Gasoline Alley is the second longest-running comic strip ever and probably the best strip of the 1920's . In this daily, Walt proposes to the local widow after losing a car race. It is both a pivotal daily and is extraordinary standing alone. Walt and Phyllis Blossom do later get married and stay together for about 80 years until Phyllis dies well after reaching 100.
Gasoline Alley characters age in normal time. As of this writing, Walt is still alive at 111. It's extraordinary in the sentiment expressed therein. Phyllis is the booby prize that goes to the loser in a contest between two twits. This has to be humiliating. She calmly cuts him low in a most dignified manner. In a less realistic strip, he would be about a quarter normal size in the last panel. Here, you can see the burn on his face.
Nothing like this would ever happen in today's strips. For one thing, it would take a week or two of dailies to fit this all in. This illustrates how big strips were back then, six columns wide on pages substantially than today's. For another, this kind of sentiment doesn't play in strips anymore.
Sorry, but I have to say this: If I were her, I would have added, "Besides, I am out of your league."
I've gotten the 1923-1924 collection and see the context. Phyllis and Walt are definitely sweet on each other and have been for some time though they haven't advanced physically to hand-holding. The 1920's were a different era. Phyllis is alot less matronly and is more attractive than is shown here. Interestingly, driving cross country in 1923 was a big deal, taking weeks with several breakdowns being par for the course. In the strip, this race attracts press coverage on both coasts.
