The Reader Volume 5; An Illustrated Monthly Magazine (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1904 Excerpt: ... after urging him persistently to take out a policy, I have got to tell him that we won't give him one. That would be hard enough if he had sought us out, and it's ten times as hard when we have sought him. Why, it looks as if we were playing a heartless practical joke on him." "But it can't be helped," said Murray. "It's one of the disagreeable features of the business. We convince a man that it's to his interest to carry life insurance, and then we tell him he can't have any. Naturally, from his prejudiced viewpoint, we seem to be contemptibly insincere and deceitful." "Of course we are in no sense shortening his life," remarked Ross, "but it seems like pronouncing a sentence of death, just the same. He is sure to make an awful row about it." "One man," said Murray reminiscently, "fell dead in this office when his applica tion was refused. The shock killed him, but there was no way to avoid giving him the shock. However, that was an exceptional case: I never knew of another to succumb, although it must be admitted that the news that one is not destined to live long is distressing and depressing." "What's the reason for refusing Tucker?" asked Ross. "There are several reasons," replied Murray. "The physician reports heart murmur, which indicates some latent trouble that is almost certain to develop into a serious affection." "May not the physician be wrong?" "He is paid to be right, but, of course, we are all liable to make mistakes, and it can't be denied that heart murmur is deceptive. I've known men to be the subject of unfavorable reports at one hour of the day and most favorable ones at another. The occupation immediately preceding the examina...