One finds in the early years of life insurance in this country
a diverting line of advertisements, and one of the most popular
methods of the times was the acrostic. Most companies were ad-
dicted to the use of this archaic form to attract attention and the
Northwestern, particularly, got the habit.
In September, 1872, George H. Rountree, Superintendent of
the Supply department of the company, issued a paper called The
Pantograph, dedicated to the advancement of the great industrial
enterprises of the west and hopeful of its mission. It did not
last long but the first issue contained the subjoined acrostic, the
authorship of which has been attributed to editor Rountree, him-
self.
Some, kindly disposed, have said it is "pretty good/' The
reader will judge:

"Not what men gain but what they save
O! this the secret is of wealth;
Read, ponder well, for oft the grave
Takes all the future years by stealth.
He then is wise who lays up store,
Who harvests while the day is bright,
Ever the future conning o'er
Sad future which comes as the night
To the dear ones for whom he lives,
Each one of whom his heart holds dear;
Ready, for them his life he gives
Nor takes his counsel of his fear.
"Men read the future in the past;
Urged by the ghastly wrecks they see,



Five Years of Eventful History 159

The fortunes spent the misery
Unspeakable, and that must last
Ah! well it is from out the strife
'Life, Life!' they cry. 'Insure the life!'

"Lo! then the hearthstone still keeps bright
Its store of food the table bears;
Fed, warmed and clothed they know no night
Engulfing with its flood of cares.
