Life — August 31, 1899 — page 19: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This satirical cartoon depicts a domestic scene titled "His Good Fortune." A thin, gaunt man in formal attire sits across from a corpulent woman in an elaborate dress, who holds a fan and appears to be a wealthy widow or society woman. Below, another scene shows the same man cradling a child while a woman sits nearby, and a separate figure stands apart looking dejected. The satire likely mocks fortune-hunting or social climbing—the "good fortune" being the man's advantageous romantic or financial situation through marriage to a wealthy woman. The contrast between his lean appearance and her substantial wealth, combined with the child and other figures, suggests commentary on matrimonial opportunism or the social dynamics of marriage for financial gain in the era. The cartoon's cynical tone critiques such mercenary relationships.