Life — February 10, 1927 — page 6: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

roke’~ but Worth $79,100.29 © 1927, MLL Ca eee AD earns $50 a week. He has E) just paid the rent, the grocery we bill and the milk bill. He says he is “broke but happy”. He has his wife, his children and his com- fortable little home. He feels far from rich, but in reality he and his family are worth a small fortune. Because they have good health, this typical American family represents $79,100 of the nation’s wealth. As a useful American, Dad, at 30, can figure himself as actually worth $31,000 today—for that is the present value of his future earnings less his-personal ex- penses. Dad is one of thousands who are earning $50a week—an average Dad. If Dad is frequently sick or if he dies young, he will be worth less than $31,000. With-better-than-average health and longer life, he should be worth a great deal more. His family will be better protected, better nourished and given a greater chance for future success if Dad keeps well. Mother's contribution to the family wealth—her time and energy, love and devotion—can never be measured in money. But at a very conservative esti- mate, the money value of her services must be at least half that of Dad's— $15,500. That rosy-cheeked, four-months-old baby boy is worth $9,500 this minute, while big Brother, seven, and little Sister, five, are worth $16,000 and $7,100 each as future productive citizens. But their fortunes are locked up in their own bodies. They will reach the full measure of their wealth only by keeping healthy and fit for their daily work otherwise their fortunes will shrink. Let Dad—every dad from coast to coast —learn how to use the great discoveries of modern medical science to prevent disease and prolong the lives of his children, his wife and himself. And if he thinks that he is “broke", let him find out what he really is worth in dollars and cents to himself, to his family, and to his country. Published by Contrasted with the total material wealth of the “E country in 1922—raile roads, buildings, land, mines, etc.— which amounted to 321 billion dollars, the economic value of the'lives of the entire population wae 1500 bile ions. More than six bil- lion dollars were lost last year because of needless deaths. With these tremendous values in mind the im- portance of health and wel- fare work becomes ap- Parent. Seventeen yeare ago the Metropolitan’ Life Insur ence Company instituted a health and nursing ser- vice for policyholders. More than 20 millions of dollars were expended in this campaign. During thie period, the mortality rate of policyholders declined more than 30 per cent and the accumulated sav- ing which can be ascribed to welfare work, has | totalled the amazing eum of 43 millions of dollars. a ges’ what you are worth, also the potential worth of each member of your family. HALEY FISKE, President. METROPOLITAN LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY=NEW YORK Biggest in the World, More Assets, More Policyholders, More Insurance in force, More new Insurance each yest comicbooks.com