_Life Insurance_ is quite as useful an institution as insurance against fire; indeed, it has been called “one of the greatest blessings of modern times.” In it, by means of an annual payment, varying according to the age of the person whose life is insured, a sum is secured in the event of death. A girl may not have any necessity for benefiting survivors in this way, but she should know something about the matter for all that. In insuring one’s life the applicant is required to furnish information as to her own health and habits of life, and some particulars as to her family history. If the application should be rejected on the ground of ill-health or a tendency to hereditary disease, you must just try elsewhere: offices are to be found that will insure unsound lives, the charge being, of course, proportioned to the risk. The cost of life insurance is based on the expectation of life at different ages. The expectation of life, for example, of a girl of ten years of age is about 48 years; at fifteen about 44 years; at twenty about 40 years, and so on, decreasing year by year, till at last it dwindles down to nothing at all. A period of grace, most commonly thirty days, is allowed after each life premium falls due. If it is not paid within that time, the conclusion is come to that the policy-holder intends to drop the contract. It is a matter of great importance to be insured in a good office, and the most careful inquiry should be made on the subject before taking out a policy. “Safety,” says one writer, “ought to be the first consideration, and economy the second; but really, economy ought to be put first, for there is no economy in insuring in an unsound office, however low its premium may be.” Life insurances on a small scale can be effected better, perhaps, through the Post Office than through any other channel. The Postmaster-General is authorised by an Act of Parliament to insure the lives of persons of either sex. The lives of children under eight years of age cannot be insured; from eight to fourteen they can be insured for not more than £5; and from fourteen to sixty-five they can be insured for any amount not less than £5 or more than £100. The security for the payment of the money at the proper time is the best in the world.