The Charter and the Deed of Settlement of the Philadelphia Contributionship for the Insuring of Houses from Loss by Fire (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. 1859 Excerpt: ...evidence even of the latter; for many fell off-at the expiration of the first seven years, and symptoms ol dissatisfaction appeared in some instances before the close of that period. But the directors persevered with faithfulness, and they should have the praise of it. At that day, the virtue of punctuality was esteemed at least as highly as it is now; but both then and now, appliances of some kind were, and still are, necessary to secure it. Punctuality at the monthly and othermeetings of the directors, was at that time secured or promoted by a fine upon the absentees, two shillings upon the director who did not attend at all, and half that sum upon him who was absent at the appointed hour of meeting. A remembrancer of a different kind has been substituted in modern times. In London, I believe, the modern expedient in similar cases, Life Insurance Companies in particular, is to pay a guinea to those who give full attendance. Our fashion here, is to give at the monthly meeting, a reasonably good dinner and a segar. The other meetings, which in the form of committees, are frequent and almost daily, are performed fasting. But while we know how this remembrancer is disposed of by us, and may conjecture how the London guinea or sovereign is disposed of, what do you suppose was the use to which our forefathers applied that fund of treasury fines which was accumulated by the defaults of the Directors? I will give you any time you please to guess, --either the thing itself, or the species, or even the genus of it. It had no relation to burning or to building, to eating or to drinking. It was the reverse of bread to the poor and it conveyed neither pleasure nor instruction to the young, nor indeed to any one who minded his own business and stayed at home, as I dare ..