from that quarter, general ? '
" ' Nothing, Mr. .'
" Mr. by this time had become
very dry in the throat a sensation, I
have been told," says Mr. Webster,
" one is very apt to feel who finds him-
self in an embarrassing position, from
which he sees no possibility of escape.
He feared to advance, and did not
know how to make a successful retreat.
At last, after one or two desperate and
ineffectual struggles to regain self-pos-
session, finding himself all the while
within point-blank range of that raking
eye, he wholly broke down, and took
his leave, without the least allusion to
the matter of insurance.
" He never returned to claim his
money."
648
COMMERCIAL AND BUSINESS ANECDOTES.
Adjusting- an Insurance Loss.
THE adjusters of losses under policies
of insurance against fire sometimes have
fanny cases, or meet an exhilarating
turn. A common method of determin-
ing the damages is to inquire the cost
of restoration or repairs of the property
injured. An adjuster for one of the
Hartford companies was once hurried
out to Elmira to pay for the partial
destruction of a steam engine used in a
saw-mill. The holder of the policy de-
manded the sum of six hundred dollars
as an indemnity, and had procured the
formal certificate for that sum, with
which to assert his claim. The adjust-
er had a survey made at once by an ex-
pert, who, as the result of his examina-
tion, engaged to repair all the damages
for the sum of two hundred and sixty
dollars, and it was therefore proposed
to pay the claimant that amount, or re-
pair the machine. Mr. Claimant was
terribly astonished at all this ; he
didn't believe any man living could
repair the damage for that sum ; pro-
tested earnestly against the injustice of
asking him to take less than the ori-
ginal six hundred dollars but, on the
whole, if he could have his cash that
day, he would take four hundred dol-
lars. Mr. Adjuster finally told him
that he must take one hand or the
other, and he accepted the two hun-
dred and sixty dollars. After the set-
tlement was made, Mr. A. offered claim-
ant to contract to repair for the sum
paid, which he indignantly refused,
with the delicate remark, " No, hang
him ! he shan't do it ! There's a man
up to Corning will do it for one hun-
dred and fifty dollars ! "
Playing a Bold Game.
IT is sometimes the case in England,
that rich men insure the lives of pau-
pers, merely as a speculation. A man
at one time wrote from the Limerick
(Ireland) workhouse to an insurance
office, saying that his life had been
insured for several hundred pounds ;
that he was in a bad state of health,
and that he was prepared to give five
distinct reasons why the company
should not pay a farthing of the sum
insured for. At present he felt that he
was sinking fast, but if the company
would place him in a comfortable
house and feed him well, he was con-
vinced that he should get better, and
live for many years. The letter also
contained an earnest appeal for money,
to be sent by return of post, for the
purpose of prolonging the author's life,
and relieving the company from paying
a large sum of money to the persons
who had insured him on speculation.
He thought that if brought to London
he could distinguish himself, and live
to a good old age. He appeared to
have stated, in a previous letter, that
he had met with a violent accident,
which he now wished to explain away.
u My axidence," he wrote, " was a spark
which fell in my eye " after which he
added that the company would do well
to turn his abilities to account, as he
was " a good clerk, and by profession
a bricklayer." This extraordinary epis-
tle was accompanied by an affidavit,
acknowledged before a magistrate, tes-
tifying to the false answers which had
been given to the inquiries of the in-
surance company respecting the wri-
ter's life.
An agent subsequently went down to
Limerick on behalf of another compa-
ny, which had received a proposal to
insure the life of Kinna, the author of
this letter, and naturally felt some anx-
iety to ascertain the real sanitary con-
dition of a man who alternately repre-
sented himself as a dying man and as
destined t6 live to a ripe old age. On
arriving there, he was told by one of
the local magistrates, that he "had
better mind what he was about, as
they all speculated a little on life in-
surance down there." Finding that
Kinna had left the workhouse, he
CHRONICLES OF INSURANCE.
649
naturally looked for Mm in the nearest
tavern ; here the agent was soon recog-
nized and surrounded by the inmates,
who exclaimed, " Here's the chap from
the insurance office ! " They appeared
at first, inclined to kill him, but their
anger soon resolved itself into thirst,
and he was obliged to "treat" all
around.
Having inquired for Kinna's address,
he was told where Kinna lived, but at
the same time reminded that he was a
big man, and likely to thrash him or
any one else connected with a life in-
surance office. The agent, nevertheless,
continued his search for Kinna, and
finally found him in a miserable hut.
Kinna not getting an answer from the
insurance office to which he had ap-
plied for money, had consented for a
small bonus to have his life insured in
another office. He mistakenly imag-
ined, however, that the agent had come
from the office to which he had written to
forward money to him, and accordingly
represented himself as suffering the
most horrible tortures from an illness
which could only be cured by the kind-
est treatment. One symptom which he
complained of especially was an acute
pain in the groin, which almost bent
him double. He felt unable to walk,
and was convinced that he was break-
ing up, and would soon die, unless the
company did something for him. The
agent persuaded him to endeavor to
walk a short distance, and even pre-
vailed upon him to accompany him as
far as the bridge, where policemen in
plain clothes were in attendance to pre-
vent any violence which might be at-
tempted by Kinna, in case of his disap-
proving of any of the questions which
the agent intended to put to him.
At last, Kinna determined to play a
bold game pretended that he could
walk no more. " I am sinking ! " he
exclaimed. " Then," replied the agent,
emboldened by his proximity to the
bridge, " I am afraid we shall be un-
able to accept your life." Kinna, at
once saw the mistake. Without being in
the least disconcerted, he drew himself
up to his full height, and said to the
agent, " Did you ever see my brother,
now ? " The agent replied in the nega-
tive. " You have not ? " continued
Kinna ; " then I'm just like him ; bar-
ring that I've lost my eye, I'm as good-
looking a fellow as he is ; and if you'd
known him, you'd have known he's
always had a pain in the groin, and
that it's a family complaint of not the
least importance at all, at all."
Kinna's life was insured for more
than one hundred and fifty thousand
dollars by the speculators; and being
afraid to live in Limerick, he requested
the agent to remove him, stating that
he had been insured to so great an ex-
tent, that he felt his life was unsafe in
that town.
German Idea of the Thing-.
A THIN, cadaverous-looking German,
about fifty years of age, entered the
office of a health insurance company in
Indiana, and inquired :
" Ish te man in vot iushures de peo-
ple's helts ? "
The agent politely answered, "I
attend to that business, sir."
" Veil, I vants mine helts inshured ;
vot you charge ? "
"Different prices," answered the
agent, " from three to ten shillings a
year ; pay ten dollars a year, and you
get ten dollars a week, in case of sick-
ss."
" Vel," said Mynheer, " I vants ten
dollars' vort."
The agent inquired his state of
health.
" Veil, I ish sick all te time. I'se
shust out te bed too tree hours a tay,
und te doctor says he can't do nothing
more goot for me."
"If that's the state' of your health,"
eturned the agent, "we can't insure
it. We only insure persons who are in
good health."
650
COMMERCIAL AND BUSINESS ANECDOTES.
At this, Mynheer bristled up in great
anger.
"You must tink I'se a tarn fool;
vot ! you tink I come pay you ten
dollars for inshure my helt ; ven I ws
Lively Operations.
IF there be any question as to the
verity of what follows, it must " lie "
with the editor of the " DRAWER," who
gives it in the inimitable style of that
piquant feature in Harper's :
Borem was the soliciting agent of
the Gotham Life Insurance Company
in this city. His business was to in-
duce as many of the mortal population
of this world as possible to insure their
lives in his company. Of course it was
a good thing for them, a better thing
for the Company, and the best thing
for Borem. Because, according to
Borem's bargain, was he not entitled
to ten per cent, on every policy taken
out by any man whom he solicited, and
five per cent, on every year's renewal ?
No sooner was this agreement made,
than Borem commenced and carried out
a system of visitation and solicitation
so extended and thorough that, in the
course of two or three years, there was
not a live man in the company whom
Borem had not bored almost to death
to induce him to insure his precious life.
Every day he compared his own book
of memoranda with the records of the
company, and when he found that a
man was down whom he had spoken
with, even if it were months or years
before, he claimed him as his man,
showed his entries, and pocketed his
premiums. In this way it was fast
coming to pass that all parties insuring
in the company were yielding a profit
to Borem, whose percentage was eating
up the profits of their business. So far
did he carry his system that he would
stand in the street, and whenever he
saw a man entering he would address
him, " Going to insure, sir ? " and then
taking his name and address, would
book him as one of his men, and
demand his per cent., on the score of
having solicited him. The company
was finally obliged to compromise with
Borem, and lay him off, by paying him
thirty thousand dollars, and giving
him a handsome policy on his own life.
With this sum he bought a splendid
farm, and lives like a nabob on the pre-
vious profits which he had made out
of this very profitable business. Here
is an illustration of his mode of opera-
tion :
Mr. Lively had a dry goods store
above Chambers street, and, moreover,
had an interest in a broker's office, in
Wall street. Now Borem had often
seen the merchant up town and the
broker down town, for Mr. Lively was
part of the day in one place and part
of the day in the other. It had not
occured to Borem that the Lively of
one latitude was the Lively of the
other ; and so calling in at the Wall
street office, he says :
" Mr. Lively, I believe, sir ? "
" That is my name," said the gentle-
man addressed.
"Ah, yes, sir, you have a brother,
have you not ? "
" Yes," said Mr. Lively, " I have a
twin brother."
" Oh, yes, I know him," said Borem ;
"he is a merchant up town. He is about
insuring his life in our company, and
I called to ask if you would not like to
insure at the same time.'*
Mr. Lively knew the tricks that
Borem was up to; and saying that
he would think of it, turned away.
Borem left the office. Mr. Lively fol-
lowed him out, passed on the other
side of the street, and reached his store
a few minutes before Borem, who was
on his way up. Mr. Lively was read-
ing the newspaper when Borem entered,
and coming up to him, said
" Mr. Lively, I believe, sir ? "
" That is my name," said the mer-
chant.
CHRONICLES OF INSURANCE.
651
" Ah, yes, you have a brother, have
you not ? "
" Yes, sir," said Mr. Lively, " I have
a twin brother."
" Oh, yes, I know him," said Borem,
" he is a broker in Wall street ; he is
about insuring his life in our company,
and I called to see if you would like
to insure at the same time."
Mr. Lively said he would think of
it ; and Borem took his leave, after
pressing the subject with his customary
volubility and impudence. The next
day he called on Mr. Lively the broker,
and the day following on Mr. Lively
the merchant; and this visitation he
continued for two weeks, making six
calls at each place of business, in all
twelve times that he bored poor Mr.
Lively, without suspecting that the
two "brothers" were one and the
same man. At last, Mr. Lively up-
town agreed that if his brother would
meet him the next day at Mr. Wright's,
a mutual friend, who, Mr. Borem said,
was going to insure, he would apply,
and all three would take out a policy
at the same time. " I have just dis-
covered," said Borem to Mr. Lively,
"how to distinguish you from your
brother there is a little bit more of a
protuberance on the bridge of your
nose."
So saying, he hurried over to Mr.
Wright, to arrange for the meeting of
the brothers Lively.
"The toothers!" said Mr. Wright;
" what brothers ? "
" Why, the merchant over here, and
the broker in Wall street."
"It's the same man, Borem; you've
been sold."
" I have I see it all ; it's a fact ; I'm
done for."
And rushing back to Mr. Lively's
store, he looked in, and putting his
finger on the handle of his face, and at
a peculiar angle, he said, laughingly,
" Come to think of it, Mr. Lively, your
nose is just about the size of your broth-
er's." But Borem never recovered from
the mortification of his trickery ex-
posed, and it probably helped to bring
him to terms in his settlement with the
company.
Taking his own Bisk.
THAT there are times when a mer-
chant may incur risks without an im-
peachment of his prudence is readily
admissible. The occasion for such a
risk occurred, once, at least, in the mer-
cantile experience of Mr. Cope, of Phil-
adelphia. His favorite ship, the Lan-
caster, was on her return voyage from
Canton with a cargo of great value, at
the breaking out of the war of 1812.
He made repeated applications for in-
surance, but the alarm was general and
great, and the offices refused to take a
risk upon the ship and cargo for less
than seventy-five per cent. This was
an enormous deduction ; but the ocean
swarmed with British cruisers, and the
amount of the premium of insurance,
considering the course of the Lancaster,
could scarcely be regarded as unreason-
able.
Mr. Cope understood his own affairs
perfectly, and, satisfying himself that
he could sustain the loss of the whole,
and, consequently, that he could be his
own insurer, he calmly awaited the
result, though each day's papers con-
veyed intelligence of important inroads
upon the mercantile marine of our
country by British ships of war. The
resolution, however, had been taken
after careful deliberation, and the only
course was a " patient waiting." And
when darkness seemed to hang thickest
upon the prospects of the merchants,
the Lancaster arrived at Philadelphia,
one evening, with her immensely val-
uable cargo, and the captain received
from the pilot, in the Delaware, the first
intimation of hostilities between this
country and Great Britain ; the captain
remarking that he should have hailed
a British cruiser for the news, had one
come within "speaking" distance.
652
COMMERCIAL AND BUSINESS ANECDOTES.
The result of this was an immense profit
upon the cargo.
Compliment to W. B. Jones, as
an Underwriter.
THE name of Walter Restored Jones
is perhaps better known in this coun-
try, in connection with insurance, than
that of any other man. He was admit-
ted to be without a rival in that com-
plicated science, and earned the title
of the first marine underwriter of his
age and country. The middle name
of- Mr. Jones has a circumstance con-
nected with it, which is worth alluding
to. An elder brother of the same name,
having met his death by an accident, it
was the wish of his mother, when the
subject now under notice was born, to
retain the name, for which she had a
peculiar fondness; hence the epithet
" Restored " was added to the original
Christian name.
At the early age of eleven years, "Wal-
ter was placed in the store of his eldest
brother, William H. Jones, then en-
gaged in the flour business. In this
sphere, the future underwriter acquired
Ms first insight into the principles and
modes of business, his true school. A
few years later he was introduced into
the office of the United States Insur-
ance Company, as clerk, where he be-
came remarkable for his habits of meth-
od, industry, and attention to business,
laying a firm basis for his future emi-
nence in a province of insurance requir-
ing caution, accuracy, precision, and
promptness. The United States Insur-
ance Company was one of the first, if
not absolutely the earliest in point of
time, in New York, and perhaps in the
Union, for undertaking marine risks.
But owing to novelty, or ignorance of
the proper mode of conducting the
business, or from some other untoward
causes, the association failed to realize
its objects, and it became embarrassed
and was discontinued.
At, an early period of his career, Mr.
Jones conceived an aversion to litiga-
tion, of which there had been much,
both unnecessary and of a vexatious
character, in the early insurance com-
panies, and which proved in the end
detrimental to their interests, and
served to exclude customers. Mr. Dan-
iel Lord, counsellor to the company,
stated in his speech at the dinner given
to Mr. Jones, on the occasion of the
complimentary presentation to him of
a rich service of plate, that " for the
twenty-four years of the administration
of this company, not more than six law-
suits have occurred to it, and I can re-
collect but four." Perhaps no higher
compliment than this could have been
paid to Mr. Jones's skill and tact as an
underwriter.
Mr. Jones was one of the worthies of
Long Island, though so long from
early boyhood connected with New
York city as to be regarded as one of
her denizens; yet, as he never for a
moment lost sight of the place of his
nativity and his rural home, as he vis-
ited it weekly, built his noble mansion
there, and there looked to end his days
in peace and domestic happiness, he
must not be forgotten in the list of emi-
nent Long Islanders, Conckling, Sand-
ford, Miller, Wickham, Colden, Post,
Seaman, Mott, Elias Hicks, Mount,
Rhodes, Hackett, Sands, Woodhull,
Truxton, and others.
Juvenile Evidence in an Insurance
Case.
AT the Court of Oyer and Terminer,
in New York, Judge Leonard presid-
ing, a German was tried for arson in
the first degree having set fire to his
store in order to get the insurance.
His nephew, a small and honest-look-
ing boy, was the principal witness
against him he having kindled the
fire at the instigation of his uncle ; and
confessing to that effect while in prison,
the district attorney, put him forward
as a witness for the State.
CHRONICLES OF INSURANCE.
653
The boy was upon the stand some
hours the first day, and was subjected
to a rigorous cross-examination by the
prisoner's counsel ; but without making
him alter his statement in the least.
Toward the close, the counsel, not
being satisfied that the poor little fel-
low rightly understood his questions,
had an interpreter appointed by the
Court, and began anew to endeavor to
confuse him, and, if possible, break
down his strong and truthful testi-
mony.
" Ask him," said he to the interpre-
ter, " if he does not know that his evi-
dence in this case will injure his uncle,
and if he does not think it will benefit
himself?"
The interpreter put the question (the
boy looking at him with earnest eyes),
awaited his answer, then turned and
said, " He does not know whether it
will injure his uncle. He does not
know whether it will benefit himself.
He believes in God ! "
There was no sympathetic heart in
that court room but must have thrilled
at the pathos of that simple reply.
Protective Tariffs and the "Genesee
Mutual."
NOT many miles from the county
town of " Old Genesee," New York,
there was a defunct Mutual Insurance
Company, drawing its slimy length
along, and the dread of many who gave
their premium notes to the same in its
days of prosperity. One of its former
secretaries was a popular stump speaker.
During the campaign of 1844, while
addressing a large audience and
among the number was Newt S., a most
worthy man and clever wag the speak-
er, coming to the question of a protect-
ive tariff, and while annihilating its op-
ponents, was interrupted by Newt S.,
with the remark, that, if not objection-
able, he would like to propound an in-
terrogatory. " Most certainly not," the
speaker replied; "it will afford me
pleasure to answer, my good friend."
" Well, Squire, will you please to in-
form me the difference between a high,
a very high Protective Tariff and the
Genesee Mutual ? "
In that locality the question and its
effect will be long remembered.
PART THIRTEENTH.
ANECDOTES OF BUSINESS EMPLOYES.
'
ft f
' ,
*
*
. *
PAET THIETEENTH.
Anecdotes of Business Employes,
CASHIERS, CLERKS, SALESMEN, AGENTS, FACTORS, ETC.; BOOKKEEPING, ACCOUNTS, PRICES
AND VALUES, CORRESPONDENCE, SHOP TALK TRIALS AND MISERIES, BLUNDERS, FACE-
TIAE, WAIFS AND STRAYS.
This fellow harl an admirable knack of fishing out the secrets of his customers. He would rub
and lather n man's head, till ho had got out everything that was in it GUARDIAN.
Young men sooii give, and soon forget affronts. ADDISON.
Little that is truly noble can be expected from one who is ever poring over his cash book or balan-
cing his accounts. ANON.
I asked him to come and sit an hour with me ; he excused himself and what do you think was
his excuse ? He was engaged with his mother and some ladies to go shopping ! BYRON.
Fits-Greene Halleck's Clerkship with
Jacob Barker.
IT was the good fortune of Jacob
Barker, while a merchant in New York,
to have the services of FITZ-GREENE
HALLECK, for nearly twenty years, as his
confidential clerk ; when his business at
last ceased to yield him the power to
employ others. Upon this, Mr. Halleck
devoted himself to literary pursuits,
in the expectation that Mr. Barker
would retrieve his fortunes and have
occasion for his further services. For-
tune, however, continuing to frown on
Mr. Barker's efforts, a neighboring mer-
chant offered Mr. Halleck employment
at fifteen hundred dollars per annum.
This offer was named by Mr. Halleck
to Mrs. Barker, when she inquired if he
would enter the service of another for
the miserable sum of fifteen hundred
dollars. The reply was, " No, madam ;
it is the miserable want of fifteen hun-
dred dollars that may tempt me." The
offer was declined ; but he soon after-
ward entered the employ of John
Jacob Astor, with whom he continued
until the death of that gentleman.
42
On the great New York conspiracy
trials of 1826, the public prosecutor
called Miss Jarvis, Mr. William K.
Thurston, Mr. Halleck, and many
other friends and relatives of Mr.
Barker into court, to prove who Mr.
Barker's intimates and associates were,
who visited his house in other words,
with whom he would be likely to con-
fer. Mr. Halleck, with apparent aston-
ishment, repeated the question as it fell
from the attorney's lips, and answered,
" Jacob Barker does in all things as he
lists, without counselling with any one,"
a fact which the prosecutor could
only have been ignorant of, from not
knowing Mr. Barker.
Precision in Keeping Accounts.
The following anecdote will show
with what nice precision the accounts
are required to be kept in the great
private banking houses of the English
metropolis. After closing the doors to
customers, every clerk makes up his
accounts, and a general balance is
struck, which must tally to the veriest
658
COMMERCIAL AND BUSINESS ANECDOTES.
farthing before the clerks separate. It
happened, on the occasion in question,
that in one of these great establish-
ments, there was two shillings and ten-
pence minus in balance. Every clerk
was ordered to revise his account, the
silver and copper money in the vast
vaults was re-counted, but still there
was no solution of the cause of the
deficit; this was repeated over and
over again, still there wanted two shil-
lings and tenpence ; the resident part-
ner would not suffer the clerks to depart
without a correct balance ; gladly
would each clerk have paid the differ-
ence ten times over from his own
pocket. The affair remained unex-
plained until the next morning, when,
on the arrival of one of the non-resident
partners, he recollected taking that