Life, 1892-03-24 · page 16 of 16
Life — March 24, 1892 — page 16: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This cartoon mocks life insurance underwriting practices of the era. An applicant for insurance lists impeccable credentials: he neither drinks, swears, gambles, nor frequents theaters; he's always home by ten, teaches Sunday school, and has never been sick. The insurance agent rejects him anyway, declaring him an "extra, extra hazardous risk" because "the good die young." The joke satirizes the absurdity of insurance logic—that virtuous living paradoxically makes one uninsurable. It's darkly humorous commentary on how insurance companies find reasons to deny coverage, inverting normal expectations: being *too* moral becomes grounds for rejection rather than acceptance. The accompanying dialogue about being robbed and married reinforces the theme that life's unpredictability makes everyone risky to insure, regardless of character. The page is primarily advertisements for period products (perfume, shoes, whiskey) with this single satirical cartoon.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
TOO GOOD TO LIVE. Applicant for Insurance: No, siR; 1 NetTueR DRINK, CHEW NOR SWEAR; I DON'T GO TO THE THEATRE OR ATTEND BALLS, AND HAVE NO EVIL ASSOCIATES I AM AT HOME ALWAYS BY TEN O'CLOCK ; AM A SUNDAY SCHOOL TEACHER, AND MY MORALS ARE ABOVE REPROACH, I NEVER HAD A D YOU'VE BEEN ROBBED OF EVERYTHING YOU POSSESSED—CLOTHING, MONEY,| DAYS SICKNESS IN MY LIFF. ' EVEN MY WIG AND FALSE TEETH, AND I AM TO BE MARRIED IN A COUPLE OF : THAT IS AN EXTRA, EXTRA HAZARDOUS HOURS, TOO, THAT'S WHERE IT HURTS ME MOST! RISK, YOUNG MAN, AND WE CAN'T TAKE IT, Applicant: What! Agent: No, THE GOOD DIE YOUNG, You KNoWw, Let all f.couorars|) EARS | ee | gOUQUE;? | | CHoIs! | ele ‘ oe Rib on Hold- PERFUME POR THE NAMDERBRONIEP ing Edges, the DELICIOUS SCENT. — LATEST CREATION h ' Z Warren's orig- of B OOUDBAT in PARIS inal identify- COLD BY ALL PRINCIPAL PERFUMERS, , & DAVOCISTS AND CHEMISTS OF U. 8. ing feature Samples Pree of All Leading Stores. PENN “A solid policy in a solid company RIGACD & CO., Partelan Perfumers, Paris MUTUAL: wider Nove beter; we A CALIFORNIAN.—A gentleman holding property stocking cutting. No oth- interests in California but ble t lly look know of none so good as | after the same desires to mect a California business man er hose supporter can help LIFE those issued by this Company. Home of standing and responsibility ; to a desirable party an office, 921-3-§ Chestnut St,Philad'a. | unusual opportunity will be offered. Unezceptionabie cutting the stocking. The Property, P. O. Box 1592, Philadelphia, Warren for sale every- W. L. D Oo U G L AS where. George Frost Co., makers, Boston, Mass. $3,00 SHOE "Hr BE Sac For the money. ‘Seamless shoe, without tacks or wax thread to hurt the feet; atom aben, cient aneece was read uteretea tes: | 3Q ing from $4.00 to $3.0, 00 Genuine di-sewed, the finest calf shoe ever $3. wei | HB. KIRK & CO. B4 .Mfectaie ar Surabey the tee oes ayer ofcred atts DO NOT SELL mn tade shoes costing trom “soroltee’ ‘shor Varmern fairoed Men and Letter Car Mixed or Compounded Goods. ere aif wear them; fine calf, ecamlesa Beavy thick soles, extension edge. " PRICE ACCORDING TO ACE. 50 ne ent l, SEL5 nad B8.00 Workingman’s are No other house can furnish oo very eroug an y owe worn by the “ ° Boys? ost eictyehere wey selon their merity bathe OLD CROW" RYE WHISKEY. increasing sales show. Sold by us as uncolored, unsweetened. Sole shoe, best Dongola, very . Ladies’ Siitiutequais French imported ehoes cgation ‘Agents for from $4.00 to 2o a Pamedy 55-26 shoe for Hlseee The PLEASANT VALLEY WINE CO. gre the best Ene Dongcis. cone “ Sole Agents for the Inglenook Wines. e that W, ¥ ‘on the bottom of each shoe, TAKE NO SUB. wee eNaL Sb Dongen amend prtos are tamPon, and it they will not do eo, eend advertised price Send for Catalogue. stating kind desired and size and width usually worn. Shoes sent by mailto any partof the world, postage 69 FULTON ST. - 9 WARREN 8T. W. L. DOUGLAS, BROCKTON, MASS, Broadway & 27th St., New York. FULTON Li a comicbooks.com