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

For most Americans in 1914 the war, far away in Europe, was a spectator sport, but in immigrant communities everybody had skin in the game.

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September 11, 1914: One can't be kind to everybody, of course, in the country.

1. Khashe Mushe: Scoundrel, hooligan! Now how can we get home to New York? Curse you and your 'country.'
   
2. GB: You're driving to New York and and want to take us with you? You're a right guy, therefore I'll...
   
3. Driver: Don't grab, mister, my automobile is no freight car. Try, see if you can go on foot a while.
   
4. GB: What do you say to such a villain? Evidently not everybody in the country is respectable.
   
5. GB: Walk and walk and walk! I hope I'll at least get to New York by Selichot! A plague on all drivers.

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September 12, 1914: One should know what to talk about these days.

1. Here is Mister New York! So what now, has one failed in America?
   
2. Say, Jews, people, what would you give if I made you a ...
   
3. ...
   
4. Apparently if I talk about the war people will hear me out.
   
5. And I tell you Russia should have a violent death.

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Labels: automobile, holidays, poverty, war, World War I