Judge — July 27, 1901 — page 5: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This 1901 Judge cartoon satirizes fortune-hunting in courtship. A wealthy woman named Gladys reports that her friend Ferdy's rich uncle has died unexpectedly. When asked if the death was anticipated, Gladys notes it definitely was not—because Ferdy had just proposed to her the previous week, implying his proposal was motivated by inheritance prospects rather than genuine affection. The joke targets the social practice of men pursuing wealthy women or women with wealthy relatives for financial gain. By timing Ferdy's proposal just before his uncle's death, the cartoon suggests his romantic interest was purely mercenary. The satire critiques both male opportunism and the shallow marriage market among the wealthy classes.