Life — April 12, 1917 — page 11: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# Analysis of Life Magazine Page 627 The main artwork is a satirical illustration by R.B. Fuller depicting the famous Omar Khayyam quote: "The moving finger writes; and having writ, moves on." The image shows a hand of fate or destiny writing upon a scroll or tablet, with a chaotic wartime scene below featuring military vessels, fortifications, and destruction. The accompanying text discusses naval cooperation between Allied forces during what appears to be WWI, emphasizing the importance of the British and American navies working together. It references Russian maritime concerns and jokes about German U-boat crews experiencing temperature shock. The satire suggests that historical forces move inevitably forward—war's momentum cannot be stopped, only managed through alliance and cooperation.