Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1912-02-22
The Universal /.
and A. |. Co.
Bv NJ QUAD
Copyright. 1911. by Associated lit
erary Press
Bv NJ QUAD

cars at the town Of Stratforu and walk
ed up to the best OF the two inns and
announced himself as the state agent
of the Universal Life and Accident In
surance company, He tried TO buy out
| the inn, but as the landlord and own
er did not wish to sell ]. Parsons Wat
! son, as the stranger was named, engag-
ed the ladies' parlor, the bathroom and
| ten of the best located bedrooms Then
he bought the privilege OF hanging out
signs. and after couple of days the
inn was covered with them. They
! were gayly painted signs, reading.
The Universal Life and Accident In
surance Company
Stratford was surprised, then star
tied, Then 1t began to inquire what 1t
| was all about j. Parsons Watson was
right there on the veranda to greet aud
! tell them.
| Stratford read the signs heard what
! the agent had to say and then declared
the thing fake ] Parsons Watson
smiled and insured the landlord against
accident. pushed him Off the veranda
and paid him $50 cash. The landlord
said he wasn't even scratched, but the
agent knew better.
A man named Robinson was dying
OF consumption. The doctors said he
couldn't live week longer j. Par
sons Watson gave him life insurance
policy and when death came handed
over the money.
Ernh un wnShnrusAnlnn
was given an accident policy, She fell
down and skinned her knee and drew
$2S for It, MIR Storrs, carpenter. had
insured against accident for the trifling
sum of 10 cents week. On the third
day after the policy was taken out he
hit his thumb with hammer and re
ceived $15 for doing II.
These things were advertised aud
talked about, and there was change
in public opinion. Then there was II
rush for insurance. j. Parsons Wat
son and three clerks were kept busy
most OF the time. They wrote 1000
policies before there was any let up.
Then came something to renew the
rush. J. Parsons Watson announced
that any person that so elected could
take out policy, accident or life. on
another and reap the benefits. Yes.
ten, twenty. fifty, could take out poll
cies on one and the same person.
There was Graham. the well digger,
He was liable to death any day. and
fifty different persons could get $1,000
insurance In case the grim monster
came. You could take out policy on
the life OF the minister, the black
smith, the carpenter, the merchant,
even on your neighbor's child. In all
such cases the agent would promise
not to give you away. Death came
and you put In your claim aud got
your money and no one was the wiser
J. Parsons Watson had struck the
keynote. Those who had insured
themselves now wanted to insure some
one else. Those who had no insur
ance didn't propose to benefit Others
by getting hurt or dying. The rush
kept the insurance force working day
and night 1t did more than that. II
stirred up the town until gossip, scan
dal and rows were the order OF the
day. The fact TINT Smith had taken
out insurance on Brown leaked out OF
was strongly suspected, und when they
met there were hard words.
$50 you expect me to die, ehT" de
manded Brown IN menacing tones.
"Why, no. neighbor"
"Then why did you get policy on
mef"
"Why, you see. you may possibly
die, though | hope not. and ! might
as well mike thousand dollars out
OF It,"
you nre n blamed hyena. sir"
Don't get excited. It's business
ooh, It IS, Then you listen TO me
I'll get insurance on you and on every
member OF your family clear down to
the baby Yes. sir. III get the policies
on your uncle and aunts and nieres
and nephews."
Stratford had been a peaceful town
II had boosted Of It's law and order II
had advertised that It's residents had
n neighborly feeling toward each other
in the matter OF lending ten and fiat
irons All this had been changed
They wanted each other to get hurt
to get off the face of the earth, 10 be
no more There was hardly husband
In the place that didn't glare ut his
wife across the table and feel that she
was keeping him out Of small fortune
by living on. He encouraged bis chill
dren to climb trees, buy gunpowder
and play around the mill pond. aud
when they came safely through 1t al
he realized that he had been defraud
ed or his rights
This state Of affairs could not go on
forever J Parsons Watson didn't IN
tend that II should. He thought SIX
weeks would turn the trick. but 1t took
ten During this time he paid out s"r
eral hundred dollars. and how many
thousands be took In was only 10 be
guessed at The rush rushed Itself out
and people began inquiring about III"
Universal In way that seemed To eX-
- a H..