The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1912-12-01
BY JAMES u. MORROW.

New York, Nov. 30.-Man has his val
ues, animal as well as ethical. In the
rough he is worth SO much He may fall
below or exceed the common average.
The grocer, II he has a statistical mind,
computes him in sugar, green yegeta-
bles and canned goods. The tailor APP
praises him on the basis of clothes. The
haberdasher casts him up in hats, shirts,
and gloves. Because he rides on rail-
roads and purchases things hauled as
freight, he can vaguely be inventoried
in his relationship TO steel rails. locoInor
tves and box cars. He is a golden lit
tie unit, ordinarily, so long as he is alive.
The life insurance companies learned
long ago that man, in his dealings with
them, can be figured right down to
dollars and cents, once his percentage
and his years are known and a medical
survey has been made of his Intervals.
approximately, he will live so long. A
multiplication of the period by the an
nual premium is an easy and pleasant
bookkeeping task.
Inasmuch as the poIicyholder who
lives thirty years is worth twice more
in money, plus the interest, than is the
policyholder who dies at the end of
fifteen years, 1t follows that insurance
companies are commercially concerned
in the public health and the longevity
OF the human species. So sanitarians,
psychologists and managers of insur-
ance companies have Joined forces in a
war on death. And death is slowly fall
ing back, though MethuseIah was $50
years old when he died, and Hindu lit
eTature piously asserts that man an
GENTLY lived usually, for 500 centuries
indeed, Prathama Jina, a holy king and
holier priest, was 100000 years OF age
before he assembled the throne,
They Watch the Death List.
Notwithstanding the Hindu historians,
it can be said that the duration of hu-
man life in all civilized countries has
been gradually and ever growing longer
No study of the scientists is more stimu-
lating or revealing. Helping the scien-
lists. not in the brilliant toll of discov-
cry, but in the skill. drudgery, and phi
losophy of collecting and interpreting
evidence, is a select group of eminent
ststisticians. Their outlook is humanity
I'm the mass. Most Of them are connected
with companies engaged in life, health
and accident insurance. They watch the
death lists, as miIIers watch the wheat
market or. spinners the supply of wool
and cotton.
Well known among these scientific sta
tisticlans is Edward Brunnell Phelps, edi-
tor, author, an alumnus of Yale, and an
OF business. He has written books on
war risks, tropical hazards, women's
work. the death rate of infants, the NOR
tally of alcohol, workmen's compensa-
ton. and many other themes. Insurance
officials acknowledge his ability as a spe-
cialist in their line. His tables and con-
C;usioas are widely known and accepted
He has for nearly twenty years edited
the American Underwater, a magazine
dealing with insurance principles and
practices, is a member of many scientific
associations. and Fellow of the Royal
Statistical Society Of London, and is often
called upon for statistical data on a va
riety Of subjects. ~
Something like 10000 funerals now
annually occur in this country. Half of
them, possibly, could be prevented and |
thus enough human beings to constitute
a mighty city-say, an entire St. Louis or
Boston-are yearly wasted. Those who !
survive, it has been shown. are living !
somewhat longer than did their grand
parents. Defense. therefore, is slowly
gaining on offeEse. Science. battling with
germs. and sanitariums, laboring for pur-
ity and cleanliness, are opposed, however
bv carelessness and ignorance and a mad
for wealth.
There are causes which tend to pro-
long life Mr. Phelps said to me, and |
there are causes which shorten life. The |
movement of country and village folk |
toward cities. common here and in Eu- |
rope, as every one knows, is harmful |
to health. Pure air, plenty of room, |
plain food and sufficient time for sleep !
are exchanged for a disquieting and hap |
hazard existence in tenements. So much |
can be said of the poor. among whom !
mortality is always the heaviest.
Clipping Days and Coupons.
THE rich and the welI-to-do eat high
ly seasoned food, break up their sleep by |
going to theaters and other entertain
ments and wear down their nerves in a |
mad contest for money. They are cheer
fully clipping off their days as well as !
their, coupons. Money is a terrible word
in some Of its aspects and applications.
Money for power. or for luxury, drives