A MEMBER OF THE FOURTH ESTATE INSURES HIS LIFE.

Westport Times, Volume VIII, Issue 1163, 31 March 1874, Page 2

A MEMBER OF THE FOURTH ESTATE INSURES HIS LIFE.

[OTAGO DAILY TIMES,] An energetic Government agent has lately been very busy running about Duuedin aud attempting to take persons' lives. It was only the other day he called at our office and informed us iu the most cold-blooded manner that he wished to take the lives of two of our reporting staff. On enquiring what for, Jie replied, " Two huudred pounds." " Good gracious," we exclaimed, "you surely would not kill a man for £2OO. Besides," we added, "our staff is so busy now, and the office has only just been carpeted, that we really could not spare your would-be victims, nor put up with a mess on the floor." Eventually, however, we ascertained that the supposed assassin was an insurance agent. On the gentlemen in question being ask | if they wished to be insured, th v # naturally enquired, " how much down ?" as cash on the nail, as a rule, with these members of the fourth estate is rarely produced, except, perhaps, in an unguarded moment. Ready money was not a sine qua non, so the insurance was effected. The answer to the doctor's question as to how much beer one of the gentlemen drank daily was amusing. " Sometimes," he said, "six glasses, at other times twenty, six." " Pardon me," replied the medical, " I don't mean for a week, I mean for a day." "Exactly so," answered the insurer, " my day, as a rule, commences at nine in the morning aud terminates at two the next morning." " You'll do," said the doctor, " first-class life."