0O.OOOOO0
Insurance has developed 70 its present huge
proportions in two generations. It's Importance
and scope we're merely nominal IN 1880 That u
has attained the popularity and universal pat
ronage that il enjoys Is remarkable. consider
ing that as a general proposition, 1t appeals
more 10 the moral instincts OF men rather than
to their love OF gain Ii other words the SET
fish interest and expectation OF personal proht
which offer themselves 20 a man when ne con-
siders Il business proposition IS absent rom
the question OF life insurance IL Is nothing
tangible, like stocks or bonds or zeal estate or
yachts or automobiles. anything that lie can
enjoy while living.
In purchasing life insurance one giyes ihs
money for promise 20 pay 20 some one else at
his death certain sum of money. Shls Is LIE
insurance in the abstract The Investment
feature OF insurance is . minor consideration
with the great majority OF policy holders It's
strongest appeal lies in the protection IL atoI ds
the policyholder's family and estate II death
ensucs.
REALIZATION OF A DUTY.
II speaks wen for the uuselash instincts or
men and OF their appreciation of thelr sense q
duty 10 those whom their death would deprive
Of a proyider that the life insurance business.
has assumed its present size and Importance A
kindred measure of credit may fairly be given
to the insurance companies themselves and 20
their officers that they have succeeded BY dint
Of persistent effort in arousing the people to
realization of their duty and Of rendering II pos
sibIe for them to buy guarantees against Ielv-
ing the dependent members OF their families
penniless and at the mercy Of the world
Human life has its value. but II is OF an
evanescent character. Death ends it, and ZEN
ders in an instant what was before OF vaI-e en-
trely without worth. The value Of life IS not
4 fixed asset for family unless its value is in
sured The man whose family relies upon his
wages or salary may take certain small per-
centage Of his earnings and buy protection and
guarantee that il he should die before his saw
ings or Accommodations are sufficiently large to
buttress his family against want, his children
may BE- educated and maintained until they are
equipped to make their own way in tie world
Otherwise they might be Obliged to seek en-
ploy ment during the years which should bs de-
voted To the Improvement OF their minds
Taking 80 consecutive cases IS 4 basis one
OF the life insurance companies recently pub
Hshed statistics regarding the pecuniary cir
cumstances OF persons who became benedciaries
under policies that matured by the death OF the
insured Surviving the 1JO men were 90 widows
and Isl children. The homes OF five we're mort
gagged. and 44 OF them left no estates other than
/ their life insurance policies. one hundred OF
/ the men We're under fifty years OF aSe, and
/ their 1S4 children minors. OF the younger
men twenty were survived by no children. but
! nearly all of them left widows or others who
| had been dependent upon them In only six
cases did the insured leave means outside Of
/ their insurance