Life, 1923-02-08 · page 35 of 36
Life — February 8, 1923 — page 35: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is a fake insurance advertisement satirizing depression and melancholy through absurdist humor. The pitch offers "life insurance" against "Intense Gloom" for one dollar—a tongue-in-cheek remedy for what appears to be depression or existential despair. The questionnaire includes deliberately ridiculous questions ("Are you as old as you look?" "Did you meet Addison Sims?") that mock insurance applications' invasive nature. The circular illustration shows a figure in a boat with the motto "While There Is Life There's Hope"—a sentiment the ad ironically presents as purchasable. The humor derives from treating emotional suffering as an insurable risk through a cheaply-priced gimmick. References to "the Little Woman and the Kiddies" suggest domestic obligations as motivation for self-improvement. The note about "no stropping, no honing, no metal can touch you" appears to be a darkly comedic reference to self-harm prevention—another indicator this targets depression. This reflects early-twentieth-century Life magazine's satirical approach to contemporary anxieties and social absurdities.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Honestly-It’s The Best Policy Are you subject to sudden attacks of Intense Gloom, any one of which may prove fatal? Insure your LIFE for Three Months for One Dollar HIS special paid-up-in-advance premium allows you to participate in 10 weekly dividends of cheer, and endows you with a better sense of humor than you had before. Obey That Impulse to-day—you owe it to the Little Woman and the Kiddies. Just fill out this Questionnaire and send it to us—we promise to do the rest; no stropping, no honing, no metal can touch you. Are you as old as you look? .... In your opinion is, or is not, the How tall are you in your stocking ye y Where are the best peaches found? Do you know any other good addresses? What difference will it make to you 10 Do you know anything about art if they ever do climb Mt. Everest ?.. or do you know what you like?... (NOTE: The above questions are optional. All. appli- al Offer, however, must’ answer the following que in full, and detach and forward this part of the application to the Home Office, in care of the Home Office.) What is VW your name? Where do 12 you live? 13 (Unlucky question.) You haven't forgotten to en- close the Dollar, have you? ($1.20 in Canada, $1.40 in Europe.) LIFE PUBLISHING COMPANY 598 Madison Avenue, New York City comicbooks.com