Gimpel Beynish the Matchmaker
(Gimpl Beynish der Shadkhn)
Yiddish Comics of the early 20th century
Translation and commentary by Jane Peppler
Click here to read about and order the seven Gimpel books I've published.

Comics read right to left. Click on any comic strip for larger view.

Tuesday, December 22, 2015

Gimpel has the chance to become a bounty hunter. 5-24-1914

As I pointed out earlier, my daughter Hannah feels Samuel Zagat's creepy portrayals of the Mexicans stem from the Mexicans' own folk art concept of banditos (right).

Here Gimpel, who is always desperately seeking a way to make a buck, is offered a gig killing members of the Federal Army, more commonly known as the Federales. Not long after this, the opposition forces would depose President Huerta.



May 24, 1914: He would be able to earn, but the job is not to his liking.
  1. GB: There is no end to my poverty. It should ... sha, what does this clown want?
  2. Mexican: Say, mister, you're still looking for a job? I have a fine little earning opportunity for you.
  3. Mexican: Go right over there, they'll give you two dollars a day.
  4. GB: Finally, finally I'll see a couple pennies. It's high time, I swear.
  5. GB: ? ! ? !
    [Sign reads: Men needed to slaughter Federals! $2 a day.]
5-24-1914
ער װאָלט אַפֿילו יאָ געקענט פֿאַרדיענען, אָבער דער דזשאַב איז איהם ניט צום האַרצען.
1
גימפּעל בײניש: עס נעהמט נאָר קײן סוף צו מײַן דלות. עס זאָל זיך – שאַ, װאָס װיל דער לץ?
2
מעקסיקאַנער: סעי, מיסטער, איהר זוכט נאָך אַלץ אַ דזשאַב? איך האָב פֿאַר אײַך אַ פֿײַנעם פֿערדיענסטעל.
3
מעקסיקאַנער: געהט גלײַך אַהין. דאָרט װעט מען אײַך גיבען צו פֿערדיענען צװײ דאָלער אַ טאָג.
4
גימפּעל בײניש: קױם, קױם װעל איך זיך זעהן מיט אַ פּאָר גראָשען. שױן צײַט, כ׳לעבען.
5
גימפּעל בײניש: ? ? !?!
(מענער פֿערלאַנגט צו ממית׳ן פֿעדעראַלס! $2 אַ טאָג.)

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by melinama @ 8:00 AM  

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