Life, 1909-10-07 · page 24 of 44
Life — October 7, 1909 — page 24: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This satire mocks the bitter competition between polar explorers Dr. Frederick Cook and Robert Peary, who both claimed to have reached the North Pole in 1909. The letter writer, a fictional member of a "Polar Exploitation Club," sarcastically denounces Cook for actually *discovering* the pole—supposedly violating a gentlemen's agreement to delay polar expeditions until 1912. The joke inverts expectations: explorers are portrayed as self-interested profiteers who benefit from *untested* claims and dramatic stories, not genuine discovery. Peary is praised for his "restraint" in merely freezing his ship and writing magazine stories for profit. Cook's actual success is framed as scandal because it triggers an unseemly "vulgar, unrestricted rush" that threatens the lucrative exploration industry—and supposedly harms Eskimos by introducing modern rifles and religion instead of providing "thrilling stories." The satire critiques how polar exploration served primarily commercial and promotional interests rather than scientific advancement.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
480 The Polar Exploitation Club TZ New York City, Sept. 12, 1909, ‘Tue Epitor or * Honored Sir:—i have satisfactory proof that Dr. Cook left the United States with the deliberate intention of going to the North Pole. Those who are ignorant of the gentlemen's agree- ment, regarding the poles, may not sec anything wrong in this. Asa member of several organizations interested in Polar exploitation { wish herewith to denounce the Brooklyn physician for discovering the North Pole at this time. For the last twenty-five years there has been in force a tacit understanding everlasting ation, has among us, which, to the glory of science and civ never before been viol ted. Among other necessary stipulations we have bound ourselves not to question each other’s stories and, above all else, not to reach either pole until the year 1912 Men like Nansen, Sverdrup, Fial D'Abruzzi, ete., have been within easy striking distance of the goal, but in- have resisted temptation and elves with beating the contented ther last. man’s record or takin observa- tions, naming a cape or two and writing magnificent stories of privation and hard- ship. Commander Peary showed himself to be the noblest of them all, as year after year he froze his ship comfortably into the ice, played pinochle, hunted anit wrote books and magazine stories until the relief ship arrived, With Peary in the north we were sure the pole was as safe as if under lock and key. Let me assure you that the temptation to an ‘LIPE® able-bodied, ambitious 1 with nothing to do but eat and amuse himself, was stupendous. Yet none of us doubis that this season he would have restrained himself as before, had not the wretched news come to him of Dr. Cook's deliberate, inexcusable rape of the North Pole. Of course this left the Commander free to march right up to the spot as, indeed, he immediately did. Nobody blames Peary in the least; but what shall we say of the behavior of Dr. Cook? This one brazen act of his. infinitely worse than his ruination of Mt. McKin- ley, has disorganized everything. At once there will be a vulgar, unrestricted rush for the South Pole, and next year, doubtless, half a dozen different expedi- tions will reach it. Then who will take care of the poor Eskimo? Look what he was fifty years ago. Now he shoots with a rifle and smokeless cartridges, enjoys the light of matches and of the Gospel and rejoices in religion, rum and gumdrops, No more. thrilling stories, such as have entertained the whole world for centuries; no more well-stocked ships nd snug winters frozen in the good = like Peary, old ice. No more | @e>, books and = maga- zine-wisdom and no more lectures to in- struct the people and return hand- some profits The Christian Scientist: prawn me! of poor Wellman, who was caught in a southerly gale and came to earth quickly, lest he be blown across the pole in spite of himself. He has given up the whole business now, and so must ‘we all. Thousands of men and women, widows and innocent children, depend for their living on the non-discovery of the polar antipodes. Dr. Cook knows this and cares not. I have no doubt that the American, people when acquainted with these facts will disqualify the Brooklyn meddler as they would the winner of a race who had run foul, and that they will give the crown to Robert E. Peary, that soul of honor, who of all men has most successfully dodged the North Pole. With deep re- grets, I am, Dear sir, respectfully yours, Carr. Freezorr Nowst The Higher Socialism “Wy don’t you people in the Four Hundred receive the literary set?”? “Well, you see, they'd amuse us and keep the vaudeville artists and opera stars from the money that they right- fully earn at our entertainments.”” NEVER KNEW AN ERROR OF MORTAL MIND TO TAKE SUCH A DISAGREEABLE FORM. comicbooks.com | ] ]