WW - - 1 .
I I baa Inaugurated a moYemont to
secure t reuuciiua ui mw jrcoeui
fire Insurance rates which Are re
garded as an eiorbltant charge
opoa business. The matter has been agi
tated In the various commercial organiza
tions, and a public meeting la suggested
as the means of bringing about an expres
sion which the companies cannot afford to
Ignore. The companies are alleged to be
formed In "a trust so that all agree upon
the same rates, which It Is alleged are
far in excess of what should be demanded.
Rates are very low in New York as com
pared with the west, but eastern merchants
and property owners are determined that
they must be lower.
Recently the president of the Continental
Insurance company was consulted by a
friend who desired to learn as to the ad
visability of investment in the shares of
a new Independent company. In answer
the insurance official wrote a letter in
which he accused new companies of taking
many poor risks and few good ones, and
protested that the rates of the old compa
nies were not excessive, because they had
such large expenses to meet. The letter
brought out a stinging communication to
the New Tork Commercial from Mr. James
Wills, whose revelations as to the profits
of insurance companies are so striking as
to be worth reproduction. In part Mr.
Wills said:
"Instead of going to the president of the
Continental Insurance company for advice
on the question of competing with him In
bis business, it would be well for the In
quirer to purchase a copy of the Spectator
Chart, giving a synopsis of the business of
over 200 lire Insurance companies for the
past ten years, and examine Into the re
Woman
HERE Is one thins, at least. In
cident to the good old days for,
which the modern woman never
sighs, and that is that definite
line which marked the boundary
between youth and old age. writes Mrs. Wil
son Woodrow In the Cosmopolitan. The
woman who today . is celebrated for dis
tinctive charm and beauty, ripe views, dis
ciplined Intellect, cultivated and manifold
gifts, would, two score years. ago, have
been relegated to the heavy ranka of the
dowagera and grandmothers forced by the
stern conventions of prcvalliBg opinion to '
confront the bitter knowledge that Juat aa
ahe had gained a mattery of the rulea, ahe
was expected to retire from tho game.
Consequently, when the older novelists
drew a heroine she was beautiful 17 and
her anllthes' and foil waa the snubbed
splnBler governeas. Invariably described as
nlne-aad-twenty. with linen cf age and grief
graves deep on bar face. The feminine
novelists, never dreaming of deviating
from the accepted masculine standard, all
followed suit until Charlotte Bronte de
plete Jane Byre, and the navel-reading
world trembled aa with a volcanic shock
and awaited chaos.
In these happy days forty was a respect
able age. If viewed from the matronly
standpoint; but at 50. one prepared for
death. The woman who had reached that
age must smooth back her locks, perhaps
unthreaded by gray, under a snowy cap.
crush her heart's aspirations under tin
Juggernaut car of convention, adopt gar
ments suitable to her age rich, perhaps,
but dark and unbecoming and keep ever
before her mind the fact that ahe was an
old woman, until In utmost truth she
was.
A qu-s Ion which might eldL. conrllerab'e
Interesting discussion Is: Why are the
typical modern women at 20 and evei 80
years,' younger In manners, dress and ap
pearance than were their grandmothers at
the same age? One .might reply very per
tinently that. In the first place, they have
decided not to grow old; and, b-a'eve me. It
Is largely a question of wilt. Having mads
this decision, they seek the means which
shall enable them to retain their youthful
appearance. They understand that beauty
and Ul-bealth are not congtn'al tampan
Ions; consequently the women of today
live much In the open air. loving the sun
and the breeze far more than the eisy
chair and the open Ore.
We can hardly realise what an outdoor
life and outdoor sports have done for our
women until we gaze on a collection of
' gowns worn by their feminine proprietors.
One may well believe that oft-told talB of
tying the staylaeea to the bedpost In order
to pull the stays up sufficiently; and even
' thus, these scaat-sklr.'ed, s'.ralsht-todled
gowns look aa If designed for maidens
whose slender frames had been crushel la
tho embrace of the Iron Virgin before a
flltlng; but tennis, gclf, horseback exeixl e,
basket ball and the wheel have changed all
that.
Today, the typical woman of SO Is pos
sessed of ripe beauty, charm and Intellect.
Her face does not exhibit the unwritten
pace of lovely sixteen; and It Is Inscribed
with the sensitive, beantlful lines of
character, thought, experience and sym
pathy, but no disfiguring wrinkle arises
generally conceded by wrinkle specialists
that this bane of woman-kind arises
principally from the Indulgence of moods
Fire Insurance Rates Are Too
sults of whnt Mr. Evans calls 'a 6 per cent
business.' Even that trouble may be saved
by accepting the following transcript of the
business of the Continental for the past dis
astrous ten years, which Is not the. best
showing In the business by far:
"In the time mentioned this company
has paid $2,116,757 In dividends, an average
of over 21 per rent, and over 25 per cent
annually for the last five years. In addi
tion its net surplus has Increased from II,
600.000 to $5,700,OCO. The business you are
advised to keep out of because 'you cannot
get rich quick In the Are Insurance busi
ness,' has paid to the company mentioned
In the time specified over 60 per cent an
nually. If you are not allowed to get rlch
quick In the Insurance business, you may
certainly console yourself that you are
getting poor slowly, by being bled to this
extent on a business supported by your
selves and relegated to Mr. Evans and hla
confreres.
"Of course, this enormous earning has to
be accounted for outside of th-s '6 per cent,'
so we are Informed that 'wtile some nrney
is made by wise Investments, such profits
are not sure by any means, and often there
are Investment losses Instead of profits.'
The schedule of the expenses should be
scanned carefully by business men, as it
contains one of the most Important Items
for consideration. The average expe-so
ratio is over 40 per cent.
"It 4s for Insurers to dee'de whether this
enormous expense account is to be paid by
them or not. Should they go Into the busi
ness against the advice of their counsellor
they could do the business for Ijsb than
15 per cent. Let us see how this would
figure out on the Continental bas's. Sup
posing you had been content with the
dividends paid, your surplus would have
of Fifty May
of temper discontent and worry. In a
nutshell, wrinkles come from a lack of self
control. Today, the woman of fifty who la not a
tolerated nonentity stands for something
In her particular world. Her opinions are
no longer tentative or In the formative
period. She has had years wherein to
observe events, to study persons and con
ditions, and to weigh and teat the value
of her beliefs. She Is careful, however,
not to let them solidify. She holds them
flexible, ready to be extended or contracted;
but they are definite. "They say" Is a
phrase which has no particular weight for
her. Her "I say" Is assured and perfectly
satisfactory to herself, although never 1m- ,
posed on others.
The. charming woman of middle life la
very tolerant, and very chary of passing
Judgment, In fact, she has greater horror
of intolerance than the devil of holy water.
Why should the rose cavil at the catnipT
The world, la wide, and it would be ex
tremely monotonous If thla earth were one
vast garden. Neither la the delightful
woman sensitive. That Is a form of egotism
which may be excused In sweet 18,
but It la Impossible at 60. She has .
learned, with patience and humanity
life's most dltflcut lesson self-control.
She haa also been courageous enogh to
cultivate the "art of forgetting." and aha
seasons all the dishes at the banquet of
existence with her sense of humor. With
out it. the feast would be as flat as a
vegetarian dinner.
The man who said that a woman was not
worth looking at after 30. nor worth
talking to before, would have no standing
for sincerity In regard to his first clause,
although he was right. In the main, on his
second. Many young women desire to make
social history for themselves by being con
sidered brilliant conversationalists, but
the woman of riper years Is able to exert
a far more subtle attraction is the ability
to draw out the best in a man or woman.
The light of her sympathy la so dear and
perfect that all the dull facets of their wit
reflect it.
But the last and crowning charm of the
Ideal woman of 50 la repose. - She doca
not fuss or bustle. She has sown for many
years; now It Is true for her to begin to
reap some of her harvests, to gather up
"her fruits and tears." And she la content,
because, as Mr. Howells expresses It In
one of his most charming stories, she "haa
glimpsed. In certain luminous moments,
an infinite passion, encompassing our whole
being like a sea, where every trouble of our
sins and sorrows must cease at last, like
a circle In the water."
: Lament of Casimir
This Is a touching story that comes to ua
upon the wings of a special Paris cable
to the New York Sun. Th3 famous Maisou
Doree closed Its doors some moo tin at",
and Casimir, Its still more famous chef,
now bids a scornful fsrewell to the vul
garities of modern life and sheds tem
pestuous tears for the beaux Jours which
. have forever fled Th world la to low and
Casimir Is heading atralght for Hep
sidam: "In the olden days In the days of Rosslol
and the duke of Hamilton, and others, or
during the emplro the peopla knew how
to dine. Monsieur le Baron woull co-ns and
consult ma five hours la advance and Mme.
been Increased by $22,000,000, plus Inferos!.
All this, In spite of Mr. Evans' admonition
that you cannot get rich quick la the fire
Insnranco business.
"The fire Insurance premiums paid to the
companies whose reports appear In the
chart mentioned last year amounted to con
siderably over $200,000,000. The wantage
In the present manner of osduttlng their
business amounted to over $00,000,000. This
amount, which Is wasted annually by In
surers, capitalized, would furnish all the
capital required for the fire Insurance busi
ness In two years at roost. In about four
years It would replace the capital of the
American companies and the asweta of tho
foreign companies."
Mr. Wills puts the cane strongly, and 15
per cent is a low expense ratio, but 40 per
cent Is In Itself an Indictment of a busi
ness like insurance. Street railways, when
carefully managed, are able to keep their
operating expenses down to 50 or 60 per
cent, and yet they must keep up plants,
which cost very large ejms at the start,
and for which there must be liberal charg
ing off for depreciation, besides which they
have armies of employes of every grade
from the unskilled laborer to the highest
paid engineering and financial experts. The
operating expenses of steam railroads are
not much higher. The Northern Pacific, for
instance, has long reported that 50 per cent
of the groFe receipts paid all expenses, in
cluding salaries, and so on. The plant of
a railroad means a very large capital out
lay, but the plant of an Insuranve com
pany ought to be comparatively Inexpensive
once there Is established a satlpfactory re
serve for the risks taken. The new busi
ness secured then provides for Itself, It
being merely a simple mathematical prob
Be a Girl if She
la Marquise two days ahead. They cirae
down to tho kitchens, and we consulted,
and a dinner In those days was a real poem,
not a meal. The kings, alas, have changed
all this; ah, they have much responsibility,
the kings.
"Tour King Edward was a customer of
mine; but what do you think he preferred?
The simplest dishes. And Leopold of
Belgulm" Caslmir'a dark eyes b'a.ed wit)
scorn "soup, and a slice of beef. AIhb, is
that a dinner for a king? The king of
Fortgual Is the only one who knows In
these degenerate days how to est. The laat
time he dined with me he sent for me and
pressed both my hands. Toars were in his
A Prize
"Horse
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I j i i m -'1 .i mmm nil 1 1 '"llnlllll in I i- i i ' I " nil '
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"An absolute fact" we carry the largest variety of
medium and fiue grade vehicles and harness in the city
and can suit you in style, quality and price. Au extensive
line of "Stable requisites" as follows:
Curry Combs,
Brushes and Car da,
Spoke Brushes,
Dusters and Brooms,
Mane Combs,
Bristle Brooms,
Tall Ties.
Mane and Tall Shears,
Brass Sweat Scrapers,
Linen Stable Rubbers,
Turkish Stable Rubbers
Silk Stable Rubbers,
Linen & Wool Bandages
FoMlrg Hoof Picks and
Hammers,
Chamois Polishing
Skins,
Sheepswool Sponger,
S Ik Sponges,
Carriage Jacks,
Carr.'ags Candles,
Axle Grease,
Harness Oil & Dressing,
MeUl Polish.
Wttch Havel,
Pure English Crown
Soap,
Stable Halters and
Muzrles,
Hitching Straps,
Whip Cord Pillar Reins,
Whips, Robes and
Blankets,
Bridle Bits (all kinds),
nn
i
uvouvu
I8TH AND
mm. WiVinri "i.nn
High
lem to ascertain the percentage cf lopsea,
Judgment must be exercised In the taking
of Insurance risks nod In the Investment
of the premiums, but these can be pretty
effectively safeguarded.
The New Tork Commercial takes the
ground that tinder any other form of In
surance than that enforced by ths com
panies tho cost would be greatly reduced.
It cites the fact that there Is a mutual
company In New Tork doing business with
selected rinks trot has among Its policy
holders some of thi largest Insurers In tho
city. The business 4s handled on a 15 pot
cent expense basli and In a profltalli tn,
as last year Its losses only amounted to
per cent. Tho regular rates are
charged, and the reductions come In divi
dends. Last year the dividends paid were
75 per cent. Another mutual company In
sures only mills, which are regarded as
extra hazardous links, and had one very
heavy loss last year, but was still ablo to
pay a 45 per cent dividend. Others which
insure manufactories In New England
have done much better. Of coursa these
companies are careful as to the risks they
take, and their business bring smalt can be
managed more economically than the large
corporations, but they show what can be
done.
The truth of the matter probably la that
companies and agents In order to extend
their business and get the large commis
sions take risks without regard to fa'e'y rr
the moral hasard. The dangerous risks
result In large losses which the honest
Insurer must pay. Insurance Is indis
pensable, but it Is far more costly than It
should be, and henco the movement for
lower rates Is not surprising, nor would a
similar movement anywhere be surprising.
Louisville Courier-Journal.
Likes
eyes. He kissed me on both cheeks, and
assured me that It was not a dlr.nor, but a
creation."
Birds of a Feather
"What are your rates?" queried the bold
man aa he entered the health resort hotel.
"Ten dollars per day," responded the pro
prietor. "Can't you mako a reduction? I'm a
robber."
"What has that to do with it?"
"Why, I thought perhaps you recognised
the profession." Chicago News.
Winner
at the
Show
Quarter Boots,
Whip Holders,
Stable Ornaments,
Harness Ornaments,
Watch & nirror Cases,
Monograms and Crests,
Chain and Snaps,
Horse Clothing,
Horse Coolers,
Stable Sheets,
Hair Clippers,
Sun Bonnets,
Etc.,
and EVERYTHING
needed la and about
the stable.
nn
JV
1
HARNEY 8T8.
mini i I I 5