Life — July 30, 1908 — page 13: what you’re looking at

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

‘LIFE: 119 or pecuniary interest in the matter. Long since I made my pile out of the American people. But as a matter of pride and human sentiment for my pro- I should hate to see a person like Fairbanks discover the Pole, and ruin my worthy succes- ‘sors."" These expressions of envy and dissatisfac- tion only add to our confidence The preparations have been rapidly going forward. The Fairbanks ship, “ The Pole Bearer,"” is almost ready. The library has been fitted up with Roosevelt's complete works, and a wince’ cellar has been built in the hold. SOMETHING NICE 1N BATHING SUITS. All Competitors Outwitted Fairbanks to go to the North Pole and Bring It Back, for LIFE L with its usual enterprise, has seized the psychological opportunity. While our competitors have been forming in line in front of the White House, offering Roosevelt one dollar a word to write up his curry-combing lion expedition in Africa, Lire has quietly secured Fairbanks to conquer the Pole, and bring glory on the flag. Previous attempts to push northward have been uniformly successful, the explorer in each instance having written a book, gone on a lecture tour and been dined by the Lotus Club, besides having been presented with a solid sealskin medal by the Geographical Society. The Pole—naturally— has been left where it was. Being a permanent source of income and advertisement for those whose living depended upon it, no one has before ever dreamed of actually discov- ering it. The announcement of Lire’s great coup, therefore, has been met with unanimous indignation in all Arctic exploring exhibitions. Robert Peary was seen, just as he was about to step aboard The Roosevelt with a basket of champagne in one hand and a typewriter in the other. He said: “T regard the encroachment of Mr. Fairbanks on our terri- tory as a base intrusion upon sacred rights. Looking for the Pole has now become a permanent source of income to many deserving families. It is generally understood among all explorers that the actual discovery of the Pole would throw a large number out of employment, and it is a matter of honor with us never to get beyond the parallel of latitude where seli-advertising would be imperilled. “ An adventurer like Fairbanks has nothing to lose. Having been Vice President of the United States for four years, he is lost to all sense of shame. I warn him that if I run across him, he will meet the fate that he so richly deserves.”” This, of course, is the highest compliment for our selec- tion, for it shows that Mr, Fairbanks is feared in the right direction. Fritzoft Nansen, who, it may be remembered, made a for- tune out of the Pole several years ago, and who is really entitled to the credit of having done more for advertising it, and originating methods to develop this great industry, was seen by a correspondent in his luxurious European Palace. “So far as I am concerned," he said, “I have no personal “As for me,"’ said Mr. Fairbanks, “T have long wanted to go to a climate suited to my temperament. With a Panama hat and a linen duster, I shall meet the Pole on equal term (To be continued.) The Ruling Thought HREE men, looking for a fourth to pls Hebrew who said that he knew how to play. were led, and the Jew discarded a club. “ Failing?” inquired his partner. “Don’t drag in business,”’ said the Jew. ise, found a Hearts IN DARKEST AFRICA, 1909. comicbooks.com