Life, 1904-05-26 · page 22 of 22
Life — May 26, 1904 — page 22: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is primarily a **full-page advertisement**, not a cartoon or satire. It promotes The Mutual Life Insurance Company of New York, founded 1843 ("The First American Life Insurance Company," shown in the circular seal). The ad makes competitive claims: over $400 million backing its policy contracts, and $630 million paid to policyholders in 61 years—allegedly exceeding the combined capital of all National Banks clearing through New York. The centerpiece is an engraving of an impressive classical building (the New York Clearing House), establishing institutional authority and permanence. The contract offer is straightforward: for applicants in good health, after 15 years of payments, Mutual Life will pay $1,000 annually until $15,000 total is reached, plus $10,000 cash. Richard A. McCurdy is identified as President. A tear-off coupon invites readers to request cost information. There is no satire here—this is earnest commercial persuasion leveraging financial credibility and architectural grandeur to sell insurance as "Investment Insurance" during the Progressive Era.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
May 26, 1904. and this unequalled rec- ord —in 61 years over $630,000,000 paid to pol- icy-holders, an amount greater than the com- bined capital and undi- vided profits of all the National Banks clearing through the New York Clearing House. ~"EZ = = EK er ye reaftes paid. At the end of that time THE MUTUAL will also pay “you $10,000 cash. Fill out the attached coupon and learn the exact cost of this most desirable form of Investment Insurance. RICHARD A. McCURDY -. President The Mutual Life INSURANCE COMPANY OF NEW YORK TEAR OFF AND MAIL COUPON PREGS OF THE J. W. PRATT Co., MEW YORR: comicbooks.com