Judge, 1897-09-11 · page 9 of 16
Judge — September 11, 1897 — page 9: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This satirical cartoon mocks the early 20th-century craze for Arctic exploration and polar discovery. The main panel shows two well-dressed figures at a table—apparently discussing a polar bear ("Polo") sent as a gift, likely referencing recent Arctic expeditions that captured exotic animals. The surrounding vignettes ridicule both the hardships of polar exploration and modern commercialization. Characters complain about Arctic conditions while others fantasize about turning polar discoveries into tourist attractions—complete with ice walls, entrance fees, and Aurora Borealis viewing rights. The satire targets two absurdities: (1) the romanticization of brutal Arctic exploration despite obvious dangers and discomforts, and (2) the American impulse to immediately commercialize and monopolize any natural wonder (creating a "trust"). The final caption explicitly states this prediction: explorers will fence in the North Pole and charge admission like a circus sideshow.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
POLO, THE WHITE BEAR—** I wonder who we are indebted to for sending this present ?” Mrs. Wuite—'’Say, old man! I believe the life of Fiji cannibals is “preferable to the fast existence we its, State Tru am, They get a missionary tow and then, while it’s a long time between Arctic explorers here.” v | ote wate tiie, gene Boreas TO Migwe - ‘Do gies that_wash-board and * es and hel oth ie btore ws a ecbuted op be 's all gobbled up by oes Pd they get away with the cholcest If the North Pole is ever discovered it is suj the discoverers will pat an ice wall around it and charge an ert fee ; then they will fence in the Aurora Borealis and make a trust of fk, with ove atmission to both shows ge 20 entrance fee) hey . Sacks Wel Lie & Pig Kew ork EXFLORER IN THE POLAR REGIONS. comicbooks.com