Life — November 27, 1913 — page 20: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This appears to be a satirical illustration from *Life* magazine depicting a scene labeled "Panama." The image shows a reclining figure in the foreground with a skeleton or death-like figure holding a trident standing over them in a dark, cavernous setting. The caption reads "Bless you, my children," suggesting religious or paternal irony. Without additional context about the specific date, this likely satirizes American involvement in Panama—possibly referencing the Panama Canal construction (early 1900s), disease outbreaks there, or colonial policies. The skeleton figure may represent death or disease claiming lives, while the blessing caption mocks indifference to suffering or casualties associated with American imperial projects. The grim imagery critiques the human cost of Panama-related American expansion or exploitation.