Life, 1912-10-10 · page 28 of 48
Life — October 10, 1912 — page 28: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains two satirical pieces lampooning early-20th-century figures and politics: **"Intimate Interviews"** depicts two Frederick Cooks—likely referencing the explorer Frederick Cook, who claimed to have discovered the North Pole but faced disputes with rival explorer Robert Peary. The cartoon shows them as self-aware fraudsters debating whether they're "impostors" while rationalizing their deception. The satire mocks their excuse-making and suggests American society readily accepts false claims if presented confidently ("so many impostors in America"). **"As Goes Maine"** is political satire about a 1912 election prediction based on Maine voting results. It mockingly predicts absurd outcomes: Roosevelt as Prohibition candidate, Taft as Socialist Vice President, and Wilson as Populist alternate. This satirizes how pundits treat early election signals as inevitably predictive, when outcomes remain genuinely uncertain. Both pieces ridicule self-deception, credential fraud, and the public's gullibility in accepting false claims presented with authority.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
ALPE + Intimate Interviews My x cc “Don’t you remember?” REDERICK COOK and Frederick Cook sat down before the open fireside. Outside the wind blustered, but they didn’t mind it, for the inte- rior was warm and cheerful. “I suppose,” said Frederick Cook, “that you and I will go down into history as the greatest impostors of the age.” “T'm not so sure about that,” replied Frederick Cook. “ Personally, I don’t telieve that either you or I could be such an impostor as the age itself. And it might be possible that when the clouds have cleared away we shall be discovered as being the only real per- son.” “But Copenhagen is still on my nerves.” . “ Copenhagen was inconsistent, that was all. Copenhagen was wrong in complimenting me because I had dis- covered the North Pole. And then Copenhagen was wrong in being angry with me because I didn’t. Now, over here in America, they looked at the matter very differently.” “Yes. You see there are so many impostors in America that when we apparently drew a blue ribbon it made a reputation for us.” “ But Frederick, are we an impostor? I have a distinct recollection of dis- covering that pole—don’t you remem- ber?” “Certainly. I haven't the slightest doubt but that we discovered it.” “Then why should anybody else have discovered it? Because a few scientists down in Washington were not quite satisfied, and because also we got rattled?” “Well, it seems to me that any body of scientists is right, provided that its members can come to an agreement upon anything.” “Perfectly true. The only difficulty with us is that both you and I, Fred- erick, are poets and dreamers. We scorn technical details. Now, standing where the pole is supposed to be was a mere incident, anywa You and J did it as much as Peary did it.” “But the world doesn’t think so.” “That is because the world doesn’t feel like thinking so. But the world will—some day. Would you like to change matters and have everybody Lelieve that you did it now?” “Not at all, my dear fellow; that would destroy the artistic unity of our great achievement. Would it not?” “ Certainly.” “It was merely a matter of brain versus legs. I had the brain, Peary had the legs.” As Goes Maine LACE your bets, gentlemen. It is all over but the shouting, for Maine has spoken. As goes Maine so goes the nation. A careful anal- ysis of the Maine results, with all claims taken into consideration, proves that Mr. Roosevelt will be elected President on the Prohibition Ticket, Mr. Taft will get the Vice-Presidency on the Socialist Ticket, with Mr. Wil- son as Alternate on the Populist Ticket. This will leave nothing for Messrs. Sherman, Marshall and John- son except minor positions on the Meal Ticket, Milk Ticket and Commutation Ticket, respectively. Nothing more than this can be prognosticated at the present writing. ISS FIFTH AVENUE: Maudie claims to be an uninstructed delegate. Miss Beacon Street: Impossible! She’s from Boston. ' Mr JIM DANDY | MILLINER, * THE CREATION OF MAN comicbooks.com