Gimpel Beynish the Matchmaker
(Gimpl Beynish der Shadkhn)
Yiddish Comics of the early 20th century

This looks to me like an example of English imperfectly understood by the typesetter. He transliterates correctly in the first panel "messenger boy" but in the third panel he confuses messenger and messages and comes out with messenges. $ is spelled doler and then dolar. Telegram is spelled first without, and then with, a final "e." And "understand" is rendered as fershtanden.

I believe what happened here is that some kid dressed up as a messenger and basically sold Gimpel a piece of paper that says "April Fools!" (well, it just says "First of April" in big letters but I think that's the intent).

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April 1, 1914: It's a good joke to "earn" from him on April Fool's Day.

1. Messenger Boy: You're Gimpel Beynish? I have a telegram for you, from a lady. Two dollars, please.
   
2. GB: A telegram for me? From a lady? Let me have a peek, to see if it's worth the cost.
   
3. Messenges Boy: Nix. You have to pay the two dollars in advance, if you don't, no telegram, understand?
   
4. GB: Oy, you're a scamp! Give me the telegram. Oh well, so it's two dollars. Maybe there's a match in it.
   
5. GB: Swindler, thief, robber! Fooled out of two dollars! A plague on Columbus and his holidays.
   

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Labels: holidays, swindle