Sketches New and Old


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There is nothing more beneficent than accident insurance. I have seen an  
entire family lifted out of poverty and into affluence by the simple boon  
of a broken leg. I have had people come to me on crutches, with tears in  
their eyes, to bless this beneficent institution. In all my experience  
of life, I have seen nothing so seraphic as the look that comes into a  
freshly mutilated man's face when he feels in his vest pocket with his  
remaining hand and finds his accident ticket all right. And I have seen  
nothing so sad as the look that came into another splintered customer's  
face when he found he couldn't collect on a wooden leg.  
I will remark here, by way of advertisement, that that noble charity  
which we have named the HARTFORD ACCIDENT INSURANCE COMPANY--[The  
speaker is a director of the company named.]--is an institution which is  
peculiarly to be depended upon. A man is bound to prosper who gives it  
his custom.  
No man can take out a policy in it and not get crippled before the year  
is out. Now there was one indigent man who had been disappointed so  
often with other companies that he had grown disheartened, his appetite  
left him, he ceased to smile--life was but a weariness. Three weeks ago  
I got him to insure with us, and now he is the brightest, happiest spirit  
in this land--has a good steady income and a stylish suit of new bandages  
every day, and travels around on a shutter.  
I will say, in conclusion, that my share of the welcome to our guest is  
none the less hearty because I talk so much nonsense, and I know that I  
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