Life, 1909-10-07 · page 14 of 44
Life — October 7, 1909 — page 14: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This Life magazine satire mocks explorer Robert Peary's egotistical claim to sole credit for reaching the North Pole. The cartoon depicts Peary as a "Zero Hero"—comparing him to William Jennings Bryan (the "Democratic Bryan"), a politician known for self-aggrandizing rhetoric. Peary is outraged that another explorer claims to have reached the pole first, demanding all credit for himself despite being paid by the government. The satire ridicules both Peary's vanity and the "eminent scientists" who support him with pompous, meaningless proclamations ("it will all be clear as mud"). The piece likely references the real-world dispute between Peary and Frederick Cook over who first reached the North Pole (1908-1909), satirizing how explorers and scientists scrambled for glory and credibility. The cartoon mocks ego-driven exploration and institutional hypocrisy.
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Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
470 flutter of excitement among the eminent scientists, and the newspaper correspond- ents indicate the approach of another per- The horizon is darkened and old bricks and ad- s the great Explorer Peary de- sembled multitude. Here, sonality there is a shower of jectives scends upon the Explorer Pi Ketomantuk, check this pole. y (to attendant) I shall now procced With the utmost speed (Ere I'm laid upon the shelf, And the limelight glows On my beautiful pose), To make an ass of myself Chorus. ere he’s laid upon the shelf, He say: h rfully make an ass of himself. He'll ch Peary As a Zero Hero I'm a The most noted, quoted climber, I'm the Democratic Bryan ot the pole To admit a predecessor, Though his prestige may be lesser, Is much too much to bear, upon my soul! Chorus. To admit a predecessor, says this Bryan of the pole, Is far too much a strain upon Hero's soul. Peary. his Zero It hurts my pride To be dignified, While in the Government's pay. So I'll turn and twist And I'll shake my fist At others who block my way. Chorus, To be dignified in the G Is not exactly @ hero's nment’s pay, Peary. Full of glory and my story, I return to find it hoary; I'm so fighting mad I don't know what to do! Why, I went elone to get it— Robbed all white men of the credit— And this gold-brick villain claims he's been there, too! Chorus. It was retribution, maybe, and he’s doubt- ful what to do— For himself he planned all credit, and this villain claims it, too! Explorer Peary now climbs the nearest iceberg with a megaphone and proceeds, according to the schedule, to make an ass of himself, announcing, in a loud voice, that no one else has any rights but him- self, But his voice, though loud and penetrating, is lost in the hubbub made by all the eminent scientists, who now form in line and march to the front “Hem! Haw! Haw! Hem!” Song of Eminent Scientists We are leaders scientific We would have you all to know. We're esteemed and ponderific— We assure you this is so. Hem! Haw! Haw! Hem! we wouldn't be surprised If this was so (or isn’t so), as it is ad- vertised. When we've made our calculations, With our minds quite ponderous, And have checked our observations We will let you hear from us. Hem! Haw! Haw! Hem! Our hopes be- gin to bud! When we've duly weighed the matter, it will all be clear as mud! Chorus Hem! Haw! Haw! Hem! begin to bud! When the’ve made their calculations it will all be clear as mud! All their hopes At this point there is a tremendous commotion. Explorer Peary has sud. denly caught sight of his rival, and de scends ina hurry. A rough and tumble fight ensues, in which the air becomes so comicbooks.com