Life — May 17, 1900 — page 9: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# "Better Late Than Never" This illustration depicts a romantic garden scene with two figures beneath flowering trees. The caption quotes dialogue: "I hope this proposal of mine hasn't taken you completely by surprise, dearest." The woman responds: "Well, yes, it has. I long ago abandoned all idea of it." The satire concerns a marriage proposal arriving after an unexpectedly long courtship. The man appears to be finally proposing, but the woman's reply suggests she'd given up hope years earlier—implying either his extreme hesitation or her patience wearing thin. The joke plays on Victorian-era courtship conventions, where delayed proposals could indicate indecision, financial uncertainty, or lack of genuine commitment. The ironic title suggests belated action is still preferable to none, though the woman's reaction indicates otherwise.