Judge, 1908-12-05 · page 39 of 44
Judge — December 5, 1908 — page 39: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page is **not a cartoon or satire**—it's a full-page advertisement for The Prudential Insurance Company's new "Monthly Income Policy," presented as a statement from the company president. The ad promotes life insurance as a financial protection tool, specifically targeting breadwinners concerned about their families' welfare after death. The "newest idea" is monthly payments to beneficiaries rather than lump-sum payouts, positioning this as more practical for managing household expenses. The modest cost examples ($3.50-$4.12 weekly premiums) and emphasis on guaranteed, stable income reflect early-20th-century anxieties about economic security and women's financial vulnerability as widows. The language appeals to masculine duty ("do for *You*") while implicitly assuming wives cannot manage lump sums independently. This appears in *Judge* likely because the magazine accepted paid advertising alongside satirical content—a common revenue model for period publications.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
— The Very Newest Idea in PRUDENTIA Life Insurance A Statement by the President: HERE is no other business which bears so important a relation to the welfare of the family as that of Life Insurance. The Prudential’s object is to provide for the men and women of the United States the most practical form of Life Insurance Protection—that which will contribute most completely to the welfare of those for whose benefit Life Insurance is taken. With this sincere purpose in mind, The Prudential is issuing a Life Insurance Policy which, it is believed, meets more closely the necessities of the family—those who are left behind when the breadwinner dies—than any other form of Life Insur- ance before the American people to-day. It is called the Monthly Income Policy, from the fact that the proceeds, instead of being payable in one sum, are paid to the family in a series of checks on the first of each month,—and continue for a period of 20 years or for the lifetime of the Beneficiary if it has been so selected. The great advantages of this plan are apparent. Think of being able to leave your wife a Monthly Income,—a guaranteed sum which nothing can disturb—not affected by hard times, bad judgment in investments—which cannot be lost, depre- ciated or stolen—but which will come to her regularly every month for twenty years, or her lifetime, thus enabling her to adjust the family expenditures, relieving her from all worry and putting poverty out of reach. This is just what the new Monthly Income Policy accomplishes it pays the rent, the household bills, provides food, clothing, education for the children perpetuates your salary in fact all by a monthly Income which cannot fail. THE COST of this policy is low. For example, if you should be 30 years old you could, by paying The Pruden- tial $167.35 per year (which means a saving of only $13.95 per month, or about $3.50 per week), assure to your family after your death—$50 Every Month for 20 years, or $12,000 in all! At slightly higher cost, you could make this Income payable to your wife or daughter for her entire lifetime. This is called the Whole Life Plan. You can also arrange to confine all your payments to the Company to the first 20 years after taking out the Policy. This is called the 20 Payment Life Plan. Now suppose you would like to arrange to protect your own old age - to assure yourself of an Income which would start 20 years from to-day, if living, and last for 20 years longer, or _for you as long as you live and your wife as long as she lives if she survives you. This can be done too, under the Endowment Plan. Suppose you and your wife were both 40 years of age: $214.20 per year (a saving of $4.12 weekly) paid to the Company for 20 years would provide a guaranteed Income of $25 per month, beginning at age 60 and continuing as long as either you or your wife should live, and in any event for not less than 20 years. Every rate and value in this Policy is absolutely guaranteed in the Policy itself while back of it are the great resources of The Prudential. The success already attending this new Monthly Income Policy proves that it is striking the keynote of popular demand. You cannot afford to ignore a method of providing for your family or for your own old age a protection so sensible, so sure, so convenient, and so inexpensive. We wish to tell you what The Prudential can do for You in this matter. Write now while the subject is fresh in your mind. We will furnish you full Information just adapted to Your particular case. Remember, we believe this to be the greatest plan for the protection of your family ever devised marking an epoch in Life Insurance. You should take advantage of it, for your family’s sake. Write Now to The Prudential Insurance Co. Liye _/ OF AMERICA f Incorporated as a Stock Company by the State of New Jersey. President Home Office: Newark, N. J. In order that we shall know where you read this we would appreciate it if you would mention this publication in your letter. comicbooks.com