Life, 1921-08-04 · page 2 of 34
Life — August 4, 1921 — page 2: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page is primarily a **Prudential Insurance Company advertisement** from 1921, not political satire. The image shows the Rock of Gibraltar in silhouette against a dramatic sky. The ad uses a historical analogy: it compares Prudential's protective function to how ancient Egyptian King Ptolemy sent a fleet to Cape Good Hope, which failed to provide freedom and protection. The text argues that while ancient civilization lacked institutions for protection, **modern civilization depends on protective institutions like insurance**. The closing tagline—"IF EVERY WOMAN KNEW WHAT EVERY WIDOW KNOWS—EVERY MAN WOULD BE INSURED IN THE PRUDENTIAL"—is a sales pitch targeting men to buy life insurance, appealing to their sense of responsibility toward widows and families.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
5 inder the act of March 3d, ident Entered as Second Gias: Matter at the Post Oftes sl Copyright in’ England and the British 4 ray em Manager’ PTOLEMY, EARLY KING OF EGYPT, SENT A FLEET OF GALLEYS TO CAPE OF GOOD HOPE, A CRUISE OF 15,000 MILES. BUT IN SPITE OF ADVANCE: MENT IN NAVIGATION, SCIENCE AND ART, ANCIENT CIVILIZATION FELL. IT FAILED TO PROVIDE PERSONAL FREEDOM AND PROTECTION ROUGH ITS INSTITUTIONS. THE PRUDENTIAL IS A PROTECTIVE IN- STITUTION OF MODERN CIVILIZATION. The Prudential Insurance Company of America Founded by John F. Dryden, Pioneer of Industria! Insurance in America FORREST F. DRYDEN, President HOME OFFICE, NEWARK, N. J. Incorporated under the laws of the State of New Jersey IF EVERY WOMAN KNEW WHAT EVERY WIDOW KNOWS—EVERY MAN WOULD BE INSURED IN THE PRUDENTIAL comicbooks.com