Life, 1924-09-04 · page 36 of 36
Life — September 4, 1924 — page 36: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is a Prudential Insurance advertisement masquerading as historical narrative. The illustration depicts a deathbed scene, likely representing John Morton, Pennsylvania's delegate to the Continental Congress (the text identifies him). **Historical Context:** Morton reportedly cast the deciding vote for Pennsylvania's support of the Declaration of Independence in 1776, despite intense pressure from British sympathizers and Quaker pacifists. The advertisement claims he lived to see vindication "one hundred years later" (around 1876). **The Sales Pitch:** The satire/message conflates Morton's patriotic "sacrifice" with insurance purchases. Just as Morton secured his country's future through personal sacrifice, the ad suggests husbands should secure their families' futures through life insurance. The tagline—"every husband would be insured"—implies that financial responsibility to one's family equals patriotic duty. **The Irony:** The advertisement uses nationalist sentiment and historical gravitas to sell a mundane financial product, suggesting that life insurance represents the modern equivalent of Revolutionary sacrifice.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
'HE simplest estate you can leave your family is Monthly Income Life Insurance. The Prudential issues this in various flexible and convenient forms to run as many years as you wish, or for the lifetime of your beneficiary. Itisinsurance that Insuresthe Insurance. The little Prudential books of the fifty-six signers of the Declaration of Independence, and the Constitution of the United States, will be sent with our compliments, on your request. IF EVERY WIFE KNEW WHAT EVERY WIDOW KNOWS-— EVERY HUSBAND WOULD BE INSURED A Man Who Saw 100 Years PENNSYLVANIA'S vote swayed in the balance. Franklin and Wilson voted for the Declaration of Independence, but two delegates were absent, and two others voted “Nay”. And without Pennsylvania, the new nation would split squarely across the middle. On the shoulders of Pennsylvania's seventh delegate —John Morton—rested a fearful responsibility. British sympathizers tried to bribe him—Tories argued with him — Quaker friends pleaded with him. But not for nothing had John Morton's sturdy Swedish ancestors followed close on the foot-steps of William Penn. In 1777, to those who still blamed him for bringing Pennsylvania into war, he sent a dying prophecy. “Tel] them”, he said, “they will live to see the hour when they will acknowledge the most glorious service I ever rendered my country”. Just one hundred years later, John Morton's city, state, and nation united in the ceremony of placing a memorial tablet in that very hall where he unhesitatingly sacrificed his own happiness. Not every man can die knowing he has done his country a glorious service. But insurance enables any man to dic knowing he has, at least, done his duty to his family. THE PRUDENTIAL INSURANCE COMPANY OF AMERICA EDWARD D. DUFFIELD 6 HOME OFFICE: NEWARK President / New Jeruy SE} comicbooks.com