appreciate her economic value, and understand what her loss would mean to the home.
I have been in the life insurance
CARRIE J. WILLIAMS
business about thirteen years. I went into the work after my children were grown and through college. Years before I had studied insurance in order to take a policy on my own life. At that time a woman could
get insurance only in three corn-.
OPPORTUNITY LIMITED ONLY
BY ONE'S ENERGY.
By Mary Ellen C. Marshall, Equit-
able Life, Little Rock, Ark.
Life underwriting offers a wonderful opportunity to women, one that is limited only by one's energy and per-
MARY E. C. MARSHALL
•severance, in no way lessening feminity but the more womanly—the more successful. Can anyone more forcibly depict the needs of life insurance than the woman who must earn a daily living without such assistance? I am sure they can not.
Fifteen years ago, an attempt by a woman to write insurance was con-
panies, and was required to pay five dollars more premium than a man. She also must pass a more rigid examination.
I was a widow and felt greatly in need of protection, so I paid the extra premium for twenty years on my first policy, and have lived to see it a wise investment.
I do not count my record in dolars and cents, but in service. I try to teach protection, thrift and the building up of a larger life of usefulness. Through friends who have means, I can help others by giving them the chance for a better education. Using their insurance policies as collateral for funds, a college course can be taken, or advance work can be done in nursing or in some line of business. My record must stand on success in human growth, rather than in the dollars earned. Of course, it is necessary to make running expenses, and I do that and more. I rarely write where the premium money is already earned for I have worked mostly with those who need to be taught how to save.
What success I have had, I credit to being completely sold myself to life insurance. I have tested its value and feel entirely convinced that it will be of great service to others.
sidered a rather ridiculous project and
just a little shocking. But, regard-less of what a woman starts out to
do, she usually meets with discouragement from both friends and family. It is quite human, of. course, but most of our advisers are a bit afraid of our ability.
There is no such hopeless feeling as being alone in the world with two children and not one cent of income. When I faced this situation it was my very good fortune' to meet Mr. W. E. Bilheimer, then the General Agent for the Equitable of New York in Arkansas. His enthusiasm and vision for insurance as a profession for women persuaded me to sign my first contract—the very best day's work I ever did. It hasn't been easy sailing, nothing is, but it has been fourteen years of continual soliciting, untiring effort on my part, and ambition to write only high class business that would stay on the books. In every case my desire has been to fit the need and so the good of my client has always been first.
I have worked consistently and continuously, no matter what the discouragements. Determination backed by perseverance will overcome most obstacles. I have tried always to be cheerful, no matter how many days slipped by without an application completed. There is always tomorrow, and above all I have been happy in my work.
Not only have I helped myself, but I have been instrumental in starting
and assisting other women in life underwriting as a life work. At present I have what I believe is the only organized Woman's Department in the South. These women are making good in every sense, and, what is most gratifying, they are happy and con-tented in their work. After all, isn't that our greatest aim? How better can we serve?
KNOWLEDGE OF BUSINESS
HELPS
By Constance M. Mattingly, Mutual
Benefit Life, Portland, Oregon
I believe there are opportunities for women not only in this work, but in mostly every other profession where they take up the work well equipped with a knowledge of the line they represent, and a desire to sell such line on its merits.
My first entrance into the business world was as cashier and secretary in the office of one of the large life lr.-surance companies. This position gave me a splendid opportunity to
learn something of the work. It brought me in close contact with the insuring public—thus making me real-
CONSTANCE M. MATTINGLY
in the great opportunities the field work offered for the furtherance of this wonderful philanthropic ork.
An opportunity presented itself for me to head the Women's Department of the Mutual Benefit Life Insurance Company in our city, and I have been in charge of this department in the field work for the past seven yearn. My enthusiasm based on a knowledge of the great benefits offered the public by the life insurance companies, is, in a large measure responsible for my success.
My best record was in May, 1922, when I qualified for Rank 8 (eight) among the Mutual Benefit Life Insurance Co.'s agents throughout the entire country. Considering the very small territory in which I work, I might akid that I am justly proud of the company I represent.
