ABSTRACT
Institutions for savings and insurance are the bulwark of our civilization and a guarantee of the continuance of the American standard of life. Ordinary life insurance is now so well understood that attempts to cast discredit upon this form of family protection, because of occasional instances of abuses or crimes, would meet with no response from an intelligent public, or call for legislative interference. Time was, not many years ago, when serious religious and social objections were urged against the practice of thus providing for the uncertainties of the future. The insurance of women, especially of wives, and of persons above the age of fifty was once looked upon as prejudicial to public policy, and it required time and experience to demonstrate that such anticipations were as groundless as they were opposed to any rational view of public morality. Fire and marine insurance also passed through a period of agitation and opposition, although with more foundation in fact, since it is even now officially admitted that over six per cent. of all the fires in the United States are of incendiary origin, with a corresponding immense destruction of property and the sacrifice of many human lives.
