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.

Thursday, May 12, 2016

Back home on the Lower East Side! The girls long for his services, but the policeman runs him off. 11-22-1914

In the summer Gimpel provided the helpful information to his readers that it is forbidden to pick flowers in the park. Now he's telling them it's forbidden to assemble in the street. This was probably a helpful PSA for non-English speakers.

In case you think comic artist Sam Zagat was making up these hats (they are featured in quite a lot of the Gimpel strips) have a look at the fashion illustrations below.



November 22, 1914: The young ladies are happy with him, but the law doesn't find him to be a good guest.
  1. Suzy: Hello, Mister Gimpel Beynish! Where have you been? I've been looking for you with a searchlight.
  2. Suzy: Mister Gimpel Beynish, why haven't we seen you? I've been wearing out my eyes looking for you.
  3. GB: Don't worry, I'll give you all bridegrooms. As long as I live you'll all be all right.
  4. GB: How am I guilty if they run after me? I'm no more than a poor matchmaker.
  5. Policeman: You can tell it to the judge. It's forbidden to assemble in the street.



11-22-1914
דיא מײדלעך דערפֿרעהען זיך מיט איהם, אָבער בײַם געזעטץ איז ער ניט אַזאַ גוטער גאַסט.

1
סוזי: העללאָ, מיסטער גימפּעל בײניש! װאו זײַט איהר געװען? איך זוך דאָך אײַך װיא מיט ליכט.
2
סוזי: מיסטער גימפּעל בײניש, װאָס זעהט מען אײַך ניט? איך האָב דאָך מיר שױן אױסגעקוקט די אױגען נאָך אײַך.
3
גימפּעל בײניש: ניט געזאָרגט, איך׳ל אײַך אַלע געבען חתנים. אַזױ לאַנג איך לעב װעט איהר אַלע זײַן אָללרײַט.
4
גימפּעל בײניש: װאָס בין איך שולדיג אַז זײ לױפֿען מיר נאָך. איך בין דאָך ניט מעהר װיא אַ בידנע שדכן.
5
פּאָליסמען: דאָס װעט איהר דערצעהלען דעם דזשאָדזש. מען טאָר ניט מאַכען קײן רעדליך אין גאַס.

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