| Its amazing how the worth of a persons worldly | | | | graveyard if there had been money to buy something |
| goods goes up when there's a possibility that the loss | | | | new. |
| they have suffered may be compensated by an | | | | Before most of today's claim-conscious tribe was |
| insurance company. | | | | born, the gullibility of railroads was tested every time a |
| As any insurance adjuster will tell you, the people are | | | | train hit a cow who had the poor judgment to get on |
| few and far between who will admit to losing shoddy | | | | the tracks. No scrub cow was ever mangled to death |
| merchandise by theft, fire or other disaster. | | | | by a train. The deceased was always the best animal |
| A stolen coat is by no means an ordinary garment as | | | | in the herd and definitely worth more than market |
| the label would plainly show. This assumption is fairly | | | | value. Why such valuable livestock wasn't kept under |
| safe since the label disappeared with the coat and | | | | lock and key never altered the fact that much money |
| now who is to know? Only coats of recent origin fall | | | | should change hands. |
| into the hands of the unscrupulous. In lieu of a sales slip | | | | Settling an insurance claim often becomes a battle of |
| to date the age of the garment, there is a glowing | | | | wits as the search continues for truth which must be |
| description of a coat almost new - worn a couple of | | | | hidden somewhere under a mass of exaggerated |
| times, once to church and once to grandma's funeral. | | | | verbiage. |
| Household goods will decrease in age in increase in | | | | If the claim is paid, the company man is a gentleman |
| value when they have been "burgled" or burned. Only | | | | and a scholar. If he turns thumbs down or limits |
| brand names that speak of the highest quality have | | | | compensation, he is either a heel, a tightwad or a |
| been lost and should be paid for on that basis. | | | | crook, or a combination of all three. Using the fallacy |
| The loser may ease their conscience by admitting that | | | | that two wrongs make a right, some claimants justify |
| the stuff they lost had been subject to some wear or | | | | their actions as a means of what they consider |
| tear, but because of age it had become a family | | | | "ill-gotten gains." |
| heirloom. | | | | We seem to remember that Robin Hood had this |
| "These items can never be replaced," the loser moans. | | | | same idea of taking from the rich and giving it to the |
| This may be a true statement. Without going to the | | | | poor. Hopefully, the majority of those seeking insurance |
| city dump, it might be impossible to duplicate furnishings | | | | compensation have the integrity to tell it like it is when |
| in the same state of dilapidation. Nearer to the truth in | | | | a loss occurs. But there seems to be a growing |
| many cases would be the fact that the items lost | | | | number of those who have adopted dishonesty as |
| were given to the family by in laws or some other | | | | their best policy and this shows up in the rates all of us |
| family member when they started housekeeping and | | | | have to pay. |
| they would long ago have been hauled to the furniture | | | | |