Life, 1924-05-01 · page 2 of 40
Life — May 1, 1924 — page 2: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is primarily a **Life magazine advertisement for Prudential Insurance**, using historical patriotism as marketing strategy. The illustrated scene depicts **Edward Rutledge**, identified as the "youngest" signer of the Declaration of Independence. The cartoon shows him losing his right hand in military service during the Revolutionary War, illustrating the tagline "He Saved His Right Hand." The biographical text emphasizes Rutledge's patriotic sacrifice and his prominent role as South Carolina Governor and Supreme Court Justice. His mother is featured in a portrait, described as "as rich as she was beautiful." **The satire/pitch**: By linking life insurance to patriotic legacy and family preservation, Prudential argues that protecting one's family financially is as important as military service. The closing slogan states: "If every wife knew what every widow knows—every husband would be insured."
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Elen? SOUTH He Saved His Right Hand “ HEN in the course of human events"— you read the opening sentences of the Declaration of Independence, think of the Adams of Massachusetts, the Lees of Virginia, the Rutledges of South Carolina. For Edward Rutledge, youngest of all the signers, with Adams and Lee, wrote that immortal preamble. He and his eldest brother, John Rutledge, are inseparably intertwined in history. Both were Governors of South Carolina, The elder became Chief Justice of the State, and went to the United States Supreme Court; the younger went to the Continental Congress Both Rutledges took part in the battles around Charleston.” Edward went to St. Augustine a British prisoner-of-war, while his brother won fame at Fort Moultrie. General Lee, commanding the Continentals, called the famous palmetto log fort a “slaughter pen.” But Rutledge wrote to his South Carolina troops “Gencral Lee wishes you to evacuate the fort. You will not do so without an order from 1 would sooner cut off my hand than write one The family is the foundation of American institutions, Whether Rutledge or Lee, Schmidt or Sweeney, each family must hold together for the good of the nation. Life Insurance preserves family traditions of inestimable value. THE PRUDENTIAL INSURANCE COMPANY OF AMERICA EDWARD D. DUFFIELD = rN HOME OFFICE. NEWARK Presiden . New Jersey te dpe >AROLINA RS. RUTLEDGE, mother of Edward and John, was, at the age of twenty-seven, left a widow with seven 4 Fortunately she was as rich as she was beautiful You give your wife a fixed in- come. Why not arrange now to continue that income when you are gone? Prudential Monthly Income meets the need as the need arises—it insures the Insurance! When buying new Life Insur- ance, or increasing what you have, take advantage of the Prudential Monthly Income. Ask the nearest Prudential rep resentative. The little Prudential book of the ignersoftheDeclaration endencewill be sentwith ourcompliments, on your request. IF EVERY WIFE KNEW WHAT EVERY WIDOW KNOWS — EVERY HUSBAND WOULD BE INSURED comicbooks.com