Life, 1909-10-07 · page 13 of 44
Life — October 7, 1909 — page 13: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is a satirical dramatic piece about polar exploration, featuring anthropomorphized polar bears as the main characters. The sketch mocks the grandiose reporting and public spectacle surrounding Arctic expeditions, particularly those of the early 20th century. The "Preliminaries" section shows bears discussing an expedition's arrival. The humor derives from presenting serious exploration narratives through absurd animal characters, with bears speaking in exaggerated theatrical dialogue about "dark and dreary" conditions and "purple" skies. The "Flora and Fauna" illustrations appear to satirize the pseudo-scientific documentation explorers provided to justify expensive expeditions. The overall piece mocks both the romanticization of polar exploration and the sensationalized journalism surrounding it—treating momentous geographic achievements with comedic deflation through this animal-centered parody.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
“LIFE: Back From the Pole An Aurora Borealis of Popular Pelaric and Personified Pleasantry “Woof! Woof! An open icefield, with every- body present, including brass bands, nos, publishers, newspaper corre. spondents, polar bears, walruses, di gruntled Englishmen and eminent scien- tists, Free lunch of pemmican and gum- drops on the side Opening Chorus, of Polar Bears and Wairuses Woof! Woof! Weof ! We are filled with agnation. Woof! Woof! Woof ! We are bristling with ¢ Such overwhelming news has con} puts us in a state! It's sentimental, monumental, everything that's great! Just now we mustn't talk too much, but some day we shall sir The wonderful, hysterical importance of the thing! h! Sh! Sh! We musin’t say a word Sh! Sh! Sht Or tell what we have heard It wouldn’t do at all, you know, to give the facts away; We've something up our sleeves, you know, we'll tell it all some day. Woof! Woof! Woof! Eminent Scientist, advancing to the front, ina patronizing and pompous man- ner, as he adjusts his glasses and looks them over approvingly : Quite right, my friends, quite right. Be as mysterious as possible. It rather confuses the masses, you know, and in the long run makes for prestige and profits. Hello! who comes here? Woof!” Another Installment of Flora and Fauna. Ext orer Cook thing wonderful. A lone figure appears on the horizon, gradually increasing in size. The brass band starts up, but is silenced by a couple of English correspondents who know an American as far as they can see him. Explorer Cook advances. rapidly. Explorer Cook (to attendant): Here! Check this pole. Be prepared everybody to hear something wonderful was dark and drear, And purple was the sky; (My story will appear With da and by.) The day was dark and drear, And so, likewise, was I I beg of you don’t sneer As I was saying, I— I did it, that is clear; Some day you'll know just why. I've not the slightest fear. I did it—yes, "twas I. The day was dark and drear, And purple was the sky Grand Chorus. He says-the day was derk and drear, Hooray! Hooray! He says the facts will all appear, 3 Hooray! Hooray! He says that purple was the sky. Hooray! Hooray! He says he'll tell about it in the sweet by and by. Hooray! Hooray! Hooray! Hooray! s. Boom, Ah! He's the real thing! of! Woof! Woof! He now retires rapidly to his tent, where he proceeds to write another in- stallment of Flora and Fauna and ar- range hi chedule of lectures ahead. In the meantime there is a loud noise, a comicbooks.com