Life, 1910-12-22 · page 36 of 44
Life — December 22, 1910 — page 36: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page features advertising and reader letters, but centers on a major scandal: **Dr. Frederick Cook's disputed claim to reaching the North Pole**. Cook vanished in November 1909 after claiming discovery of the North Pole—a claim contested by rival explorer Robert Peary. The portrait shows Cook; Hampton's Magazine is promoting his exclusive confession story ("Did I get to the North Pole? I confess that I do not know absolutely"). The satire is implicit: Cook's evasive admission—that he cannot definitively confirm reaching the Pole despite his celebrated claim—exposes him as either a fraud or a charlatan who never truly believed his own story. His mysterious disappearance and subsequent silence fueled public suspicion that he fabricated the achievement for fame and honors. This was a genuine 1909-1910 sensation; both Cook and Peary claimed the Pole, but Peary's account prevailed historically. Hampton's capitalized on public fascination with Cook's belated, non-committal "confession."
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
eS Llieleys GOLD SEAL Champagne America’s Favorite Wine FOR ALL XMAS DINNERS For Home, Banquet or Club \ Made by the French process— equal to any imported cham- pagne without paying the duty. ORDER A CASE FOR CHRISTMAS Special Dry—Brut URBANA WINE CO. Urbana, N. Y., Sole Maker An Alternative Epitor or Lire, New York. Dear Mr, Editor: I merely want to ask you a question: Do you not care to keep your Catholic subscribers ? Oxe or Tue. Hargisnurc, Pa., Nov. 21, 1910. Yes. But at a reasonable price. If the price were to be a promise from Lire to never refer to the Cath- olic Church unless in terms of praise, our answer would be “ No.” The same question might be asked by a host of readers whom we fre- quently offend; Vivisectors, High Church Episcopalians, Jews, Repub- licans and Democrats, “ society” peo- ple, bishops, suffragettes, millionaires, old maids, fat folks, ete, etc, ad in- finitum, Lire’s reply to all would be (Concluded on page 1169) From Our Readers (Continued from page 1167) Now, that is just what I feel like saying to that “reader” who says she is ashamed for her sex. What can she do for her sex? There are plenty of sweet little domestic wives and moth- ers and grown-up daughters anxious to protect civilization from the mas- culine woman, They are willing to follow this “reader” or any one who will suggest some plan of procedure. It is difficult, indeed, to think of a way to begin, but until something is suggested let us not voice our shame, but, on the other hand, keep it dark. Better use the power of suggestion in the opposite direction and become unashamed. In other words, if we can’t “boost” our sex, at least let’s not “knock” it. Sincerely, Mrs. Detsert Tinpetts, Guturig, Okta., October 31, 1910. DierKiss Sa finesse fait du Djer-Kiss difficile. —Kerkoff, Paris TRANSLATION: “It's refinement makes Djer- Kiss the perfume for the particular woman.” Extract, Sacket, Face and Tafeum Ponder Atall dealers. Send 6c. for Sample of Extract. Alfred H. Smith Co., 72 Chambers St.,New York Bere’, 1910, by Bampton. Prom Dr. Cook's letest fhotoeraph taken at Poughkeepsie, N. vember, r910, for Hamp- ton’s Magazine ? “Did I get to the North Pole? * * I confess that I do not know ab- solutely. * * Fully, freely, and frankly I shall tell you everything.” —From Dr. Cook's Own Story in Hampton's Magazine for January. Since the sudden and mysterious disappearance of Dr. Frederick A. Cook in November, 1909, until the publication of this series no word has been received from this man who stood so conspicuously for a brief while be- fore the world, the recipient of un- precedented honors. Why did Dr. Cook disappear? Was not thisa tacit admission that he had presented a fraudulent claim to the discovery of the North Pole? Ordid he ever pos- sibly believe in himself? Where dur- HAMPTON’S ing his absence, has he been, and what has he done? During the past year Dr. Cook has been reported in many places. Various interviews have been attributed to him. One has announced his going secretly North, another told of his attending the Peary lecture in London. Dr. Cook brands these as fabrications. Here, for the first time, he makes an authorita- tive statement to the world andanswers the questions asked about him. Dr. Cook's Own Story—an intensely hu- man document—appears exclusively in January issue now on sale—15 cents. Send 50 cents for a four mont tion containing the complete Cook story. HAMPTON’S MAGAZING 7 Nee YEE. Ye My \ ish ther you que app ple the comicbooks.com