Life, 1894-12-27 · page 42 of 53
Life — December 27, 1894 — page 42: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is a **Life magazine advertisement** for Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance (circa 1894). The two caricatures above use ethnic/racial stereotyping common to the era: **Left figure** ("Not a Well Read Man"): appears to depict an Indigenous person with exaggerated features, holding a pipe and tomahawk—a crude caricature suggesting ignorance or primitiveness. **Right figure** ("The Coming Man"): depicts a bearded man in formal dress with a captain's cap, appearing prosperous and civilized—suggesting progress or improvement. **The satire's message**: Life insurance represents civilization and advancement. The contrast implies that adopting life insurance policies is part of becoming "modern" and respectable, using offensive racial hierarchy to sell financial products. **Historical context**: This reflects 1890s American attitudes equating European-American civilization with superiority. Such imagery was standard advertising practice, though deeply offensive by today's standards. The actual insurance pitch emphasizes guaranteed surrender values and substantial assets ($14+ million).
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Nor a Wet Reap Man Tne Comte Mas. IN The Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Co. OF SPRINCFIELD, MASS. M. V. B. EDCERLY, Pres. JOHN A. HALL, Sec. You can insure your life, with the privilege of retiring, on any anniversary of policy date, after the first, with a generous surrender value in cash or in paid up insurance. These surrender values are fixed by law and stated in the policy, and furthermore guaranteed by ample assets. ASSETS, JANUARY 1, 1894, : - : 7 - - $14,480,480.80 LIABILITIES, JANUARY 1, 1894, : : - : - 13,460, 163.84 SURPLUS (MASSACHUSETTS STANDARD), - = - 1,020,316.96 CLINTON J. EDCERLY, Gen’! Manager, 10 West 23d Street, corner Fifth Avenue, NEW YORK CITY. comicbooks.com SI ee OR Se. Pe fh Pe NOR OS fh Seah Ie ROS