Life, 1909-11-04 · page 19 of 52
Life — November 4, 1909 — page 19: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is a humorous editorial piece mocking explorer Robert Peary's 1909 claim to have discovered the North Pole. The author—identified as "Currstertox Toop"—presents absurdly ridiculous "reasons" why Peary couldn't have reached the pole, including: - Peary's sealskin suspenders showed no signs of polar travel - Whitney's claim of neutrality is suspicious because Yale (Whitney's institution) is never neutral on anything - Peary only attempted the pole out of jealousy after the author went to Brooklyn - Peary used an artificial horizon (a navigation tool) but couldn't even help young men navigate Broadway - Peary didn't "Fletcherize" his food (chew thoroughly, per a fad diet) The satire mocks both Peary's credibility and contemporary enthusiasms like Fletcherism. The cartoon's "HER HOME-COMING" caption remains unclear without additional context, though it likely relates to the written content above it.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
My Reasons |. very much annoyed to learn, on my arrival in town from Jersey City, that Lieutenant Peary should claim that he has discovered the pole—what- ever that is Peary should not be taken too serious- ly. He bas been living with scientists so long that he probably isn’t respon- sible. I dislike to use slang or be undig nified, but I desire to say in the interests of peace that I wouldn't be surprised if he has been handing us a gold brick. Now I have fourteen reasons for believing MER HOME-COMING that Peary did not discover the pole Here are some of them. Later, when I can spend more time from my lectures, I will mature and add to them. These are only preliminary reasons, but they ought to satisfy anybody : I have examined the sealskin sus penders that Peary claimed he wore, and I can confidently assert that they have never been to the pole. If they had been he would have tied the ends of them to his pajamas with a string. It is a well- known scientific fact, attested by all ob- servers, that no one would think in these advanced days of going to the pole un- less his pantalettes were held up by a string Whitney says he desires to. remain neutral. I wish to call attention to the value of this testimony. Whitney is from New Haven. New Haven is the home of Yale College. Yale Colle a seat of learning. No seat of learning is ever neutral on anything—it's agai their principles. Therefore, when Whit- ney says he is neutral it means that Peary wasn't at the pole. Peary never thought of discovering the pole until he had heard I had gone to Brooklyn. He went on visiting the Ice- landic Harlem for years. looking for a steam-heated flat with southern exposure, where he could be free irom microbes and excessive notorietywhich he de spises—and he wouldn't have thought of discovering the pole anyway if I hadn't gone to Brooklyn. He my exploit and he thought that was the only way he could get even. He took with him an artificial horizon That's enough. What can you do with an artificial horizon? I saw several young men sailing up Broadway the other night after the parade and they all had artificial horizons. They couldn't even discover a way to get home after dark Peary admits he didn’t Fletcherize his food. How can anyone get to the pole who doesn't Fletcherize? Why, he wouldn't have endurance enough. He bolted everything. Besides, he is too polite about it. Any one who is as suave and disinterested as Peary is and pre serves his dignity I suspect on gencral principles. P.S. Later on I shall give my seven other reasons. Thi are all scientific and based on accurate data, acquired by years’ tobogganing in the West Indies. Yours frigidly, Curstrrtox Toop. was envious of comicbooks.com