ONE MILLION ON A SINGLE LIFE.

Fifty years ago the prediction that before the end of the nineteenth century men would begin to assure their lives for a million apiece would have been received with the same incredulity as a prophecy about the phonograph, or the X-ray, or office buildings thirty stories high, or wireless telegraphy. But at least one such policy matured before the advent of the twentieth century. The following item is from the New York Times:

Chicago, Dec. 30.

Frank Hutchinson Peavey, of Minneapolis, said to be the leading grain elevator owner in the world, and assured for $1,376,000, died of pneumonia shortly after 3.30 a. m. to-day, in suite 410 of the Auditorium Annex, after an illness of little more than a week. He was fifty-two years of age.

Of the total amount of insurance, $1,000,000 was placed by one company on April 28, 1990, and called for an annual premium of $48,390. This policy was payable to himself or his heirs, but its purpose was the furnishing of ready capital for the Peavey Grain Elevator Company in case of his death. Only one man in the country is known to carry more assurance, that being John Wanamaker, who is assured for $1,500,000, and the largest assurance ever placed on any one individual was that of $2,000,000, written upon the life of Frederick Vanderbilt when he made his trip around the world. Mr. Peavey's wealth is estimated at $5,000,000.

Mr. Peavey's death was to a certain extent unexpected, for, although he had suffered from an attack of pneumonia. which developed from a cold contracted shortly before Christmas, it was announced yesterday that he had successfully passed the crisis of his illness.

Mr. Peavey was assured for $25,000 in the Equitable, and the policy has been paid. In this connection the following letter from Wilkers & Curry is of much interest:

"It may be a satisfaction for you to know that the check on account of the F. H. Peavey loss of this city, proofs of which were forwarded to you one week ago today, check being received on Wednesday following, was the first check, or payment of any kind, which the estate received out of over $1,300,000 of assurance in force, and fifteen companies represented."

THE HOUR OF SUCCESS. You ask for fame or power?

Then up, and take for text

"This is my hour,

And not the next, nor next." George Frederick Cameron, Buffalo News.

MOMENTUM IN MEN.

It is the man with the greatest amount of momentum in his nature that can best lead, influence and direct others.

In physics momentum is the power of overcoming resistance by reason of motion, and is comprised of two elements-mass and velocity. The heavier the mass and the swifter the velocity, the greater will be the momentum. However, a swift-flying swallow has less momentum than a slowmoving ferryboat, because of the greater bulk of the latter; and a small boat sailing briskly has less power to displace than a large steamer moving at only one-tenth the

rate.

So it is with men. Some possess greater momentum than others. He who couples character and ability with energy becomes an irresistible force in influencing others in his way of thinking; and when in the pursuit of an object he carries everything before him. But the incompetent man, who goes at things impetuously, without the backing of strong mental and moral qualities, is easily blocked and discouraged, or else is deflected from his purpose altogether when an obstacle gets in his way. A. H. R.

ANOTHER OUTING.

Edward A. Woods and his bunch will not be the only pebbles on the beach this year. Joseph Bowes and his agency are going to take a trip to the seashore, too.

Mr. Bowes has sent out an invitation to his agents to (1) write a large amount of business and then (2) to participate in a frolic in August. The festive outing will consist of an excursion to Norfolk, from Norfolk to New York, from where several interesting trips will be taken, from New York to Atlantic City and return from there to home and work.

The invitation reads that whoever writes a certain amount more business than that allotted to him "will be entitled to take an additional person with him." We presume that none will make use of this privilege to take their mothers-in-law along.

It is to be hoped, for the sake of the quiet, respectable folk at the home office, that the Pittsburg and Baltimore crowds won't do their "carmine paint" act in New York at one and the same time.

WHY SOME AGENTS SUCCEED.

It is no wonder why some particular agents meet with such a degree of success and many others are never able to earn a living. A case in this agency, just brought to my attention, is only one of the many peculiar cases which show the tact and energy of the producer.

Policy No. 1076106 was recently issued as a result of what seems to me one of the best efforts on the part of an agent I have ever known. The agent who wrote this particular policy was away from his own home town and succeeded in getting the application late one day, and was six or seven miles away from the nearest examiner. By much effort on his part, he succeeded in getting to the doctor's house about eight o'clock that evening, who, by the way, is a very popular physician, with a great practice and all the business he can possibly do. The doctor had just returned from a hard day's drive and work, feeling quite exhausted. The agent told him he wanted a man examined that night, but the doctor said, "That is impossible." This did not suit the agent, who argued the case with much fluency, and in reply to all the doctor's protests that he was worn out and would not examine a man even in town, say nothing about a drive of six or seven miles, the agent replied, "Doctor, you don't understand the case at all. You seem oblivious of its great importance and the necessity of immediate action. There is too much at stake to think of letting this go until tomorrow, because to-morrow never comes. Why, doctor, in the first place there is $5 in it for you, and if you don't do the business to-day it may be lost, the man change his mind, and we will never get it. In the next place, there is $25 in it for me. I am representing my part of the deal, and you ought to be looking after your own. I have worked so hard to get this application that while the fruit is ripe I want to have it picked. In the next place, there is $1,000 at stake for this man's family, and if he should die before to-morrow, or have a fit of sickness come upon him, you never would feel right at being the cause of the family losing this large amount, which to them is more than all they possess. I have

a horse and buggy that I just got at the livery stable, waiting at the door, and all you have got to do is to get in and come."

The doctor was thoroughly converted by this time, and told the young man he would go if it was the last act he ever performed.

By good driving they got to the home of the man at half-past ten, and, of course, found him in bed (as a man should be). He was awakened, and while much provoked at their appearance, accepted it in a humorous way and made the best of it. To make the matter still more interesting, the young man, being examined, knew nothing about his family history, and his aged parents had to be routed to learn, as Josh Billings said, "How old his grandfather would be if living," etc.

The old lady felt called upon to get up and look after things, and insisted that it was so cold they could not stand it without a fire, and accordingly one had to be kindled.

At last the examination was made, and the doctor and agent wended their way back to town, arriving there a little before midnight. This agent is doing business right along, and will continue to do so as long as he keeps his energy and intelligence in that direction. Frank P. Chapin.

A GOSPEL FOR GO-A-HEADS.

The Equitable Life Assurance Society of the United States, of which Mr. Gage E. Tarbell, formerly of this county, is now second vice-president, has sent out an attractive little pamphlet entitled, "Extracts from Letters to Agents of Gage E. Tarbell." The essentials for success in the work of a life assurance agent, as well as in all other kinds of business, have rarely had a more vigorous and pungent presentation than in these extracts. They are calculated to make lively agents jump still more lively, and if any drones have gotten in among the Equitable workers, Mr. Tarbell's words will be apt to make them very uncomfortable, unless they forthwith "get a gait on them." The words of the book derive added force from the fact that Mr. Tarbell is a living example of the gospel which he preaches, and has forced his way to success by the very means which he now so earnestly urges others to adopt. Can'ts, apologies and excuses have no place in his scheme of life, and he means that none of his agents shall have anything to do with them if he can help it. The book is full of wise, up-to-date American ideas of how to do business and accomplish results. It is worth reading by every one, and is especially inspiring to young men. It deserves to rank with Samuel Smile's "Self-Help," and shows that the author knows how to write and instruct others, besides knowing how to do successfully himself.

From Cortland, N. Y., Standard.

A RATTLING RECORD.

John A. Farnsworth, agent at Westport, Essex County, N. Y., has in force in that village 102 policies. The poll list for Westport is 256. There is no other assurance in force there with the exception of a $1,000. policy in the Etna, and the assured in this case had the policy before locating in Westport. Mr. Farnsworth's ambition has been to hold the record of placing 100 policies at home, and the last twelve were placed since November 1, all on the endowment plan. F. A. MCNAMEE.

[That's a hard record to beat, or even to equal. If anyone has a somewhat similar record we'd liketo hear of it.-ED.]

EQUITABLE MAN WINS SCHOLARSHIP. Mr. Charles S. Williams, who has for some time been connected with the Louisville agency, has won a four years' art scholarship abroad, and has sailed to commence his studies.

Mr. Williams was the guilty man who gave Powell a black eye and damaged countenance (on paper), as depicted in the NEWS of April, 1901. Mr. Powell has, however, forgiven him, for he writes as follows:

During Mr. Williams' stay with our agency he has endeared himself to all, and it is with much regret that we give him up. However, we appreciate the honor conferred upon him, and realize that it is greatly to his advantage to accept the great opportunity he now has.