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.

Saturday, April 14, 2018

He cracks a joke, sort of in English. 3-6-1915

"Kreken" a "dzhouk." Ha ha. Perhaps the terminology "full dress suit" was new at the time, or perhaps just new to the immigrants. Since this is not a bespoke suit, but a ready-made suit off a rack (suitable for Vanderbilt even if perhaps a bit too big), the fellow may look like a "fool" (="full" get it? hahah).


March 6, 1915: You wouldn't have guessed it but he can crack a joke.
  1. Jake: I'll go with you to have a look at the girl, but first I have to buy a full dress suit.
  2. GB: A full dress suit? I have one that was prepared for Vanderbilt, but it was a little too small.
  3. GB: Well, are you some kind of expert in full dress suits? Really, anyone but a millionaire would envy you in it.
  4. Jake: It's great, but I'm afraid I look a little silly. What do you think?
  5. GB: Blockhead, this the very reason they call it "full dress" - "full" means you're a cow.
3-6-1915
געה ריכט זיך אַז ער זאָל קענען ״קרעקען״ אַ ״דזשאָוק.״
1
דזשײק: איך געה מיט אײַך אָנקוקען דיא מײדעל, אָבער פֿריהער מוז איך מיר קױפֿען אַ פֿול דרעס סוט.
2
גימפּעל בײניש: אַ פֿול דרעס סוט? איך האָב פֿאַר דיר אַ פֿאַרטיגען געמאַכט פֿאַר װאַנדערבילט׳ן, נאָר אַביסעל צו קלײן.
3
גימפּעל בײניש: נו, ביסט אַ מבין אױף אַ פֿול דרעס סוט? טאַקע נאָר אַ מיליאָנטשיק קען זיך אַזעלכעס פֿאַרגינען.
4
דזשײק: גאַנץ פֿײַן, נאָר איך האָב מורא אַז איך זעה אױס אַביסעל נאַריש. װאָס זאָגט איהר?
5
גימפּעל בײניש: שוטה, דערפֿאַר הײסט דאָך דאָס ״פֿול דרעס.״ ״פֿול״ מײנט אַז דוא ביסט אַ בהמה.

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by melinama @ 7:30 AM  

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